Slow-Cooker Beef Curry

Slow-Cooker Beef Curry

8 servings
Long, slow cooking periods mellow flavors while bold spices, in bold amounts, will hold their own over time. Thats just what happens here with big flavors from Thai curry paste and fish sauce finished with fresh touches of cilantro and lime juice that together, draw inspiration from Thai curry.

Ingredients

  • canola oil
    1 tbsp
  • beef stew meat
    2 lb
  • unsalted beef stock
    ½ c
  • thai red curry paste
    ¼ c
  • fish sauce
    2 tbsp
  • light brown sugar
    1 tbsp
  • yellow onion

    sliced (about 2 1/2 cups

    1
  • well-shaken canned full-fat coconut milk
    ¾ c
  • haricots verts

    halved crosswise, french green beans

    8 oz
  • loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves
    ½ c
  • fresh spinach (about 9 cups
    9 oz
  • fresh lime juice
    3 tbsp
  • cilantro sprigs (optional

Directions

  1. 1

    Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Add oil; swirl to coat. Add beef, and cook in 2 batches, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 6 minutes. Place browned beef in a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. Add stock to skillet, stirring and scraping to loosen browned bits from bottom of skillet; transfer mixture to slow cooker. Add curry paste, fish sauce, sugar and onion; stir to loosely combine. Cover, and cook on low until beef is very tender, about 8 hours.

  2. 2

    Add coconut milk and haricots verts to slow cooker. Increase heat to high; cook until haricots verts are tender, about 12 minutes. Turn off heat; add cilantro leaves, spinach and lime juice. Stir gently until spinach starts to wilt. Garnish with cilantro sprigs, if desired.

Slow-Cooker Beef Curry

Slow-Cooker Beef Curry

4.9(7)525 min8 servings248 cal

Ratings & Reviews

0.0/ 5
Exceptional

Based on 7 ratings

eatingwell.com
4.9(7 reviews)
View original recipe

Rating Breakdown

About this Recipe

Craving a comforting, deeply flavorful dinner that practically makes itself? This Slow-Cooker Beef Curry delivers on all fronts, transforming simple ingredients into a rich, aromatic meal with minimal fuss and an incredible depth of flavor inspired by Thai cuisine.

The magic of this beef curry lies in the slow cooker, where hours of gentle simmering allow the robust Thai red curry paste and savory fish sauce to meld into an incredibly complex, mellow flavor profile. This long, slow cooking process ensures the bold spices hold their own, while the beef stew meat becomes meltingly tender, soaking up every aromatic note. You'll love how the prep is minimal, yet the payoff is a truly satisfying dish that tastes like you spent hours slaving over a hot stove.

You can expect a rich, tender beef curry with a beautiful balance of savory, spicy, and a hint of sweet from the light brown sugar. The sauce is creamy and luxurious, thanks to the full-fat coconut milk, which is brightened at the end with a generous splash of fresh lime juice and fragrant cilantro. The haricots verts add a pleasant, fresh bite, while a generous amount of fresh spinach wilts right into the sauce, adding body and nutrition to this deeply comforting dinner. It's a delightful exploration of texture and taste that promises to warm you from the inside out.

While beef stew meat is ideal for this slow-cooker preparation, you can adjust the spice level by slightly increasing or decreasing the Thai red curry paste to your preference. If haricots verts aren't available, standard green beans will also work beautifully in the final stages of cooking. You can always add extra fresh cilantro leaves at the end for an even brighter finish.

Perfect for a cozy family dinner on a chilly evening or for effortlessly entertaining friends, this hearty curry pairs wonderfully with steamed jasmine rice. Finish with an extra sprinkle of fresh cilantro sprigs for a vibrant presentation that invites everyone to the table.

Frequently Asked Questions