Lamb Curry Mamtas - 1 And Variations
Gosht Curry
This curry is a favourite of both my daughters Kavita and Neeta, they call it Mum's Curry.
It is not too highly spiced. It can be made in advance and kept in the fridge for a few days. It freezes well.
If freezing, make sure that the meat is slightly undercooked. I tend to use lamb as it is much tender than mutton, but use mutton, if you like the flavour better.
It cooks very well in a slow cooker too. This recipe is suitable for Slow Cooker/crock pot.
The pictures shows lamb curry made with 1 kg. meat (double the amount than in recipe).
Serves 3-4
Ingredients
- 500 gm. cubed lamb, bite size pieces. On bone is better. I usually cook Lamb leg, but other cuts are fine too
- 4 tbsp. cooking oil (surplus oil can be removed after cooking)
- 1 large or 2 small onions, approximately 200-225 gm. I have used red onions here.
- 1/2 inch piece of ginger
- 2-3 cloves of garlic
- 250 gm. tin of tomatoes or 2-3 medium sized fresh tomatoes
- Whole spices
- 1 tsp. black cumin seeds (Shahi jeera). Use ordinary one, if you do not have black cumin.
- 2 bay leaf*
- 1-2 pieces of cinnamon stick*
- 2 large cardamoms*
- 3-4 small green cardamoms*
- 4-5 cloves*
- 5-6 black peppers*
- *If you do not have these whole spices, use 1 1/2 tsp. Garam Masala instead.
- Ground Spices
- 1 tsp. turmeric
- 2 tsp. coriander powder
- 1 heaped tsp. paprika powder for colour (optional)
- 1/2 tsp. chilli powder-adjust to taste and according to the heat of chilli powder you are using
- Salt to taste
- Garnish
- A handful of fresh coriander leaves
- 1/2 tsp. Garam Masala
Instructions
- Peel onions, ginger and garlic and chop finely or grind in a food processor.
- If using fresh tomatoes, chop into small pieces or liquidize.
- Clean, wash and chop coriander leaves and keep aside.
- Measure whole and ground spices separately.
- Heat oil.
- Add cumin seeds and whole spices *, wait until cumin seeds splutter, but not burn. Stir a little, to avoid burning.
- Add onions, garlic and ginger mix and fry until light brown. Ginger often sticks to the pan, so keep stirring or use a non-stick pan.
- Add all other spices and stir for a few seconds to allow flavours to come out.
- Add tomatoes and cook, stirring frequently, until oil separates.
- Add meat and cook on high flame, stirring frequently until it is well coated and sealed.
- Cover and cook on medium flame until tender, approximately 25-30 minutes. Cooking time depends on the quality of meat. It can be cooked in 7-10 minutes in a pressure cooker. Good quality lamb will take only 4-5 minutes under full pressure.Cooking slowly on low heat, over a longer period, makes the meat nicer.
- Add water only if a thinner gravy is required. Usually there is enough water in the meat.
- Turn off heat.
- When cool, open pressure cooker, stir.
- Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Sprinkle garam masala and half of coriander leaves & stir. Cover and leave.
- Sprinkle rest of the coriander leaves as garnish, just before serving.
- Serve with boiled rice and tandoori roti or chapatties.
- Cooking in a slow cooker
- Grind or finely chop onion, ginger, garlic and tomatoes.
- Place all ingredients, except garnish, in a bowl and mix well. Leave to marinate overnight or at least a few hours in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Cook in slow cooker on high first, until it comes to a boil, then cook on low for 6-8 hours, as per your cookers instructions.
- Heat oil in a ladle, add cumin seeds. When they crackle, pour on top of the meat. Close lid.
- Garnish and serve hot.
Notes
- Use leg or shoulder of lamb. Ask the butcher to prepare it for you, cutting it into large pieces, with the bones left in, taking out all fat, tendons and membranes. Some supermarkets in UK will slice the meat and bone for you, but you will have to remove the fat and membranes yourself.
- Variations:
- For a more exotic taste, add 2 tablespoons of double cream or sour cream at the end.
- Add one bunch of fresh or 2 tablespoons of dry fenugreek (methi) leaves during cooking. Fresh leaves have to be removed from their stalks, washed and chopped roughly. Dry leaves need to be washed in cold water to remove any dust. You can then lift out the clean leaves from the top and add to your recipe.
- Add a cup full of chopped or tinned spinach.
- Add potato pieces when meat is half cooked.