Rogan Josh

A treat to your taste buds, a delicious recipe from the paradise Kashmir, prepared with mutton pieces simmered in various Indian spices and yogurt and not to forget the ratanjot infused oil which imparts the rich red colour to the aromatic curry.

“Agar firdaus bar roo-e zameen ast, Hameen ast-o hameen ast-o hameen ast“

“IF THERE IS PARADISE ON FACE OF THE EARTH,
IT IS THIS, IT IS THIS, IT IS THIS”

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 02 hours, depending on the quality of mutton.

Serves: 4

Ingredients and Quantity:

Mustard oil – 06 tbsp.

Asafoetida- ¼ tsp.

Cumin seeds – 01 tsp.

Cinnamon – 01 inch piece

Cloves- 04 nos.

Black Peppercorn- 05 nos.

Black Cardamom – 04 nos.

Whole Kashmiri red chillies – 04 nos.

Mutton with high fat content, cut into 1 ½ inch pieces – 500 gm.

Kashmiri red chili powder– 1-1/2 tbsp.

Fennel seeds, powder – 02 tsp

Dry ginger powder – ½ tsp.

Coriander powder – 01 tbsp.

Yogurt, hung- ¾ th cup

Saffron (stepped in little hot milk) – 02 gm.

Mutton Stock- 1 ½ to 02 cups

Garam masala powder- ¼ th tsp.

Khoya, grated- 50 gm.

Almonds, blanched, peeled and ground into a fine paste-25 gm.

Kewra water- 02 ml.

Salt -to taste

Ratanjot – 01 inch piece- 04 nos. heated with a little oil i.e. 25 ml mustard oil.

For Garnishing:

Coriander leaves- 02 sprigs

Method:

For the Ratanjot oil preparation:

Heat mustard oil in a pan. Add Ratanjot sticks.

Heat it for 03 minutes. It will give a rich red color to the oil. Strain and use as much required and store it for future use. Do not refrigerate.

For the Rogan Josh preparation:

Heat mustard oil in a lagan or a heavy bottomed pan, till smoking point.

Switch off the gas let it cool, now heat the oil again and add asafoetida, cumin seeds, cinnamon, cloves, black peppercorns and black cardamoms and whole red chillies. Sauté till fragrant. Add the mutton pieces and cook on high flame till it turns slightly reddish brown for 15 minutes

Add 1/2 cup of mutton stock and cook for about 10 min on low flame. Make sure to Stir constantly and scrape all the sediments from the bottom of the pan.

Add all ground spices / powdered masalas along with saffron milk and mix well. Add salt.

Whisk and add whisked hung yogurt and cook for about 02 minutes.

Add a cup of mutton stock and when the mutton is nearly done add the garam masala powder, grated khoya, almond paste and kewra water.

Cook the mutton on a slow flame till done for about 1 ½ to 02 hours and till most of the gravy is absorbed

Pour the ratanjot-infused oil.

For serving:

Serve hot garnished with fresh coriander leaves, finely chopped. Goes best with steamed rice or Naan.

Chef Tips:

1. Mustard oil is heated in the pan with no other ingredients until it reaches a temperature where the first wisps of smoke appear. It is then taken off the flame and allowed to cool a little before adding ingredients to be cooked. This procedure removes the acrid taste of the raw oil and renders it quite pleasant.
2. Traditional Kashmiri Rogan Josh has thin red-coloured curry and a thick layer of oil on top.
3. The oil should rise to the top of the saucepan, which means the curry is ready.
4. The red colour comes from the Kashmiri red chillies and roots of the plant called Ratan Jot.
5. Choose mutton with high fat content.