Massaman curry

A mild, rich coconut curry with beef, potatoes and peanuts. Slow simmered and very forgiving.

How many people are eating

Written for 6. Everything below is scaled to 6.

What goes on the list — untick anything you have

2.5 lb Beef chuck roast(or bone-in chicken thighs, simmered 40 minutes)
40.5 oz Coconut milk(three 13.5 oz cans, full fat)
4 oz Massaman curry paste(Maesri can from an Asian market. Swap: red curry paste from the Walmart international aisle plus 1/2 tsp cinnamon)
1.5 lb Yukon Gold potatoes
2 Yellow onion
0.5 cup Roasted peanuts(unsalted)
2 tbsp Tamarind concentrate(Asian or Indian market, sometimes the Walmart international aisle. Swap: juice of 1 lime)
3 tbsp Fish sauce(Walmart Asian foods aisle, or an Asian market. Swap: soy sauce)
3 cups Jasmine rice
1 Cinnamon stick· most people have this
2 Bay leaves· most people have this
3 tbsp Brown sugar(or palm sugar)· most people have this
1 tbsp Vegetable oil· most people have this

It lands in the shopping form, where you can edit anything, add to it, and say what you think each thing costs. Nothing is ordered until you send it.

How to cook it · about 150 minutes

Cut the beef into 1 1/2-inch chunks. Cut the potatoes into large chunks and the onions into wedges.
Spoon the thick cream off the top of one can of coconut milk into a heavy pot with the oil. Heat over medium-high until it bubbles and the oil separates, about 3 minutes. Add the curry paste and fry 2 minutes until very fragrant.
Add the beef and stir for 3 minutes to coat it in the paste. Pour in the rest of the coconut milk and 1 cup water, and add the cinnamon stick and bay leaves.
Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook on low heat for 1 1/2 hours, stirring now and then, until the beef is nearly tender.
Add the potatoes, onions and peanuts, then the fish sauce, brown sugar and tamarind. Simmer uncovered 30 minutes more until the potatoes are soft and the sauce has thickened. Start the rice while it simmers.
Taste and balance: it should be rich, gently sweet and a little tangy. Remove the cinnamon stick and bay leaves and serve over rice.

Amounts are on the list above — they change with the number of people; the steps do not.