Varutharacha Mutton Curry | Christmas Special Mutton Curry made in Kerala Syrian Christian homes

What takes the center stage at a typical Kerala Syrian Christian household lunch during Christmas is Varutharacha Mutton Curry - a fiery and flavourful Kerala style mutton curry cooked in a paste of roasted coconut and traditional Indian spices.

Ingredients:

·  Mutton – ½ kg (cut into medium pieces)

·  Onion – 3 medium sized

·  Ginger garlic paste – 2 tbsp

·  Tomato – 4

·  Red Chilli powder – 4 tsp

·  Turmeric powder – 2 tsp

·  Coriander powder – 4 tsp

·  Curry leaves – 10

·  Coconut oil - 10 tbsp

·  Salt as per taste

To roast and grind:

·  Coconut grated – ½ cup

·  Coriander seeds - 5 tbsp

·  Dry red chilli – 3

·  Fennel seeds – ½ tsp

·  Green Cardamom – 5

·  Black Cardamom - 2

·  Cloves – 4

·  Cinnamon – 2

·  Black peppercorns – 1 tsp

·  Bay Leaves – 3

·  Star Anise - 1

Method:

·  Marinate the mutton with salt, turmeric, ginger garlic paste and red chilli powder for 1 hour.

·   Pressure cook the marinated mutton till half cooked (2 whistles) and keep aside.

·   Heat a pan and add all ingredients to roast and grind.

·   Fry till the coconut turns golden brown. Remove from fire and let it cool. Grind the same well.

·  Add little water to the ground masala and make it to a paste. Keep aside.

·  Heat oil in a pan. Add curry leaves and sliced onions.

·  Cook with the pan covered till onion turns golden brown. Give a nice stir.

·  Add ginger garlic paste. Cook for 2-3 mins.

· Add sliced tomato and cook till it turns soft.

· Add chilli powder, turmeric powder, salt and cook for 2-3 mins.

· Add mutton pieces and mix well. To this now add the ground roasted coconut and spices masala paste.

·  Add 2 cups of water and cook with the pan covered till mutton is cooked.

Serve hot with Rice, Appams or Bread.