A rich and flavorful recipe you can easily prepare in your slow cooker or crockpot is this Sweet Beef Curry, perfect to serve over rice with crispy fried shallots and boiled eggs. Made with tender beef brisket, candlenuts, shallots, garlic, and ginger, it delivers layers of taste.

This delicious Sweet Beef Curry recipe is an ideal dinner option, taking around 9 hours and 15 minutes from start to finish, and it serves up to 6 people.

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Recipe Ingredients

• 6 candlenuts or macadamia nuts, coarsely chopped
• 6 red Asian shallots, coarsely chopped
• 6 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
• 1 tablespoon finely grated ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon rice bran oil or grapeseed oil
• 2 lb 4 oz (1 kg) beef brisket, trimmed
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 1 lemongrass stem, bruised
• 4 tablespoons kecap manis
• 9 fl oz (1 cup or 250 ml) water
• Steamed rice, crispy fried shallots, and boiled eggs for serving

How To Make Slow Cooker Sweet Beef Curry

1. Prepare the Spice Paste: Start by pounding together the candlenuts, shallots, garlic, ginger, nutmeg, white pepper, cloves, and cinnamon. You can use a mortar and pestle or a small food processor until you get a coarse paste.
2. Sear the Beef: Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Season the beef brisket with salt, and brown it on all sides for about 5 minutes. Once browned, transfer the beef straight to your slow cooker.
3. Cook the Spice Paste: In the same pan you used for the beef, add the spice paste. Cook it for around 2–3 minutes until it’s fragrant and starts to release its aroma. Then, move the spice mixture into the slow cooker with the beef.
4. Add Remaining Ingredients: Pour in the white vinegar, bruised lemongrass, and kecap manis to the slow cooker. Add 9 fl oz (1 cup or 250 ml) of water to make sure everything stays moist during cooking. Stir gently to combine everything.
5. Slow Cook: Set your slow cooker to low, cover, and let the beef cook for 9 hours. It should become tender and fully absorb the flavors from the spices and the broth during this time.
6. Serve and Enjoy: Once the beef is tender, serve it over steamed rice. Top with crispy fried shallots and add boiled eggs on the side for a complete meal.

Recipe Tips

• Add some extra richness: Brown the beef brisket a little longer than 5 minutes to develop a deeper flavor. Just make sure not to burn it, or the dish may turn bitter.
• Use fresh ginger for more punch: I’ve found fresh ginger gives a more vibrant taste compared to ground ginger. Peel and finely grate it for the best results.
• Control the spice level: If you want a milder curry, remove the seeds from the lemongrass, or reduce the amount of pepper in the spice paste.
• Freeze portions for easy meals later: You can portion and freeze the cooked beef curry in airtight containers for up to 2 months. It’s perfect for busy days.

Recipe FAQs and Variations

Check out More Slow Cooker Curry Recipes:

• Easy Slow Cooker Lamb Shank Rogan Josh
• Bored of Lunch Slow Cooker Lamb Bhuna
• Slow Cooked Kangaroo Curry