Go Back
paya

Beef Paya (Cow Trotters Curry)

Cow trotters cooked in a soupy broth until tender, using Bangladeshi spices.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Cook Time 1 hour
Course brunch, Main Course
Cuisine bengali
Servings 12

Equipment

  • Instant Pot or pressure cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 4-5 lbs cow trotters
  • 1/2 cup cooking oil divided
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 small cinnamon stick pieces
  • 5 cardamom pods
  • 12-15 whole black peppers
  • 2 cloves
  • 2 dry red chilies
  • 1.5 cups diced onions
  • 2 tbsp ginger paste
  • 2 tbsp garlic paste
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tbsp coriander powder
  • 1 tbsp cumin powder
  • 1 tbsp red chili powder
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 5 cups water
  • 2 tbsp tamarind paste
  • 8 cloves garlic chopped

Instructions
 

  • Wash the trotters VERY well and drain.
  • In the Instant Pot or a regular pressure cooker, heat 1/3 cup oil (save the rest for tempering at the end). Add all the whole spices (bay leaf, cinnamon stick, cardamom, whole black pepper, cloves & dry red chilies). Toast for 1 minute.
  • Add the onions and sauté until they start to turn golden.
  • Add ginger paste, garlic paste, followed by all the powder spices (salt, turmeric, coriander, cumin, red chili powder & garam masala). Add a splash of water to prevent burning and sauté the masala for about 5 minutes, until the oil starts to separate and float to the top. Add more water and scrape with a spatula if you notice the masala is starting to stick to the bottom of the pot.
  • Now add all the trotters and combine well to ensure that the masala gets on every piece.
  • Add 5-6 cups water (make sure you don't go over the Instant Pot fill line) and pressure cook for 30 minutes.
  • If you're using tamarind paste that comes in a block with seeds, soak it in a half cup of water. Then loosen the seeds and discard them.
  • When done pressure cooking, do either a quick release or natural release on the Instant Pot. Add the tamarind paste.
  • Now adjust the following:
    -water level: the paya curry should be very brothy, so ensure there is plenty of liquid. Add water if necessary and put the Instant Pot on sauté mode so it can come to a boil again.
    -salt: add if necessary.
    -tamarind: add more tamarind paste if you want a more tangy flavor.
  • In a separate frying pan, heat the remaining oil and sauté the chopped garlic until golden. Add the garlic + oil to the paya.
  • Serve with rice flour roti, naan, or white rice. Enjoy!
Keyword paya