10-Minute Massaman Curry

Traditional massaman curry is a slow cooked, rich curry with coconut and peanuts. A real treat.

In this version we’re quickly cooking some steak so we get tender beef without having to wait for hours.

If you wanted extra smoky flavours you could cook your steaks on the BBQ and then slice before tossing into the sauce like my Irishman does, but it’s going to take longer!

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10-Minute Massaman Curry

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 2 hungry people

Ingredients

• 2 steaks finely sliced
• 1 jar massaman curry paste 200g / 7oz
• 1 can coconut milk 400mL / 14oz
• 2-3 tablespoons peanut butter
• 1/2 cauliflower

Instructions

• Heat a little oil in a large frying pan on a very high heat. Stir fry steak until browned on the outside and still pink in the middle. Pop the cooked steak in a clean bowl.
• Reduce the heat to medium high and return the pan to the burner. Quickly add the curry paste and cook for a few seconds. Add coconut milk and peanut butter.
• Simmer the sauce for about 5 minutes.
• While the sauce is simmering grate your cauliflower using your food processor to give you cauliflower ‘rice’.
• Return steak to the sauce and bring back to a simmer. Taste and season. Serve curry on a bed of the cauli ‘rice’.

Variations

pantry-friendly – use frozen cauliflower or rice.

vegan – replace steaks with about 500g (1lb) roasted sweet potato or butternut pumpkin chunks. No need to brown, just stir into the sauce. Cooked strips of red capsicum (bell pepper) are also lovely.

vegetarian – replace the steaks with about 4 hard boiled eggs that have been boiled, peeled & halved. You might like to add some roasted sweet potato as well. You could also replace steaks with cooked chickpeas, eggplant, beans, mushrooms, eggplant, tofu or tempeh.

nut-free – skip the peanut butter and season with a touch of brown sugar for sweetness. You could serve with a handful of coconut flakes if you like.

no cauliflower? – serve with steamed rice instead but it won’t be as healthy and will take much longer than 10 minutes!

slow cooked version – replace steaks with 2 large osso buco, beef short ribs or lamb shanks. Pop everything except the cauli and peanut butter in a cast iron, cover and bake at 150C (300F) for 4-5 hours or until your meat is super tender. If it starts to dry out, top up with a little water. When cooked stir in the peanut butter before serving.

greener – serve with a handful or coriander (cilantro) leaves on top. Or stir through some baby spinach to wilt just before serving.

can’t find massaman curry paste? – use a thai red curry paste instead and double the peanut butter. Or use your favourite curry powder 1-2 tablespoons should do it.

hotter – massaman curries tend to be more rich and mild, so feel free to spike with a few fresh red chillies.

more substantial (carb lovers) – serve with steamed basmati rice.

more substantial (low carb) – serve with peanuts, cashews or extra cauliflower.

paleo (grain, legume & dairy-free) – use almond butter instead of peanut butter.

more veg – add peas or baby spinach to warm through at the last minute. Or soften an onion before browning the steak.

Waste Avoidance Strategy

steaks – freeze them.

curry paste, coconut milk, peanut butter – keep them in the pantry.

cauliflower – freeze it (chop or grate first for easier defrosting).

Prepare Ahead

Yes! Just cook curry as per the recipe but keep the cauliflower rice separately. Leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or can be frozen. To serve, bring back to a simmer and serve on cauli rice.