Shin Beef Rogan Josh with Turmeric Rice

Shin of beef rogan josh on turmeric spiced rice

Shin of beef in my opinion - as I may have mentioned once or twice before - is the most under-rated of all cuts of beef. It is often perceived to be tough and unpalatable but when it is cooked properly, long and slow, it is as tender as can be and absolutely packed full of flavour. If, of course, you wish to use a different stewing suitable cut of beef, this dish will work almost as well.

When I make curries of any type, I most often do so from scratch, using the various spices and bases as required. In this instance, I noticed that these curry sauce jars were on special offer in my local supermarket so I decided to give one a try. I was actually very pleasantly surprised with the results.

Shin of beef, onion and rogan josh sauce

Ingredients (Serves 2)

3/4 pound shin of beef
2 tablespoons sunflower or rapeseed oil
1/2 medium white onion, peeled and finely sliced
1/2 a 1 pound jar of rogan josh cooking sauce
1 pint fresh beef stock
6 ounces basmati rice
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
Salt
Freshly sliced basil leaves (or herb of choice) to garnish

Starting to brown diced shin of beef

Directions

Dice the shin beef to approximately one inch cubes. Pour the oil in to a large stew pot and gently heat. Add the beef and stir with a wooden spoon to brown/seal over a medium heat. This should take two to three minutes.

Sliced onion is added to browned shin of beef

The onion should then be added to the beef. Cook in the same way for another couple of minutes until the onion is just softened.

Rogan josh sauce is added to browned beef and onion

Pour the rogan josh sauce in to the pot and stir well.

Beef stock is added to beef and rogan josh sauce

Add the beef stock to the pot and stir well. Bring to a gentle simmer, cover and cook for two and a half hours until the beef is just tender. Stir every so often and monitor the liquid level. If there is too much liquid with around half an hour of the cooking time remaining, cook from this point onwards uncovered.

Rice is washed prior to being boiled

Around quarter of an hour before the beef rogan josh is ready, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add a teaspoon of ground turmeric and stir well. Wash the rice thoroughly under running cold water through a fine sieve.

Boiling rice in turmeric water

Carefully add the rice to the water and bring to a gentle simmer for ten minutes.

Turmeric rice is thoroughly drained

Drain the rice through a sieve and allow to steam off for a few minutes.

Rogan josh shin of beef is ready to serve

The beef should by now be ultra tender and the sauce lush and thick.

Turmeric rice is formed in to beds

Arrange the rice as beds in two deep serving plates.

Shin of beef rogan josh is spooned on to rice beds

Divide the beef rogan josh between the two plates and garnish with the sliced basil or herb of choice.

A spoon makes rogan josh and rice easier to eat