Mutton Stew

Stews are mildly spiced curries usually made with vegetables or meat along with fresh coconut milk. Its one of the nost popular accompaniment served along with idiyappam, pathiri, idli/dosa, puttu etc. Keralites enjoy these stew with freshly baked breads. The breads soak up these mild curry beautifully. These stew uses very few ingredients. If you like the smell of fresh whole spices, please do not forget to add a stick of cinnamon, few cloves, 1-2 bayleaf and few cardamom pods.

They will really enhance the flavour of the dish.

You may have a look at the recipe of chicken stew or vegetable stew too. You can use a packet of store bought coconut milk or coconut milk powder, but I would highly recommend you to use freshly made coconut milk. The difference would be quite evident.

Ingredients:

• Mutton 250 gm
• Onion 2
• Potato 1
• Salt to taste
• Green chilies 2-3
• Ginger 1 inch piece
• Garlic 2-3 cloves
• Pepper corns 1-2 tsp
• Curry leaves 1/2 tsp
• Coconut oil 1 tbsp
• Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp
• Whole spices as required
• Coconut grated 1 cup heaped

Method:

• Wash the mutton pieces and marinate it with turmeric powder and pepper powder for atleast half an hour.
• Cook it with little salt, chopped ginger and garlic pieces till the mutton is soft and tender.
• You can add some whole spices like a piece of cinnamon, 2-3 cloves and 1-2 cardamom.
• Pulse the coconut with little water and extract the first thick milk.
• Pulse it again with some more water and extract the second milk.
• Slice the onion and potato and keep aside.
• Cook the potato and onion with salt and turmeric powder.

• Add the cooked mutton pieces and mix.
• Add the second extract of coconut milk and boil.
• Adjust salt and add some more freshly ground black pepper.
• Add the thick first extract of the coconut milk and switch off the flame.
• Garnish with fresh curry leaves and coconut oil.
• Serve it hot with appaam or idiyappam or idli or dosa or freshly baked bread.