A care package made it to Ukraine from the far away UAE. Almost 5000 kilometers far away. My mom decided she wanted to send her love in the form of love that I know best, good homemade food.
Funny thing is, I actually do not recall ever eating Kala Bhuna at home. All I can remember is that this recipe is my all-time favorite beef recipe. I thought hard and long to see if I could recall sitting at home around the dinner table eating Kala Bhuna.
The Kala Bhuna came in a tightly packed box. The beef was completely cooked and ready to be eaten. She had frozen the entire thing and even after it was outside the ice-packet, it remained frozen for quite some time.
The Kala Bhuna was prepared using all boneless meat from the shoulder. I personally love this cut as it has long striated meat with a few good chunks of fat and is heavily flavored from the bones.
The Kala Bhuna is completely ready to eat. All I have to do is reheat it over some ghee or oil for a few minutes and it will be ready to be served. You can already see in the pictures of the frozen Kala Bhuna that it is heavily spiced up.
The entire procedure of cooking Kala Bhuna is very precise and very long. It takes a few hours and everything has to be done in precise amounts and for the precise time. Otherwise, it does not get the iconic black color.
Kala in Kala Bhuna literally means Black!
The Kala Bhuna was packed in this plastic box and taped all around the edges and around to keep it sealed. It was then air-tight packed in a plastic bag and then put in an ice packet which was then sent here to Ukraine all the way from UAE. The plastic box is so like my mom. She always uses these and I was honestly surprised she sent me one.
This is what it looks like after a short refrying with ghee. Juicy, aromatic, tender, and mouth-watering!
You can really see how the meat is completely black. If it were not for some of the spices freezing and falling off, every inch of the beef would be dead black.
The Kala Bhuna recipe was initially a traditional recipe from Chittagong. You can still find some of the best Kala Bhuna there to date. Tender and juicy beef Kala Bhuna has since taken over and the entire country loves it. From Eid to weddings, from get-togethers to a national holiday, Kala Bhuna is a strong contender to be on the menu.
Although a Mezbaan, a gathering for feasting, is the appropriate and most authentic occasion for Kala Bhuna, I could not hold it anymore. Immediately after receiving the package, I was more than eager to dig in.
I would love to have some butter naan or Pulaav with the Kala Bhuna but all I know is to cook white rice. And that also becomes extra special when it is paired with the incredible Kala Bhuna.
Although it may look like it, the meat is not burnt at all. In fact, there is almost no burnt taste. I am very sure I enjoyed this package more than it really was because this is a very unique care package. Unlike most, this one was oozing with motherly love.
No matter how far she and I are, no matter how distant we have become, there is always love. Kala Bhuna or not. And it finds its way.
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