Beef Hatkhora facts for kids
| Alternative names | Sylheti beef |
|---|---|
| Course | Main |
| Place of origin |  Bangladesh |
| Region or state | Sylhet Division |
| Main ingredients | Beef, Satkara, onion, garlic and bay leaf. |
Beef Hatkhora (which means "Hatkhora Beef") is a delicious and unique beef curry from the Sylhet Division in Bangladesh. It is also known as Sylheti Beef around the world. This special dish combines tender beef with a unique citrus fruit called Hatkora, along with rice and other spices.
Even though it started in the Sylhet region, Beef Hatkhora is now popular all over Bangladesh. It's also a favorite dish among people from Bangladesh who live in the United Kingdom. Many families enjoy this dish especially during Eid al-Adha, which is an important festival.
What makes Beef Hatkhora so special is the citrus fruit. The Hatkora fruit gives the curry a unique and amazing taste and smell that you won't find in other Bangladeshi curries. Sometimes, people make a soupy version using cow feet bones. You can also find versions where fish or other meats are used instead of beef.
Contents
What Makes Beef Hatkhora Special?
The secret ingredient in Beef Hatkhora is the Hatkora fruit. This fruit is a type of citrus, similar to a lemon or lime, but with its own distinct flavor. It adds a tangy, slightly bitter, and very fragrant taste to the curry. This unique flavor is what sets Beef Hatkhora apart from other beef dishes.
The dish is a big part of Sylheti cuisine, which is the traditional food of the Sylhet region. It shows how local ingredients can create truly special meals.
Ingredients You Need
To make Beef Hatkhora, you will need several ingredients that give it its rich flavor. Here are the main ones:
- Vegetable oil
- Spices like cinnamon, cardamom, fenugreek seeds, bay leaf, and star anise
- Salt
- Onions
- Paste made from garlic and ginger
- Beef chuck (a good cut of beef for stewing)
- Chili powder
- Turmeric powder
- Ground coriander
- Ground cumin
- Garam masala (a mix of ground spices)
- The special Hatkora fruit
- A tomato
How to Make Beef Hatkhora
Making Beef Hatkhora involves a few steps to bring out all the amazing flavors.
Cooking the Spices
First, you heat oil in a large, heavy pot. Then, you add whole spices like cinnamon, bay leaves, cardamom, star anise, and fenugreek seeds. You stir them in the hot oil for a short time. This helps release their wonderful smells and flavors into the oil.
Adding the Beef
Next, you add the beef, salt, other ground spices, and green chilies to the pot. You stir everything together well. After stirring, you cover the pot and let the beef cook for a while. This helps the beef soak up all the delicious spice flavors.
Preparing the Hatkora
While the beef is cooking, you prepare the Hatkora fruit. You cut the Hatkora into wedges, and then chop each wedge into smaller pieces. These pieces will be added to the curry later.
Finishing the Curry
Once the beef has cooked for some time, you add the chopped Hatkora pieces to the pot. Then, you pour in some hot water. You bring the curry to a boil, and then lower the heat to let it simmer gently. Simmering allows all the flavors to blend and the beef to become very tender. Finally, you add chopped coriander leaves for freshness and continue to cook until the meat is perfectly soft.
How to Serve Beef Hatkhora
Beef Hatkhora is a main dish that is usually served with different types of rice. You can enjoy it with glutinous rice or regular boiled white rice.
It also tastes great with other rice dishes like Pilau or Khichdi. Sometimes, people eat it with Paratha, which is a type of flatbread.
For a fresh side dish, a simple salad is often served. This salad usually includes sliced cucumber, tomatoes, and onions. The cool, crisp salad is a perfect contrast to the rich and flavorful curry.
