In a large frying pan, start with the diced beef. Toss in the sliced onions, garlic, and ginger. Add your ground turmeric, ground coriander, garam masala, and red chili powder for a flavorful kick. Don’t forget to sprinkle on some salt!

Now, cover everything with water. Let it simmer for about one hour, allowing those beef chunks to become incredibly tender. If you prefer a quicker method, place all these ingredients into a pressure cooker, seal it up tightly, and let it cook until you hear 5-6 whistles. Once done, carefully release the pressure and let it rest for a moment.

While the beef is cooking, grab a large frying pan and heat up two tablespoons of oil over medium-high heat. Toss in the mustard seeds and let them pop and splutter – it’s a spectacular sight! Once they get going, add in the dried bay leaves and cinnamon stick.

Keep stirring for a few seconds, letting those delightful flavors combine. Now introduce your chopped onions; sauté them until they turn golden brown. This will take about 3-4 minutes.

Once your onions are browned, add the ground turmeric, ground coriander, garam masala, and red chili powder. Keep stirring to release their full flavor for about a minute. Season with salt to enhance all those wonderful sensations and then add just enough water to create a thick sauce. Bring this mixture to a boil and let it simmer for about 2-3 minutes.

Next up is the pièce de résistance! Add in your cooked beef from the previous step. Give everything a good stir to combine the flavors, then toss in your chopped cilantro leaves. Let everything simmer together for another 5-6 minutes. This step melds the spices into the beef, creating an outstanding flavor.

When ready to serve, feel free to garnish with additional cilantro if you'd like. You can dish it out alongside your rice or serve it with warm naan bread. The joy of a good beef curry is that it brings people together; serve it family-style and watch everyone dig in!