Kosha Mangsho (Bengali Style Mutton Curry)

Ingredients

For The Marinade

• 1 pound bone-in goat mutton (500 g, cut into 1-½ inch chunks)
• ½ cup thick plain yogurt (dahi, curd) (or Greek yogurt)
• 2 teaspoons ginger garlic paste
• 1 tablespoon mustard oil (or any other cooking oil)

For The Gravy

• 4 tablespoons mustard oil (or any other cooking oil)
• 2 whole bay leaves (tejpatta) (cut into 2-3 pieces)
• 2 whole black cardamoms (badi elaichi)
• 3-4 whole green cardamoms (hari elaichi)
• 1 inch piece of whole cinnamon stick (dalchini)
• 2-3 cloves (laung)
• 3-4 whole dry red chilies
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 and ½ cup sliced onions
• 1 teaspoon chopped ginger
• 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
• 2-3 medium potatoes (peeled and cut into halves)
• 2 teaspoons coriander powder
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 2 teaspoons Kashmiri red chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• 1 cup plain yogurt (dahi) (whisked)
• ½ teaspoon garam masala powder
• 3-4 green chilies (slit into half)
• 1 tablespoon ghee

Instructions

Marinate The Mutton

• Rinse mutton well with water and drain nicely. In a large bowl, mix the mutton pieces, thick plain yogurt, ginger garlic paste, and mustard oil. Cover the bowl with a lid and refrigerate it for 3-4 hours.

Make The Curry

1. Pull the marinated mutton out from the refrigerator and keep it aside on the counter.
2. Heat mustard oil over medium-high heat in a large pan. An iron pan is best as it gives a deep blackish color to the dish but if you don’t have one, use any heavy bottom pan.
3. While the oil is heating, slightly crush black cardamoms, green cardamoms, cinnamon stick, and cloves in a mortar and pestle. Crushing the spices helps in releasing all their flavor in the oil.
4. When the oil is hot, add bay leaves, crushed whole spices, dry red chilies, and sugar to the pan and fry for 4-5 seconds.
5. Add onions and fry until they turn slightly brown (6-8 minutes). Stir at regular intervals.
6. Add ginger and garlic and fry until the onions are nicely browned, stirring frequently. It will take 8-10 minutes.
7. Now add the marinated mutton pieces along with the marinade and potatoes halves and fry for 5-6 minutes on high heat.
8. Add the dry spice powders that are coriander powder, turmeric powder, Kashmiri red chili powder, cumin powder, and salt, and cook for 2-3 minutes.
9. Add plain yogurt and cook for 5-6 minutes.
10. Reduce the heat to low. Add a splash of hot water (50-60 ml) to the pan and stir to combine.
11. Cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid and cook for 15-20 minutes.
12. Now repeat the process of adding some water and cooking the mutton until the meat is tender (1.5-2 hours). Scrape the bottom of the pan at regular intervals to incorporate the browned bits with the masala. This process will help the mutton to develop a rich brown color. Be careful to not burn the gravy at the bottom of the pan.
13. Check for salt and add more if needed.
14. Finally, add garam masala powder, slit green chilies, and ghee and mix well.
15. Cook for another 3-4 minutes until the gravy is slightly thickened. Serve hot.