Beef Pickle / Irachi Achar

Ingredients:

1. Beef - 1 kg (2lbs)tough cut of meat without fat .
2. Garlic - 2 pods peeled
3. Ginger - 2 inch piece chopped
4. green chillies - 10 cut into rings
5. meat masala crushed - cardamon,fennel,cinnamon,pepper
6. vinegar - to taste
7. chilly powder - 4 tbsp
8. turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
9. mustard seeds - 1 tsp
10. curry leaves - few springs
11. Oil - as required

Method :
You can either cook big chunks of beef with salt and turmeric and then cut into small cubes and fry them OR you can cut the raw meat into smallish cubes and marinate them with salt and a few pinches of turmeric powder and fry them .You don't have to deep fry but shallow fry until the meat is well fried.
In 1 tsp of new oil splutter the mustard seeds and add this to the oil in which you fried the meat .
Add in the ginger , garlic and green chillies and curry leaves ,crushed meat masala and fry for 2 minutes.
Add in the chilly powder and remaining turmeric powder and saute until raw smell is gone.
Add salt and vinegar and bring to a simmer.
Add the fried meat pieces into the gravy and simmer for a minute.
As the pickle sits the fried meat will absorb the liquid - add boiled and cooled water as necessary to get a thick gravy.Adjust salt and vinegar to taste.