Say hello to my easy mutton curry recipe! Quick, simple, and incredibly tasty, and its ready in under an hour. I'm talking about tender, pull apart mutton that melts in your mouth.
Planning on making Mutton Curry? Serve it with Jeera Rice, No Yeast Naan, Basmati Rice or Garlic Cheese Kulcha
I always thought making mutton curry is a long and laborious process that needs hours of prep and cooking time. But you shouldn't have to wait so much for good things in life!
But this easy mutton curry recipe is different. What I love about this recipe is that it requires very little prep, uses simple, everyday ingredients and is ready in under an hour. If you’re wondering how, I’ve got you! I have simply replaced long hours of prep and marination with a store-bought mutton curry masala and it has been a complete game changer! This means that my lamb curry is now ready in half the original time without any compromise on taste! The result - a heartwarming mutton curry that’s homely, spicy and a total flavour bomb!
Watch the Recipe Video
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Easy Indian Mutton Curry (Pressure Cooker Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 kg Mutton / Lamb bone-in, cut into medium sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon Turmeric
- 1 tablespoon Salt divided
- 4 tablespoons Mustard Oil
- 1 teaspoon Fennel Seeds
- 1 Bayleaf
- 1 inch Cinnamon Stick
- 3-4 Cardamom Pods
- 3-4 Cloves
- 4 Green chillies slit lengthwise
- 3 large Onions finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon Ginger Garlic Paste
- 5 large Tomatoes finely chopped or pureed
- 1 tablespoon Coriander Powder
- 4 tablespoons Meat Masala different from curry powder, look for meat masala in Indian grocery stores
- 2 Potatoes quartered (optional)
- ½ teaspoon Garam masala
- 1 tablespoon Kasuri methi optional but highly recommended
- 1 inch piece Ginger julienned
- 1 tablespoon Ghee or Butter
Instructions
- Add turmeric and 1 teaspoon salt to the mutton or lamb and rub all over. Set aside while you prep everything else
- Heat oil in a pressure cooker (electric or stovetop) and saute fennel seeds, bayleaf, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves for a minute. Add two green chillies, onions and ginger garlic paste. Cook this for 10-12 minutes stirring occasionally till the onions are a deep brown.
- Add tomatoes, coriander powder, meat masala and the remaining salt and cook for 5 minutes till the tomatoes break down slightly.
- Stovetop Pressure Cooker: Add mutton, potatoes and two cups of water and put the lid on. If using a stovetop pressure cooker, cook on high pressure for 20-25 minutes (5-6 whistles).
- Instant Pot: If using an electric pressure cooker or an instant pot, cook for 20 minutes on high pressurenand let the pressure release naturally or manually release the pressure after 15 minutes.
- Once the pressure is released, open the lid and switch on the flame again. Add more water if the gravy is too thick. Stir in garam masala, kasuri methi (if using), remaining green chillies, julienned ginger and ghee and simmer for another 3-4 minutes.
- Check and adjust seasoning. Let the curry rest for 15 minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
- Any cut of lamb or mutton is good for this curry but make sure its bone-in. Shoulder works best as it has the best flavour and tenderises really well
- Meat masala is easily available at Indian stores. I use Lala's brand, Everest masalas are also highly recommended.
- Kasuri Methi is dried fenugreek leaves that help round up the flavours in the dal makhani. Its available on amazon, and is used in many Indian recipes (on this blog), so stocking it won't be a waste
- Don't skimp on the oil in the recipe. This is necessary for the masalas to fry properly as well as for the lamb pieces to toast well.
- Feel free to adjust the spice levels based on your tastes by reducing or increasing the green chillies
- Cut the mutton pieces into similar sizes to help them cook evenly.
- To make this recipe even quicker and easier you can use a food processor to chop the onions and tomatoes. Once everything is chopped and ready, all would need to do is fry and pressure cook until done.
- Make sure to cook the onions really well before adding the meat - to the point of them becoming deep brown. Bhunoing the masala is an important step as it helps to release flavours and is what gives your mutton curry that typical dark brown colour.
- If you are using frozen mutton, make sure to thaw it out properly on the kitchen counter before adding it to the pressure cooker
Nutrition
Ingredients You'll Need to Make Mutton Curry
This mutton curry recipe uses onions and tomatoes as the base, which is then flavoured using different whole and ground spices. The hero ingredient of this recipe is the meat masala (different from curry powder most commonly available abroad), responsible for giving this whole dish that distinctive warm and spicy flavour.
- Mutton / Lamb: Use good quality mutton pieces, preferably with bones to make this dish a whole lot tastier.
- Turmeric: Helps eliminate that slightly gamey taste of raw mutton.
- Oil: I like using mustard oil, but any other cooking oil will work
- Spices: This recipe mainly uses whole spices to pack in a tonne of flavour. I have used fennel seeds, bayleaf, cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, cloves and green chillies. Apart from this, you’d also need some coriander powder and garam masala for an extra flavour boost.
- Meat Masala: Hands down the star ingredient of the whole dish and the reason why it comes together so quickly. I've used readymade Mutton Masala. This is different from curry powder so specifically look for meat masala, chicken masala or mutton masala. In the U.S. you can buy it on Amazon / If you are in the U.K. buy it here on Amazon
- Onions and tomatoes: Both finely chopped and used to form the base of this curry. You can even puree the tomatoes to save yourself some time and effort.
- Potatoes: Potatoes soak up the flavour from the meat and masalas, thereby enhancing the whole dish. Not a necessary ingredient, but highly recommended.
- Kasuri methi: Dried fenugreek leaves - A commonly used ingredient in Indian curries added at the end for a hint of smokiness and to bring everything together. Even though this one’s optional too, it’s one I highly recommend using.
- Ghee or butter: Takes the flavour of the whole dish a notch higher. Do not skimp on this!
Which cut of mutton is good for curry?
I personally prefer using shoulder cuts of lamb or goat when making curries or stews. Some people prefer to use the legs or rump, while some recipes use a mix of mutton pieces from different parts. However, I would highly recommend using bone-in mutton or lamb pieces as they pack a tonne of flavour and taste so much better when used in stews and curries.
Is goat meat and mutton the same thing?
In most countries around the world, mutton meat means lamb and is different from goat meat. But in India, mutton is referred to as both sheep and goat meat, and is often used interchangeably.
How to make Mutton Curry
Here's a quick step by step to show you how to make mutton curry:
- Add turmeric and salt to the mutton or lamb and rub all over. Set aside.
- Heat oil in a pressure cooker (electric or stovetop) and saute fennel seeds, bayleaf, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves for a minute.
- Add two green chillies, onions and ginger garlic paste. Cook this for 10-12 minutes stirring occasionally till the onions are a deep brown. This is called bhuno.
- Add tomatoes, coriander powder, meat masala and salt and cook for 5 minutes till the tomatoes break down slightly.
5. Add mutton, potatoes and two cups of water and put the lid on.
6. If using a stovetop pressure cooker, cook on high pressure for 20-25 minutes (5-6 whistles). For the Instant Pot, cook on high pressure for 20 minutes and let the pressure release naturally or manually release the pressure after 15 minutes.
7. Once the pressure is released, open the lid and switch on the flame again. Add more water if the gravy is too thick. Stir in garam masala, kasuri methi (if using), remaining green chillies, julienned ginger and ghee and simmer for another 3-4 minutes.
8. Check and adjust seasoning. Let the curry rest for 15 minutes before serving.
Why is my mutton chewy?
An important step to prevent chewy mutton is to either marinate the mutton before cooking it or allow it to cook in the pressure cooker for enough time. This process is called tenderising and is what helps your meat become soft and perfect tender.
Which is the best mutton curry in India?
Such a tough one to answer - Mutton curry is a very popular dish in India and most states have their own versions that taste incredible. Some other mutton curry recipes you need to try are mutton keema, kosha mangsho, rogan josh and mutton korma. Some mutton recipes I personally love and keep making all the time include this easy one pot mutton kofta curry, slow cooker lamb curry, Kerala mutton stew and my all-time favourite mutton biryani!
I usually serve my mutton curries with either rice or rotis with a side of sliced onions for a complete, heartwarming meal. You can even serve yours with naan or garlic kulcha especially if you are making this for guests.
Sonia says
I tried it for dinner and that too after coming back from office ... ufff it was yummmm .. not bragging but have never had mutton so delicious as you made us make it. Thank you sooooo much .. I wish I could share the pic ..
Richa says
Thanks Sonia! Your comment just made me so hungry!
Esani caterer says
This looks really delicious and easy to make. I am going to save this so I can make this later. thank you for sharing
Richa says
Glad you liked it!
Runjhun says
Awesome recipe. Not at all complicated and absolutely easy to cook. But, why turmeric powder hasn't being used???
Please, reply to my query as I am a first time cook..😅😅
Richa says
Hi Runjhun, thank you so much! It's just a preference. You can definitely add a teaspoon of turmeric to the recipe. I hope you try this out!
Rita says
Good tasty and quick
Richa says
Thank you so much Rita
Anam says
Thanks for the recipe...worked well for me...:-)
Richa says
So happy to hear that Anam!
Regina says
I don't think I've ever had mutton curry, but it sure looks like a perfect bowl of comfort food to cozy up with on a Sunday afternoon!
Sue says
Hi, for the mutton curry, will fenugreek methi seeds be ok to use in relation to the recommended kasuri methi in the recipe you have listed. If So, do I still go ahead and use 1 tablespoon. Thanks
Richa says
Hey!Fenugreek seeds will not add the same flavour. If possible, look for dried fenugreek leaves. Its easily available on Amazon. If you live outside India you can order here: http://amzn.to/2iYMHTr
If you still don't get them, skip it. They definitely add to the flavour but the curry is great without them too.
hitesh says
Hi richa your mutton looks sizzling
Next time do suggest how to make a mutton soup bascially a paya soup and please do tell how mutton helps to make healthy body what nutritional valueit composes of because im novice to nonveg Just started because i broked my patella knee cap Thankyou and cheers
Richa says
Thanks Hitesh! I love recipe requests from readers. I'll do a mutton soup soon!
Marcial says
Good day!
I suggest that your ingredients link point us to the definition and where to buy them instead of sending us back to your website. I click on Cloves, garam masala, etc and goes back to site with other recipe, not defining what it is. It's really frustrating.
Thanks.
Richa says
I'm sorry about this but I'm curious - those ingredients are not linked to anything and when I visit the page, I can't see any clickable links from those ingredients. Would you mind sending a screenshot to me at [email protected] so that we can fix this?
online fresh meat lucknow says
The colour may be different because of the quality of spices..This is very nice post..Thanks for sharing..
Arun says
Love the pics! It looks delicious!! My friend has a similar recipe. Slight variations in the masala and it includes curry leaves. I love it. I got to try your recipe next time we get mutton.
Richa says
Thank you Arun, the curry leaves would be an excellent addition!
Adi says
I am making this on the stove top. How long does it have to cook. The color is not as dark red as yours.
Richa says
Hey Adi! On the stovetop, this can take anywhere between an hour to 1.5 hours to cook since mutton usually takes time. The colour may be different because of the quality of spices. All my spices are hand pounded. I hope you liked the dish!
Resh says
Hi , I don't have mutton masala ,is there any other alternative for the masala ?
Richa says
You can use any meat masala or curry powder to substitute mutton masala
shahinda says
I love mutton curry...its an awesome Indian dish
richagupta says
Thank you!
carlos at Spoonabilities says
I love Mutton, and every time I go to Jamaica I have a feast. I will be cooking this recipe for SURE!!
Beautiful photos!!
richagupta says
Thank you so much Carlos. I've never tried Jamaican mutton, will definitely look it up!