Beef Ullarthu

Description

Beef Ullarthu is a traditional Kerala-style dry roast made with tender beef slow-cooked in a coarse blend of spices, curry leaves, and coconut slivers. Deeply associated with Christian and Muslim households in central and northern Kerala, this dish is often prepared for Sunday lunches, weddings, and festive occasions.

The beef is pressure-cooked with spices like black pepper, coriander, fennel, and cloves, then pan-roasted with shallots, garlic, and coconut oil until dark, caramelized, and richly flavored. Curry leaves and dry-roasted coconut bits enhance both texture and aroma, while the spice level is typically bold and fiery. The slow-roasting technique gives the dish its deep brown color and layered flavor.

Beef Ullarthu is traditionally served with Kerala parotta, appam, or matta rice in homes across Kottayam, Thrissur, and Kannur, and continues to be a festive favorite among Malayali communities in Mississauga, Scarborough, and Brampton.