Today is the third day of the four days long festival! So I am here to share the recipe of mutton handi. This time it has rained in Kolkata during the pujas but that did not dampen the spirit of the pandal hoppers. People wait for this festival all year long. They showcase their best outfits, to pandal hop and to grub on the best food. This time we too had a great time.We drove to Northern California, Bay Area to meet our friends. We had lots of fun.There were quite a few puja committees organizing pujas. We too had a chance to pandal hop and eat delicious food from the food stalls.
As we all know festivals and celebrations revolve around food. There has to be a good share of non-vegetarian food to satisfy the Bong palate. The top on the list is mutton. Bengalis love to indulge in mutton dishes.
This mutton handi recipe is not a typical Bengali recipe. It has become part of the menu in many restaurants in Kolkata in recent times. While looking for the recipe, I found there are various ways of preparing it but this recipe is quite similar to the one I tasted in my last visit.
As the name suggests, the whole cooking is done in a pot or handi. Although this process takes longer to cook the meat, the flavor and the juices that is released while cooking in a closed pot gets trapped in, resulting in a most flavorful dish. If you cook in a clay pot, then the flavor comes out even better. Mutton handi is a flavorful mutton dish with rich and creamy gravy and succulent mutton pieces. Goes great with pulao, zafrani pulao, vegetable fried rice or naan.
Tips:
To ease up the process of cooking, you may pressure cook the meat first until two whistles and then follow the recipe. This way you may reduce the cooking time. Make sure to use a heavy bottomed pot to cook the meat.
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HOW TO MAKE MUTTON HANDI OR HANDI MUTTON RECIPE
- YIELD: 4 Servings
- PREP: 20 mins
- COOK: 60 mins
- READY IN: 1 hr 20 mins
Mutton handi is a flavorful mutton dish with rich and creamy gravy and succulent mutton pieces. Goes great with zafrani pulao, fried rice or naan.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 lbs mutton or goat meat cut into small pieces
- 1 small onion
- 10-12 cloves garlic
- 1 1/2 inch ginger
- 2 tablespoons cashew nuts soaked in hot water
- 2 tablespoons charmagaz or melon seeds soaked in hot water
- 1 small tomato
- 4 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 2 teapsoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teapsoon coriander powder
- 1/2 teasopon cumin powder
- 2 teapsoons kashmiri red chili powder
- 1 teapsoon whole garam masala 1 stick cinnamon, 2 green cardamoms, 1 black cardamom and few cloves
- 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teapsoons punjabi garamasala powder
- 2 tablespoons coriander/cilantro leaves for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
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- Make a paste of onion, ginger and garlic. Keep aside. Blend the tomato in a blender to make a smooth puree. Drain the cashews and charmagaz seeds and make a fine paste with two tablespoons of water. Keep aside. Whisk the yogurt and keep aside. Wash the mutton pieces and pat it dry. Marinade with some turmeric and salt and set aside.
- Heat oil in a handi and add the whole garam masala. Let it splutter for few seconds and then add the onion and ginger-garlic paste. Cook the spice paste in oil for 2-3 minutes or until the raw smell is no more. Add the tomato puree, remaining turmeric and salt, coriander-cumin powder, kashmiri red chili power and continue to cook until the oil separates from the spices.
- Add the mutton pieces and cook at high heat so that the pieces are well seared. Lower the heat at medium and add the cashew- charmagaz paste. Continue to cook. You may add couple of tablespoons of water to prevent the masala from burning. Add the whisked yogurt and mix well with the meat. Lower the heat and cover the pot with a lid. Let it cook for 20-25 minutes. The meat will release juices and cook in it.
- Check the meat for doneness. If it is not cooked through, cook further for additional 8-10 minutes. When the meat is done check for seasoning. Adjust accordingly. This recipe has a thick gravy but you may add water according the consistency you want. Add the garam masala powder and mix well. Switch off the heat.
- You may serve in the same handi you cooked or transfer to a serving bowl or pot. Garnish with chopped cilantro/ coriander leaves.
- Serve handi mutton piping hot with zafrani pulao, fried rice, pulao or naan and salad on the side. Enjoy!
- CUISINE: Indian
- COURSE: Main Course
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