Malabar Poratta and Beef Curry

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Poratta & Beef Curry

A hearty, comforting combo from Kerala's rich culinary tradition

There are few things more satisfying than the flaky layers of freshly made poratta paired with a rich, aromatic beef curry. This dish brings together the best of textures and flavors — the soft, buttery poratta soaking up the spicy, deeply flavorful curry is pure joy on a plate. It’s a nostalgic favourite, perfect for weekend meals or when you want to treat your family to something extra special.

This version uses young buffalo beef (veal) for tenderness and a roasted coconut for depth. While the process involves a few steps, the results are worth every bit of effort. The poratta dough benefits from a good kneading and resting time to develop that signature stretch and flakiness, while the beef curry is layered with spices and the unique touch of roasted coconut.

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Poratta Recipe

Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 tbsp sugar

• 1 tsp salt

• ~400 ml lukewarm water (adjust as needed)

• Melted butter + oil (1:1 ratio), for brushing

Directions

1. In a bowl or stand mixer, mix together flour, sugar, and salt.

2. Gradually add lukewarm water to form a soft dough. Knead well for 10–15 minutes until the dough passes the windowpane test (elastic and smooth).

   Tip: You can use a stand mixer/kitchen machine for this step.

3. Lightly brush the dough with oil or butter-oil mix, cover, and let it rest for 1–2 hours.

4. Knead the dough again by hand, divide into equal-sized balls, brush with butter-oil, and let rest for another 30 minutes.

5. Flatten each ball and roll into a thin rectangle, brushing the surface with butter-oil and lightly sprinkling with flour.

6. Cut the rectangle into long strips, stack or twist them together, and roll into a disc (like a cinnamon bun).

7. Brush each disc with butter-oil and cover them while you work on the rest.

8. Roll each disc into a flat poratta and cook on a medium-hot griddle, brushing with oil as needed, until both sides are golden and cooked through.

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Beef Curry Recipe

This curry uses pressure cooking to tenderize the beef and finishes with a luscious, spice-infused gravy enriched with roasted coconut. Perfect with poratta or even rice.

Part 1: Cooking the Beef

Ingredients

• 900g young buffalo beef (veal), cut into cubes

• 1-inch piece ginger (crushed)

• 6–7 garlic cloves (crushed)

• 1 green chilli (slit)

• ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)

• 1–2 tsp meat masala

• ½ tsp cumin seeds

• ¾ tsp fennel seeds

• 1 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder

• ½ tsp turmeric powder

• ½ tsp coriander powder

• ½ lime, juiced

• 1–2 tbsp coconut oil

Method

1. In a pressure cooker, heat coconut oil. Add crushed ginger, garlic, green chilli, and all spices.

2. Add the beef cubes, lime juice, and salt. Mix well to coat the meat.

3. Pressure cook on low heat for 25–30 minutes, until the beef is tender.

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Part 2: Preparing the Curry

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp coconut oil

• A few fenugreek seeds

• 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste

• 1 green chilli (slit)

• 1 sprig curry leaves

• 2 onions, finely chopped

• 2 tomatoes, finely chopped

• Salt to taste

• 1 tsp meat masala

• ½ tsp garam masala

• ¼ tsp fennel powder

• Cooked beef with stock

• 2–3 tbsp roasted coconut paste

• Coriander leaves, to garnish

• Lime juice or wedges, to serve

Method

1. In a pan, heat coconut oil. Add fenugreek seeds, ginger-garlic paste, curry leaves, and green chilli. Sauté until aromatic.

2. Add chopped onions and sauté until golden.

3. Add tomatoes and cook until soft and well blended.

4. Add the cooked beef along with the stock. Bring to a gentle boil.

5. Season with salt, meat masala, garam masala, and fennel powder.

6. Stir in the roasted coconut paste, cover, and simmer for a few minutes.

7. Turn off the heat. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves.

8. Squeeze a little lime juice just before serving or serve with lime wedges on the side.

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Serving Suggestion

Serve hot porattas with the warm, spicy beef curry. The layers of the poratta soak up the rich gravy beautifully — a true treat for any South Indian food lover!