This easy, homemade Indian Mutton Curry will become your go to recipe every time you want to cook with lamb. Tender, succulent pieces of meat are cooked in a spicy gravy that makes it the perfect bowl of comfort food with basmati rice.
Let's welcome the easiest Indian Mutton Curry for pullover and pyjama weather. This one's purely for the beginners who want a bowl of curry and rice now and then. Because you guys are my people. The ones that I really write this food blog for, and I feel your love for comfort food.
Google mutton curry and you'll get all kinds of Andhra, Hyderabadi and Kerala variations. But this ones quite basic guys. It's one of those back pocket mutton curry recipes that we all need in life. And that'll make everyone in the house go totally nuts. They'll never guess how easy it is. I promise.
It's basic but amazing. Spicy, flavorful, warming with all the right reasons to be a glutton on Sunday which is when mutton curry makes the most sense. Because after a bowl of this Indian mutton curry and rice, all you'll want to do is Netflix and nap.
How to make Indian Mutton Curry
We first made this recipe for a couple of friends. Actually Denver did. I was out on a Sunday afternoon, and Denver decided to make lunch. The most amount of work went into chopping the onions and tomatoes, which we had our food processor for, so basically it was a stir and cook game. Which he is awesome at.
We all came home hungry to the house smelling fantastic, made some parathas and rice and dug in!
I knew right there that I needed to share this on the blog because you guys will love it! So we've made it again and again, and everytime we ended up polishing it before I could take any pictures. But we are finally here with the best, easiest Indian mutton curry for all you comfort food seekers and curry lovers. Sunday lunches can't get better than this.
Which cut of mutton (lamb) is best for stewing/ curries?
Almost any cut of lamb can be used for lamb stews and curries, but the shoulder is best. As it becomes really tender and flavorful during the stewing and braising process. Shanks also work really well in a mutton curry or stew because the marrow soaks up all the flavors and is amazing to suck on.
I highly recommend using a 'meat masala' which really takes the guesswork out of this, and I used Lala's Mutton Curry masala for this one. You can go ahead and try Shaan as well, a brand which make fantastic masalas.
Watch Indian Mutton Curry Recipe Video
Easiest Indian Mutton Curry (Pressure Cooker Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 kg Mutton / Lamb cut into medium sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon Turmeric
- 3 tablespoons Oil
- 1 teaspoon Fennel Seeds
- 1 Bayleaf
- 1 inch Cinnamon Stick
- 3-4 Cardamom Pods
- 3-4 Cloves
- 3 Green chilli slit lengthwise
- 3 Onions finely chopped (large)
- 1 tablespoon Ginger Garlic Paste
- 5 Tomatoes finely chopped or pureed (large)
- 1 teaspoon Coriander Powder
- 4 tablespoons Lala's Mutton Masala or meat/curry powder of your choice
- 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
- 1 tablespoon Salt
Instructions
- Add turmeric 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 one green chilli, onions and ginger garlic paste. Cook this for 7-8 minutes till the onions are translucent.
- Add tomatoes, coriander powder, meat masala and salt and cook for 5 minutes till the tomatoes break down slightly.
- 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). If using an electric pressure cooker or an instant pot, cook for 25 minutes and let pressure release naturally.
- Once the pressure is released, open the lid and switch on the flame again. Add a little 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.
Notes
- Any cut of lamb is good for this curry, but 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
Nutrition
More Curries:
Sophy says
Hv made mutton curry before but for sure this recipe turned out to be the best...thank you so much..
Richa Gupta says
Hey Sophy! Glad to hear that you liked this recipe!
Kate says
Hi Richa
Thanks for the recipe, was delicious. My meat masala added ALOT of heat, my son (7 years) couldn't cope, will try again but just adjust the quantity of masala. Kate
Richa Gupta says
Hey Kate! Yes, Indian dishes can be pretty spicy if you aren't used to them. Let us know how the second batch worked out for you! Thanks 🙂
Ratna Das says
Hi richa your recipe explain very well.i really thankfull to you so much To bring you these recipes for us
Ratna Das says
Hi richa all your recipe explain very well.thank you so much To bring you these recipes for us
Sachin says
Nice presentation.
Richa says
Thank you Sachin
Omkar says
Cooked Mutton for the very first time in my life and it turned out to be so yummy. Thanks for the super easy recipe. You are simply the BEST !!!!
Richa says
So happy you liked the recipe Omkar! Thank you for leaving a comment
Sai Patil says
Super easy and tasty
Richa says
Soooo happy you liked the recipe Sai! Thank you for leaving a comment
Priya Nair says
Hi Richa,
The recipe was very easy to follow and certainly one of the tastiest mutton curries I have made! My husband and I loved it and especially that it was so fuss free!
Richa says
Thank YOU Priya!! So glad you and the hubby liked it
Meagan says
Made this tonight - it was delicious! I halved the recipe, used a .66lb lamb shoulder chop (bone-in) - and just added the chop in whole, and removed the bones/broke up the meat after. I also used 1 large potato.
I didn't have any mutton/meat masala so I made my own based off of a bunch of different recipes online and the ingredients of Lalah's. Here's what I used:
2” cinnamon stick cut up
6 cloves
4 green cardamom pods
.5 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp red pepper flakes
Pinch of coarse salt
10 black pepper seeds
2tbsp coriander seed
.25 tsp cumin seed
(All above dry toasted in a a frying pan)
1 tsp Turmeric Powder
1 tsp Ginger Powder
.5 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp kashmiri powder
(Added to the toasted spices and ground in a spice blender).
Richa says
Thanks for sharing that Meagan! So glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Rajiv says
I really liked your recipe. Good work. However, before starting, would like to know are 5-6 whistles necessary in max flame or less number of them?
Richa says
Hey Rajiv, after the first whistle, reduce the flame and then wait for another 4-5 whistles.
Savio Francis Dsouza says
Hi Richa,
Thanks for sharing your valuable tips.
I will prepare this dish very soon in a kadhai.
Will cook it for 60 minutes as you mentioned.
Should I cook this dish with the lid on top or without the lid.
Can I garnish with fresh coriander leaves.
Please let me know soon.
Thanks.
Regards.
Savio.
Richa says
Hey Savio, you can cover it and cook it. Once its 90% cooked, cook it uncovered. Adding coriander leaves towards the end really enhances the flavours.
donna says
i have no words to describe it's amazing taste. very delicious and yummy taste. thanks for posting this.
Richa says
So glad you liked it Donna!
Savio Francis Dsouza says
Hi.
If I want to prepare this yummy mutton curry in a kadai, how much water should I add and for how long should I cook the dish.
Can I use Shan brand of mutton masala powder.
Can I increase the amount of green chillies according to my spice tolerance.
Will prepare this delicious comfort food soon.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe.
Richa says
Hey savio. Yes, you can make this mutton curry in a kadai. I would recommend adding two cups of water first and then increasing it later by another 1/2-1 cup if necessary. You will need to cook mutton for approx 60 minutes or till its tender. Yes, you can use Shan masala, and increase the amount of green chillies.
Kanya says
The curry taste is good.. But it became watery! I probably next time will avoid adding water bfr pressure cooking the mutton!
Richa says
Thanks Kanya!
Shaini says
I tried this recipe it was finger licking good. I was skeptical if it would come out well.But too good to be true and so so so easy to prepare. Yum...
Richa says
Thank you so much!