This is another Turkish dish that belongs to the traditional cuisine of Constantinople which is a very tasteful and aromatic cuisine that we like very much in Greece and that is very popular in the North of Greece :-) Furthermore, this is a dish that comes straight from my childhood because it was my father who used to make it and I really loved it! Try it and you are going to be surprised by its spices and the moist beef! Your turn to play :-)
In two words:“Age does not give right to reason
It’s reason that ages”
difficulty – easy
preparation– 5’
cooking - 50′
serves - 2
Ingredients
- 290gr-300gr of beef for stew
- 1 medium size onion
- 1 medium size clove of garlic
- 1 big carrot
- 100ml of tomato puree
- 2 teaspoons of olive oil
- ½ teaspoon of cinnamon
- 5 baies de allspice or μπαχάρι
- 250ml of hot water
Steps
- Slice the beef in small cubes
- Peel and chisel finely in cubes the onion
- Wash and peel the carrot
- Slice the carrot in medium size rounds
- Press the garlic or dice it in small cubes
- Heat-up a casserole
- Add the onion and stir constantly to evaporate its humidity a little bit
- Add the olive oil and stir in until the onion becomes a bit brown
- Add the garlic and stir in with onion
- Add the carrot and stir until it’s covered with olive oil
- Add the beef and stir until it gets a bit brown in all sides
- Add the cinnamon and stir in with the rest of the ingredients
- Add the tomato puree and stir everything together
- Add the allspice berries or μπαχάρι and stir
- Add the hot water and stir
- Add salt and pepper and stir one last time
- Put the lid on and cook in slow heat for 50’
- From time to time check the level of water and add some if needed; at the end of cooking time the beef should be very moist
- Serve with a bit of rice and a bit of tzatziki !
What’s the story behind this recipe?
This Greek dish is actually a Turkish one because it’s a classic of the Constantinople cuisine that is a very tasteful and aromatic cuisine. It’s a dish that my father used to make when I was little and that I loved. I can’t truly remember if he was using lamb like in the original recipe so I’ve decided to use beef. My memories are based in a very moist meat with a tomato sauce that was full of spices and aromas due to the use of cinnamon and allspice berries. Actually, allspice berries are the spice I found in France that resembles to the Greek spice we have in Greece which is called mpahari or μπαχάρι.
This dish is called tas kebap or τας κεμπάπ and it contains the old Turkish word tas which means casserole so this is a kebap made in a casserole.
It’s really important to slice the beef in small cubes and to check the water level and how moist the meat is from time to time! If needed you should add some water :) It’s really good and easy to make! Moreover, you are going to be transported in another world that unfortunately does no longer exist because after all it’s the Greeks who created Constantinople! and nowadays there is a few of them left unfortunately!
Your turn to play :)
o-o C'est si bon ! o-o
