Beef and Tapioca Curry (Kappa Beef Varathu Arache Curry)

Overview
A traditional Kerala dish made with beef and tapioca. Since tapioca is grown in plenty in Kerala it finds its way in many Kerala dishes. Each region in Kerala has its own recipe for beef with tapioca. Fresh grated coconut fried with spices and ground to a smooth paste makes the delicious gravy for this dish. Since Fresh tapioca root is hard to find here I have used frozen tapioca root which works very well for this dish.

Beef Tapioca Curry

Ingredients
3 pounds Frozen Tapioca root
1 1/2 pound beef
2 inch piece of ginger thin sliced
4 - 6 green chilly split in center
One medium red onion thin sliced
Garlic 3 cloves thin sliced
Curry leaves - 2 sprigs
Turmeric 1/4 teaspoon
Coriander powder - 1 teaspoon
Chilly powder - 1 teaspoon to taste

For the masala paste
1 Cup fresh grated coconut
1 inch piece of ginger
8 - 10 cloves of garlic thin sliced
2 sprigs of curry leaves
Whole Coriander seeds - 4 tablespoons
Whole dry Red chilly - 4 - 6
Whole black pepper - 1 teaspoon
Cinnamon - 2 inch pieces
Cardamom - 2 cloves
Whole Cloves 2 -3
Fennel seeds - 1 teaspoon
Star anise- 1 whole
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
3 - 4 tablespoon oil for frying

To garnish
Oil - 3 tablespoon
Red Onion one half thin sliced
Curry leaves 1 sprig
Whole red chilly 3 - 4 broken into big pieces

Steps
1. In a big pot half fill with water and bring it to a boil. Add salt to the water and add the frozen tapioca roots to it. Half cook it and drain the tapioca and keep aside.
2. Remove the center root from the tapioca pieces and cut into bite size pieces and keep aside.
3. Cut the beef into bite size pieces wash in water drain and keep aside.
4. Mix the beef with sliced ginger, onions, green chilly, curry leaves, garlic, turmeric, chilly powder , coriander powder, salt and about 1/2 cup water in a pressure cooker or a heavy bottom pan and cook till the beef is almost cooked.
5. Add the prepared tapioca pieces in a big heavy bottom pan and add the gravy from the cooked beef to this add water as needed and cook the tapioca till they are cooked well. Add the cooked beef to this too mix well and cook the beef and tapioca together for about 5   - 10 minutes. Turn off heat and keep aside.
6. In another pan heat 3 -4 tablespoon oil and fry the whole coriander seeds,red chilly and all the spices for the masala and fry few minutes. Add the fresh grated coconut along with the sliced ginger, garlic and curry leaves to this and fry in a low flame till the coconut turns golden brown.
7. Grind the fried coconut spice mixture in blender with water to make a smooth paste.
8. Add the prepared masala paste to the cooked beef and tapioca mixture and bring it to a boil. Turn off the heat and transfer curry to serving dish.
8. In another pan heat about 3 tablespoon oil. When the oil gets hot add the thin sliced red onions to this and fry till the onions are golden brown. Add the whole red chilly pieces and curry leaves to this and fry for a minute. Turn off heat and pour this over the prepared tapioca and beef curry.

Serve hot as a meal on its own or with plain rice.