Braised Curry Beef Shank with Potato

Why people make this dish

Curry is one of those flavors that fills the kitchen with warmth before you even take a bite. The complex blend of spices used in traditional Indian-style curry — bay leaf, mustard seed, nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, fennel, chili, and turmeric, among others — gives curry much of its food-therapy reputation. These aromatics are traditionally considered warming for the stomach, helpful for digestion, and supportive of appetite. Turmeric in particular has been celebrated in recent decades for its potential role in long-term brain and cognitive health. This home-style curry uses a Thai oil-based paste as a shortcut, combined with pre-cooked beef shank, fresh vegetables, and fragrant herbs — a practical weeknight dish that tastes like it took all day.