Kashmiri Mutton Rogan Josh Recipe | The Curry Guy (2024)

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This Kashmiri rogan josh recipe is from my cookbook ‘The Curry Guy Bible’.

I’ve tried so many Kashmiri rogan josh recipes over the years. I love rogan josh so I’m always trying to perfect my recipe. Usually the recipes in cookbooks are pretty much the same, give or take an ingredient or two.

This recipe is different. Yes, you still get that classic flavour you’re expecting in an authentic Kashmiri rogan josh but this recipe takes it all up a level.

I first tried it when I visited the new Annayu at the Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel Heathrow. I was treated to some amazing curries that day that were all prepared by head chef at the time Madhup Sinha. His Kashmiri rogan josh was out of this world!

Delicious with naans or over rice!

About this recipe…

After such adeliciousmeal, I was determined to talk Madhup into sending me a few of his recipes. I’m so glad he did. You are going to love this one.

Madhup doesn’t use garlic or onion in his rogan josh. He also uses powdered ginger instead of ginger paste which gives it a flavour all its own. I was surprised to hear this as I am a big garlic fan but it really wasn’t missed.

Many chefs in India don’t use garlic or onion for religious reasons. Asafoetida is substituted and does the job really well.

Be sure to give this one a try. You’ll be glad you did. I’d love to hear if you agree with me that it’s the best rogan josh around.

Unusual Ingredient, ratton jot…

Madhup also suggests using Ratton Jot which is an organic herb from Indian. It’s used as acolouring agent that helps give the curry a deep red colour.

Ratton Jot isalso called Alkanet Root here in the UK. It is not necessary to use this but it does help give the curry a nice red glow.

You can find it online here. If you can’t or can’t be bothered to get it, just add a little more paprika for a deep red colour.

Which cut of meat should you use?

I recommend mutton or lamb shoulder or leg meat. Shoulder meat has an amazing flavour but it takes longer than leg meat to become tender. The extra stewing time required really adds to the flavour.

You can also use beef stewing steak in this recipe which is often the meat of choice in Pakistan for this Kashmiri rogan josh.

Can you work ahead?

Yes and I recommend doing so. Although you could marinate the meat for as little as 30 minutes, I hope you take the time to marinate it overnight or even for 48 hours. The longer marinating time will benefit the flavour of the finished Kashmiri rogan josh.

How long can you keep leftovers in the fridge?

You can easily store this Kashmiri rogan josh in the fridge for at least 3 days, covered tightly. To heat it up, just place it all in a pan and heat it over a medium-high heat. You can also heat it in your microwave.

Can you freeze this curry?

The yoghurt in the sauce does not freeze well. This one is best to eat fresh but if you do want to freeze it, it will still be good.

I have tested this. The sauce changes a bit in consistency but it is still good. If freezing, be sure to freeze in portion sizes that are convenient for you.

What if you want fresh garlic, ginger and onions?

This is a traditional Kashmiri rogan josh but many people have added onions, garlic and ginger to their rogan josh curries. You won’t be the first.

I recommend trying the recipe just as it is. If you think it’s lacking, (it’s not!) Then go ahead and fry some chopped onions after you add the whole spices. Then stir in some garlic and ginger paste and carry on with the recipe.

Step by step photographs…

It’s always best to get all of your ingredients together before starting.

My Tips:

Freshness is Key: Use spices that are as fresh as possible.Even when using ground spices.They should not only look fresh but also smell fresh.
Try Mutton: I use Mutton ,it has more flavor,and make sure the marbling in the meat is good which makes it tender when cooked.
Marinate! : For best results marinate the meat overnight and keep it refrigerated. Keep the marinated meat at room temperature for sometime before adding into the hot Oil. This will not reduce the temperature of the Oil too much when you add the meat.

In case you haven’t noticed, my blog is growing and now includes many more cuisines.

The Korean and Chinese recipe sections of my blog is being added to regularly. Why not try some of these?

Korean Recipes

Braised Beef Stew
Korean Ramen
Korean Pork Chops
Baked Salmon Korean Style
Korean Pancakes
Kimchi Jjigae
Easy Bibimbap Recipe
Beef Bolgogi
Korean Fried Chicken

Chinese Recipe

Bang Bang Chicken
Beef in Black Bean Sauce
Black Bean Noodles
Sesame Chicken
General Tso’s Chicken
Crispy Chili Oil Noodles
Soy Sauce Chicken
Bam Bam Chicken
Chinese Chicken Curry
Cashew Chicken
Pork Potstickers
Shrimp and Broccoli

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Yield: 4 - 6

Kashmiri Rogan Josh

Prep Time30 minutes

Cook Time1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time2 hours

Ingredients

1kg (2lb 3oz) diced mutton or lamb on the bone
FOR THE MARINADE
5cm (2in) piece of cinnamon stick Seeds from 6 green cardamom pods 10 black peppercorns
1 tbsp fennel seeds
500g (2 cups) plain yoghurt 1⁄2 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder
SAUCE INGREDIENTS
200ml (generous 3⁄4 cup) rapeseed (canola) oil*
1 tsp rattanjot (optional)
2.5cm (1in) piece of cinnamon stick
3 whole black cardamom pods, lightly smashed
4 whole green cardamom pods, lightly smashed
5 cloves
5 dried Indian bay leaves (cassia leaves)
1⁄2 tsp asafoetida**
1 tsp ground ginger
11⁄2–2 tbsp sweet paprika
200g (7oz) tomato purée
Salt, to taste

Instructions

Toast the cinnamon, cardamom seeds, peppercorns and fennel seeds in a dry frying pan over a medium heat. When the spices become fragrant (after about 2 minutes) and warm to the touch but not yet smoking, transfer them to a plate to cool slightly. Grind them into a fine powder using a spice grinder or pestle and mortar.
Whisk the yoghurt until it is creamy smooth, then whisk in the ground spices along with the Kashmiri chilli powder.
Place the meat in a large mixing bowl and rub the marinade into it with your hands. Cover and marinate for at least 2 hours or overnight – the longer the better.
When ready to cook, heat the oil in a large saucepan or wok over a medium heat. When visibly hot but not smoking, stir in the rattanjot (if using), the cinnamon, cardamom pods, cloves, bay leaves and asafoetida and let these spices infuse into the oil for about 45 seconds.
Stir in the ground ginger and paprika followed by the meat. Give it all a good stir to combine and coat the meat with the oil.
Now add 250ml (1 cup) of water and cover the pan with a lid. Simmer over a medium heat for 45 minutes until the meat is nice and tender.
Stir in the tomato purée and cook for a further 15 minutes, or until the texture of the meat is to your liking and the oil separates from the sauce. Season with salt and serve with naans or chapattis.

Notes

Using lots of oil is the traditional way of cooking this curry. If you would rather go for a much healthier option, use about 2 tablespoons of oil and add just enough water to cover and simmer the meat. There are plenty of curries on my blog that use less oil though, so I recommend giving this one a go just as it’s written so that you can experience it the way it’s meant to be.

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I hope you enjoy this Kashmiri rogan josh recipe. If you do give it a try, please leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you.