Mutton Fry

Mutton Fry

                                                                        
Mutton fry is a unique dish that leaves non-vegetarian lovers crave for more. This is one of my husband's favorite dishes, so I make it very often. Try it yourself and feel like a master chef. Enjoy !!!

Ingredients:
Mutton (with bones cut to 1 inch pieces) - 1 pound
Onions - 1 large
Ginger garlic paste - 2 tbs
Garam masala powder- 1tsp
Curry leaves - few
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Red chilli powder - 2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Dry coconut powder - 2 tsp
Meat tenderizer - 1 tsp
Lemon juice - 2 tsp
Salt - to taste
Coriander leaves - few
Oil - 5 tbsp

Method:

1. Wash the mutton pieces clean and drain the water and keep it aside. 
2. Heat some of the oil in a wide non-stick pan. When the oil is medium hot, add the chopped onions. Fry till the onions are golden brown. Turn off the flame and let the onions cool down completely. Once the onions are cooled, blend it into a smooth paste. Keep it aside.
3.  In the same pan, heat the rest of the oil and add in the garam masala powder. Then add in the onion paste. Fry for a while.
4. Now add the ginger garlic paste and the curry leaves. Fry till the raw flavor is gone. 
5. Add the turmeric powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder and the salt. Fry the spices well. 
6. Add in the clean mutton pieces. Stir well till all the meat is coated with the spices and onion mixture. 
7. Add in the meat tenderizer and the coconut powder. Mix well, cover and let it cook on a medium low flame till the oil leaves the sides of the pan. Make sure you check in between. If it sticks to the bottom of the pan, add some water. Check to see if the meat is cooked. When the meat shrinks and separates from the bone, it is cooked.
8. Check the seasonings and finish it off with the lemon juice and the chopped coriander leaves.

         Serve hot with fried rice or jeera rice. Since this is a dry dish, it makes an excellent appetizer too. Enjoy!!

Tasty tips:

1. I use goat meat for most of my mutton dishes. In India people prefer lamb over goat. But the lamb meat we get in California is tough. The goat meat is a better option for this dish in particular.

2. While buying goat meat, make sure its pale pink in color, which means its tender and cooks fast.

3. To make garam masala powder please check my Mushroom fry recipe.

4. Meat tenderizer is found in the spice section of any Indian grocery stores. I use the brand 'Shan'.
     
The traditional meat fry preparations doesn't involve pressure cooking. When meat is pressure cooked, it actually boils the meat whereas an open pan cooking fries the meat, giving it a nice caramelized coating.

        Raw papaya paste, dry pomegranate seeds and pineapple paste are the most commonly used meat tenderizers in Nawabi Mutton dum Biryanis. These meat tenderizers not only help the meat cook faster but also enhance the flavors of the meat. The Shan meat tenderizer that I use is a powder version that has dried raw papaya and pomegranate seeds.

Mutton Fry

                                                                       

Bread Pizza

Bread Pizza

This dish was born when a hungry toddler was whining and bread was the only edible thing lying around. Apparently, my daughter is not a big fan of peanut butter or jam. She loves plain cheese, I combined cheese and bread with some veggies for a picky eater. The best part is its healthy and is ready in no time. Enjoy !!

Ingredients:
Bread slices - 3
Cheese - 1/2 cup
Chopped Veggies - 1/2 cup
Marinara sauce - 3 tbsp

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F.
2. Take the bread slices, spread a tablespoon of marinara sauce on each slice. Top it with your favorite veggies. Top the veggies with shredded mozzarella cheese.
3. Bake it for 2 to 3 minutes or until the cheese melts.
4. Serve hot.

Tasty tip:
You can use any cheese you want but mozzarella cheese melts beautifully.

For marinara sauce, I use the brand Prego.

Bread Pizza

                                                                            

Mushroom Fry

Mushroom Fry

Mushroom fry is such an easy dish that you can whip up in no time. Whether you're counting carbs or calories or just trying to include more healthy foods in your diet, this is a perfect dish. Enjoy!!

Ingredients:

White button mushrooms - 1/2 lb
Onion - 1 medium size
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Curry leaves - few
Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Dry coconut powder - 2 tsp
Salt - to taste
Oil - 3 tbsp
Finely chopped coriander leaves - 2 tbsp

Method:
Wipe the mushrooms clean with a damp cloth. Cut it into thin slices.

In a pan, heat some oil, add the cumin seeds and let them crackle. Then add the garam masala powder. Immediately add the finely chopped onion. Add some salt. Fry till the onions are translucent. Add the curry leaves. Then add the ginger garlic paste, fry for a minute. Add the turmeric powder, chilli powder and the coriander powder. Fry the spices for a minute. Then add the chopped mushrooms. Add some more salt. Mix well, cover and let it cook for 2 to 3 minutes. The mushrooms wilt down in no time. Add the coconut powder and mix well. Cover it and let it cook for two more minutes. Turn the heat off. Add the chopped coriander leaves.

Serve hot with chapati or hot steaming rice.

This should serve 2 - 3 people.

Mushroom Fry

Tasty tip:

Garam masala:

I make my garam masala fresh as and when needed. For 1/2 a tsp garam masala I powder one clove, one cardamom and a half inch cinnamon stick using a mortar and pestle.