Slow-Cooked Beef Kala Bhuna with Warm Spices

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-03 · Updated 2026-05-03

A rich, slow-cooked Bangladeshi beef curry featuring tender beef chunks simmered in a fragrant blend of warm spices and onions. This bangladeshi-inspired beef ready in about 120 minutes pairs beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes, mustard oil, large onions, thinly sliced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 3 tbsp mustard oil
• 2 large onions, thinly sliced
• 1 tbsp ginger paste
• 1 tbsp garlic paste
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp red chili powder
• 1 (2-inch) cinnamon stick
• 3 green cardamom pods
• 3 cloves
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 cups water
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 tbsp fresh coriander leaves, chopped

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 3 tbsp mustard oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat until shimmering but not smoking, about 2 minutes.
2. Step 2: Add 2 thinly sliced large onions and sauté for 10 minutes, stirring frequently until golden brown and caramelized.
3. Step 3: Stir in 1 tbsp ginger paste and 1 tbsp garlic paste, cooking for 2 minutes until fragrant.
4. Step 4: Add 1 tsp ground turmeric, 1 tsp ground cumin, 2 tsp ground coriander, and 1 tsp red chili powder; cook the spices with the onion mixture for 2 minutes, stirring constantly to release aromas.
5. Step 5: Add 1 lb beef chuck cubes, stirring to coat the meat evenly with the spice mixture; cook for 5 minutes until beef is browned on all sides.
6. Step 6: Toss in 1 cinnamon stick, 3 green cardamom pods, 3 cloves, and 2 bay leaves; stir for 1 minute.
7. Step 7: Pour in 2 cups water and add 1 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp sugar; bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover partially.
8. Step 8: Simmer gently for 1 hour and 30 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes, until beef is tender and sauce thickens.
9. Step 9: Remove whole spices and discard; adjust seasoning if needed.
10. Step 10: Garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander leaves before serving warm with steamed rice or flatbread.