A Lila dinner recipe

Slow-Braised Beef Massaman Curry With Spinach and Peanuts

A deeply nourishing Thai-inspired curry featuring tender beef and hearty potatoes. Finished with wilted spinach, green peas, and roasted peanuts for a comforting, nutrient-dense meal.

140 minutes4 servingsDinner
Slow-Braised Beef Massaman Curry With Spinach and Peanuts, prepared as a finished Lila recipe
42g protein6g fiberHigh ProteinMake Ahead Friendly

The perimenopause lens

A cautious perimenopause lens

These tags explain why the recipe may appear in Lila. They are prompts for noticing your own patterns—not evidence that this meal treats a symptom.

Perimenopause symptoms and relief · Office on Women’s Health

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Before you start

Your 140-minute game plan

Gather everything first, then tap ingredients and steps as you go.

Start cooking

Equipment

Oven · Knife and cutting board

Time saver

Make it ahead: Curries like this taste even better the next day as the flavors meld. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Do these three things first

  • 1Set out all ingredients before cooking
  • 2Measure the pantry ingredients before heating the pan
  • 3Read through the steps once before you begin

Ingredients

Gather as you go

0 of 11 ready

Ingredients

From Your Pantry

Cook along

One clear step at a time

0 of 7 steps complete

Next: Heat olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pot…

  1. 01

    Heat olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pot…

    Heat olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season the beef chuck with salt and brown the meat on all sides (about 5 to 7 minutes). Remove the beef and set aside.

    Tap card to mark done
  2. 02

    Reduce the heat to medium

    Reduce the heat to medium. Add the massaman curry paste to the pot and stir constantly for 1 to 2 minutes until deeply fragrant.

    Tap card to mark done
  3. 03

    Pour in the coconut milk

    Pour in the coconut milk, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Return the beef to the pot and add water.

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  4. 04

    Bring to a gentle simmer

    Bring to a gentle simmer, cover, and reduce the heat to low. Let it cook for 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally, until the beef is mostly tender.

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  5. 05

    Add the yellow potatoes and peanuts

    Add the yellow potatoes and peanuts. Cover and simmer for another 20 minutes, or until a fork easily pierces the potatoes.

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  6. 06

    Stir in the frozen peas and baby…

    Stir in the frozen peas and baby spinach. Cook uncovered for 2 to 3 minutes until the peas are warmed through and the spinach is fully wilted.

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  7. 07

    Taste the broth and season with a…

    Taste the broth and season with a generous pinch of salt and a squeeze of fresh lime juice if you have it on hand. Serve hot.

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The nutrition underneath

Why this bowl holds together

Make it ahead

Make it ahead: Curries like this taste even better the next day as the flavors meld. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Paste prep

Paste prep: Store-bought curry pastes vary in sodium. Taste your broth at the end before adding your final pinch of salt.

Slow cooker option

Slow cooker option: After browning the beef and blooming the paste, you can transfer everything (except the peas and spinach) to a slow cooker and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Stir in the greens right before serving.

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