Kerala beef fry
{{short description|Dish made of beef in Kerala}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox food
| name = Kerala beef fry
| image = ബീഫ്ഫ്രൈ.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Beef fry
| alternate_name = Beef Ularthiyathu
| country = Kerala, India
| region =
| creator =
| course =
| type = Slow roasted beef
| served = Hot
| main_ingredient = Meat, spices, onion, coconut
| variations = Beef Ularthiyathu
| calories =
| other =
}}
Kerala beef fry is a dish made of beef, slow-roasted in a mixture of spices, onions, curry leaves, and coconut slivers, fried in coconut oil. The dish is also popularly known in Kerala as Beef Ularthiyathu.
Origin
The dish's earliest reference can be traced back to the early first millennium Sangam Literature from Kerala and Tamil Nadu states of India.{{cite web | url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/amp/story/tamil-nadu/beef-tamizhagam-how-was-cow-slaughtered-and-beef-consumed-ancient-tamil-nadu-34952 | title=Beef in Tamizhagam: How was cow slaughtered and beef consumed in ancient Tamil Nadu? | date=4 October 2015 }}
Preparation
The dish is prepared by cooking chunks of meat in a mixture of spices which include turmeric, coriander, garam masala, black pepper, red chilli, cooked along with onions, shallots, ginger and garlic. Slivers of coconut, fried in coconut oil and curry leaves are also used for garnish. The meat is usually cooked in a pressure cooker to soften it before it is slow roasted in the mixture of spices, till it reaches a dry consistency.{{cite book |last1=Roberts |first1=Adam |title=Secrets of the Best Chefs |date=August 2012 |publisher=Artisan |isbn=978-1-57965-439-9 |page=241 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DeaAPpeghoAC |accessdate=22 November 2019}}
Combinations
Kerala beef fry is most commonly eaten with kerala porotta,{{cite news |title=The Indian state that is obsessed with beef fry |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-36366140 | date=18 July 2016 | first=Divya | last=Arya | publisher=BBC |accessdate=22 December 2019}} whereas in some parts such as Thrippunithura, the dish has been combined with pazham pori and has become a very popular combo in the region.{{cite web |title=Where to eat like a local in Kochi |url=https://www.cntraveller.in/story/eat-like-local-kochi-best-places-to-eat-in-kochi-fish-fry/ |website=Conde Nast Traveller |date=8 April 2019 |accessdate=22 November 2019}}
Controversy
Kerala beef fry, has found itself in the middle of many a controversy in India, with the Central Government banning the slaughter of cattle. The government of Kerala, alongside that of West Bengal, both ruled by Communists, refused to implement the ban in their states. However, electoral candidates from all parties go to great lengths to assure their voters that beef would be supplied in the most hygienic conditions in Kerala.{{cite news |last1=K |first1=Nisar |title=In Kerala, a Beef Fry Dilemma For the BJP |url=https://thewire.in/culture/kerala-beef-fry-bjp |accessdate=22 November 2019}}
In Kerala, where the dish is most popular lawmakers attended a special breakfast where Kerala beef fry was served, before discussing the ban at a special session called for the purpose{{cite news |title=Kerala: Beef fry for breakfast before MLAs debate new cattle slaughter rules |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/kerala-beef-fry-for-breakfast-before-special-session-on-cattle-slaughter-rules-981600-2017-06-08 |accessdate=22 November 2019 |publisher=India Today |date=8 June 2017}}
National award-winning actress Surabhi Lakshmi was also in the center of a controversy, where news was published that she ate beef fry during the Onam festival.{{cite news |title=Malayalam Actress Surabhi Lakshmi Receives Flak For Eating Meat On Onam |url=https://www.hungryforever.com/malayalam-actress-surabhi-lakshmi-receives-flak-eating-meat-onam/ |accessdate=22 November 2019 |publisher=hungryforever.com |date=11 September 2017}}
A photograph of K. Surendran of the Bharatiya Janata Party which supports a ban on beef consumption and cow slaughter, eating beef during an election campaign went viral, however he denied the same stating that it was onion curry.{{cite web |title=Kerala: Photo of K Surendran eating beef goes viral; BJP leader swears it was just onion curry |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/kerala-photo-k-surendran-eating-beef-goes-viral-bjp-leader-swears-it-was-just-onion-curry-650522 |website=IBT |date=14 October 2015 |publisher=International Business times |access-date=5 April 2022}}
However, Sobha Surendran, another politician from the same party clarified that eating beef is okay.{{cite web |title=Eating beef is okay: Shobha Surendran |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/eating-beef-is-okay-shobha-surendran/article7763821.ece |work=The Hindu |date=14 October 2015 |access-date=5 April 2022}}
See also
{{Portal|Food|India}}