Mutton Stew

I remember the first time Aswin's mom made mutton stew.... approximately a month before my birthday and I was completely smittened. The very same day as we took a walk she asked me what do I want for my birthday, as that was going to be my last birthday before I get married, and before she could coax and cajole me and convince me to ask for something, I sprang up like a jack in the box screaming I want Mutton Stew.  Dearest Binduamma stuck  to her word and she took all the effort again and made this absolutely lip smacking dish all over to make sure I had the best birthday ever. :)

 Back in India I hardly used to cook, I dint even bother to learn my favourite dishes. Now when I am away I realised how lazy I've been.
I was really looking forward to her visit as it was the first time after our wedding and secondly she is a great cook and  her visit just meant my cooking skills are going to notch up. I've already learnt her famous ghee rice and chicken curry (recipe to be posted in a few days), and not learning mutton stew this time was out of  question. So here's posting the next guest recipe post by Binduamma.

PREP TIME	COOK TIME	TOTAL TIME
20 mins	30 - 40  mins	50 - 60mins

Serves:- 5 -7 
INGREDIENTS:-

• Mutton - 1 Kg
• Onion - 1 big, chopped into cubes
• Potatoes  -  2 big, chopped into cubes
• Green Chilles - 7-8 slit
• Ginger - 2 inches (Julienne)
• Elaichi/ Cardamom - 7-8
• Cinnamon - 1 big stick
• Cloves - 10
• Peppercorns - 1 tbsp
• Coconut Milk - 800 ml
• Salt - to taste

For Tempering:- 

• Curry Leaves - Few
• Coconut oil - 3 tbsp
• Pearl onions - 5-6 (optional)

METHOD:-

• First clean and wash the mutton well and cut them into cubes.
• Then in a small mixer jar add all the spices like Elaichi/cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, peppercorns and crush them , Make sure you do not powder them.
  
• After that in a cooker add mutton.
  
• Then add the onion, Potatoes, chilles, ginger, crushed spices and salt. 
  
• Once you add all this pour in the required amount of water to cook the mutton and close the lid of the cooker and cook it on high flame for 2 whistles and on low flame for 2 whistles, if the mutton is very tender. Basically you have to keep it on the gas till the mutton is cooked properly.
• Once your mutton is cooked, and you open the lid of your cooker stir it well.
  
• Then add the coconut milk to this. You can add or reduce the coconut milk as per the required consistency. the gravy should not be too watery. Add the coconut milk till you get a slightly thick gravy.
  
• After adding the coconut milk simmer this gravy on low flame for 15-20 mins till the flavour of the coconut milk blends well with the mutton. Make sure you do not boil the gravy too much. It should cook on very low flame. Also add some curry leaves.
  
• Simultaneously in another pan heat some coconut oil and add the finely chopped pearl onions to it and saute till they turn brown and add the remaining curry leaves.
  
   
• Pour this tempering mixture into the mutton gravy in the end ,i.e after simmering it for 15-20 mins and stir it well.
  

P.S : - Add pepper powder if you want it more spicy.