Slow Cooker Curry Beef Stew

Exotic flavors from star anise, lemon grass and annatto seed oil will flavor this hearty stew with irresistible aromas.

Ingredients for Asian Style Curry Beef Stew

•   ½ cup olive oil or corn oil
•   2 tablespoons annatto or achiote seeds
•   2 lbs top round beef, cut into cubes
•   1 large onion, finely chopped
•   4 cloves garlic, minced
•   2 tablespoons brown sugar
•   1 tablespoon Thai red curry paste
•   11/2 cups beer
•   1 stalk lemongrass, finely chopped (begin chopping at the bottom of the stalk until the stalk becomes too woody).
•   2 pieces star anise
•   1 cinnamon stick
•   1 cup chopped carrots
•   2 large potatoes cubed
•   1 red bell pepper, chopped
•   1 cup Thai basil leaves
•   Lime wedges for garnish

1. Heat half of the oil with annatto seeds and stir quickly until the oil takes on the reddish-brown color of the seeds.
2. Set aside, strain and remove the seeds. This is a nice oil to keep at hand for other dishes since the oil will give a colorful hint to other dishes. Will keep up to 1 month.
3. Marinate the beef cubes with onion, half the garlic, salt, sugar, and half of the annatto seed oil mixture for an hour in a refrigerator.(DO NOT PUT THE CLAY POT IN THE FRIDGE)
4. Add remaining annatto seed oil, remaining garlic, curry paste, carrots, bell pepper, celery, beer and beef marinade mixture, lemongrass, star anise and cinnamon to VitaClay®  Pot. Make sure that mixture is covered with enough liquid. You can add some more beer or water if needed.
5. Cover and Set on “Stew” mode to cook for about 1-1/2 to 2 hours until beef is tender.
6. Garnish and serve over steamed Jasmine or Basmati rice.

Makes six servings.

Health Note:

Throughout the rainforest, indigenous tribes have used annatto seeds as body paint and as a fabric dye. It has been traced back to the ancient Mayan Indians who used the entire plant as medicine for centuries. 

The plant has also been considered good for the digestive system. The seeds are believed to be an expectorant, while the roots are thought to be a digestive aid and cough suppressant. Like anise, star anise has carminative, stomachic, stimulant and diuretic properties.

In the East it is used to combat colic and rheumatism. It is a common flavoring for medicinal teas, cough mixtures, and pastilles.

Lemongrass is reported to have antimicrobial and antifungal activity and the oil acts as a central nervous system depressant.