Beef Stew

Overview
There is no celebration in Kerala catholic families with out this stew. It can be made with mutton or beef. This dish is made on all special occasions. After the season of Advent and Lent when people give up meat  this is the dish that they look forward to eat on Christmas and Easter for breakfast. It is usually served with Appams( Rice Crepes).

Ingredients
Beef / Mutton - 2 pounds cut into small bite size chunks
Potatoes - 2 medium size cut into chunks
Carrots - 2 large ones cut into chunks
Green beans - 1/4 pound Cut into small pieces length wise
Red Onions - 1 medium size cut into thin slices length wise
Green Chillies - 4 - 6 Split length wise
Fresh Ginger - 3 inch piece cut into match stick size pieces
Coconut milk - 2 cups
Curry leaves - 1 sprigs
Cinnamon stick - 1 2 inch piece whole
Cloves - 4
Cardamom - 2
Whole black peppers - 1/2 teaspoon
Fennel seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
Salt to taste

To Garnish
Oil - 3 tablespoons
Red onions cut length wise - 1/2 medium
Curry leaves - 1 sprig

Steps
1. In a pressure cooker or a heavy bottom pan add the washed chopped beefs . Add all the whole spices - Cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, black pepper, fennel seeds and salt. Add the chopped red onions, green chilly, ginger and curry leaves to this too along with one cup water and salt and mix well and cook till one whistle or till the meat is cooked well.
2. Add all the chopped vegetables - potatoes, carrots and green beans to the cooked meat and  cook covered till the vegetables are cooked.
3. Add the coconut milk to this and mix well and bring it to a boil again.  Then turn off heat. You can add more water if needed but the gravy should not be too thin.
4. In another pan heat the oil and add the thin sliced red onions to it. Saute till the onions are golden brown. Add the curry leaves to this too and then turn off the heat. Pour this on top of the prepared stew.

Serve hot with Appams or any kind of bread