Sunday 6 April 2014

As Promised ,Weekend Mutton Curry and Vegetable Pulao-Amma Special :)

Today my house smells like the weekends of my childhood. I am not really sure if I am feeling nostalgic or am feeling proud of having recreated the magic..with full help from my amma [via phone :) ]


When I called amma for help,she was so anxious.She



kept telling me that she hadn't cooked this in a decade and would not remember the recipe.I insisted and slowly but surely ,flowed the recipe ...hihih.


At first ,she wasn't sure of the mutton curry ,she wasn't sure of the pulao..and added insult to injury by saying..You are a far better cook that I am,why do you want the old recipe?Are you kidding me??When will she ever understand what her food did to us? Bah!


Well, the best combination according to me ,is Mutton curry,Pulao and Raita...achar ,pappad etc are added luxuries..but can be very well managed without.


So here goes...


MUTTON CURRY


Mutton -1 kg
Onions-3 large,sliced
Tomato-2 large ground and 1 medium chopped
Green Chilly-4+2 for garnish
Ginger garlic paste-1 tbsp.
Turmeric powder-1 tsp
Yogurt-6 tbsp.[4 for marination and 2 for cooking]


Masala
Dry roast all the ingredients and powder coarsely.keep aside.
5 cloves,
1 inch pc of cinnamon,
1 tsp. pepper ,
Cardamom 3,
Sesame seeds 1tbsp. ,
poppy seeds -1 tbsp.[I did not have poppy,so managed without it]
 cumin 1 tsp 
9 to 10 red chillies and
1 tbsp. of coriander seeds


For garnish
Chopped coriander leaves
Mint leaves
Geen chilly slit
Juliennes of ginger


Method
Marinate the mutton in 4 tbsp. of yogurt,chilly powder ,salt and a few springs of mint leaves.Keep aside for 1/2 and hour.


Heat oil in a wok and toss in the onion slices with a pinch of salt.
Saute till the onions take a golden hue. Add the ginger garlic paste and green chillies.Once done,take it off heat ,cool and grind .


Take a little oil in a pressure cooker or a heavy bottomed wok.
splutter some cumin and ad the ground onion paste.Saute the paste ,add the ground masala powder and turmeric and saute well.
Add the ground and chopped tomato and saute well.
Add 2 tbsp. of yogurt and saute till oil separates.
Add the marinated mutton and mix well.Fry for 2 minutes and then add 1 cup of water.
Check for salt,cover and cook on medium low flame [with occasional stirring ] till the meat is done.


Alternatively, the meat can be pressure cooked for 6 whistles..i prefer the slow cooking method ,but when you are pressed for time,try the pressure cooker method.


Once done,garnish the curry with slit chilly ,julienned ginger ,coriander leaves and mint leaves.







Juliennes of ginger and green chilly for extra spice :)
VEGETABLE PULAO


Basmati rice-2 cups


Cloves-3
Cinnmon-1 inch pc
Cardamom-2
Star anise-1
Cumin-1 tsp
Ginger garlic paste-1 tsp
Onion -1
Saumf[fennel seeds] 1tsp
Tomato-1 sliced
Turmeric powder-1 tsp




Vegetables
Carrots,Peas, Potatoes,Beans ,Capsicum


for Garnishing
Cashews,Raisins and Bread Croutons


Masala


Heat 2 tbsp. of ghee and fry on low flame, Cloves ,Cumin ,Cinnamon ,Cardamom ,Star Anise ,Ginger garlic paste ,Saumf[fennel] Onions .Cool and grind this masala.


Now in a pressure cooked, heat very little ghee and add the ground masala paste.saute .
Add turmeric and the vegetables and tomato.
Saute well.
Add the washed and drained rice and fry for a minute.
Add 4 cups of hot water[ 2 cups of water for every cup of rice]
Add salt and pressure cook for 2 whistles.
Before serving, we can garnish with friend Cashew, Raisins and Bread croutons.[As my family doesn't like fried nuts of dry fruit with pulao,I just added the bread croutons...they are my ammas touch :)]


Serve the Pulao with Mutton curry and a simple raita [Chop onions,tomatoes,green chillies and chopped coriander leaves.Add with salt to beaten curd..chill and serve]
The bread croutons add a crunch to the pulao




















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