Sri Lankan Meat Dish, marinated in vinegar?

[mvr556]

Mr. Bourdain mentioned/tasted a meat dish during his Sri Lanka/Ceylon episode that I believe was marinated in vinegar and cooked with chilis and lime, perhaps prepared in southern Sri Lanka. A Google search for same yielded no results.

Can someone suggest how to prepare such a dish and provide a recepe or two?

[ChrisTaylor]

I don't remember this episode but I do have a Sri Lankan cookbook handy. No promises if this is the same dish.

Coat some thinly sliced sirloin in ground pepper. Marinate for 30 minutes in salt and white vinegar. Quickly sear beef in pan. Then add a sliced red onion and continue to cook for 5 minutes. Add a couple of sliced chillies and serve.

Adapted from Peter Kuravita's Serendip.

[brucesw]

Sri Lankan Beef Curry

Didn't see the show and never had it but is this it? Sounds good.

[mvr556]

More complex than suggestion above, and sounds good. I wonder ... is 1/4 C. vinegar for 3# of beef sounds abt. right for a marinade? I'll have to try this. Thanks for the suggestion!

Edited May 27, 2011 by mvr556 (log)

[mvr556]

Simple, but sounds good. Thanks for the suggestion!

[ChrisTaylor]

The main thing isn't 1 cup or 2 cups or 2.83 cups: it's if all of the meat is in contact with the marinade. I certainly wouldn't marinade the meat in vinegar for too long, tho'.

[nickrey]

Interesting topic. Indian beef Vindaloo is made by initially marinating the meat in vinegar and spices overnight.

Lizzie Collingham in her book "Curry a tale of cooks and conquerors" related that this dish comes from Goa and is based on Portuguese vinegar marinated meat. My bet is that this dish comes from a similar foundation.

The lime juice is likely a local variation that I'd add as a late addition flavouring before serving.