Coconut lamb curry
Photography by Mark RoperA curry is a simple way to liven up the week and warm up during the cold winter months.
Serves 6
Ingredients
2 tbs ghee (see note)
800g diced lamb shoulder
1 onion, thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 tbs freshly grated ginger
1 long red chilli, deseeded, finely chopped
1 tsp ground turmeric
10 fresh curry leaves (see note)
400g can chopped tomatoes
2 cups (500ml) lamb or beef stock
1/2 cup (125ml) coconut cream
2 tbs chopped coriander & sprigs to serve
Steamed basmati rice, raitas and tomato chutney (see related recipe), to serve
Curry powder
1/4 cup coriander seeds
1 tbs each cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, mustard seeds and cardamom seeds
8 cloves
5cm piece of cinnamon quill
2 small dried chillies or 1 tsp chilli flakes (add more to taste)
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tbs ground turmeric
Method
For the curry powder, place the coriander, cumin, fenugreek, mustard, cardamom, cloves and cinnamon in a non-stick frypan over low heat. Dry-fry the spices, shaking the pan, for 1 minute or until fragrant. Remove the pan from the heat, then tip the spices into a mortar and pestle or spice grinder with the chilli, nutmeg and turmeric. Grind to a powder, then set aside.
Heat 1 tablespoon of the ghee in a flameproof casserole over medium-high heat. Brown the diced lamb, in batches, for 3-4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, then set aside.
Add the remaining ghee to the pan and turn the heat to medium. Cook the onion, stirring, for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add garlic, ginger, chilli, turmeric and curry leaves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add 4 tbs of the curry powder, stir well to combine, then return the lamb to the pan, stirring to coat in the onion mixture. Add the tomato and stock, bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour 30 minutes or until the lamb is tender.
Stir in the coconut cream and chopped coriander, then cook for a further 10 minutes or until the sauce has thickened. Garnish the curry with extra coriander, then serve with rice, chutney and raitas.
Notes
This curry powder is also great with beef and chicken. Store any leftover powder in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Ghee is clarified butter, available from supermarkets. Curry leaves are from greengrocers and Asian food shops.
delicious. - June 2009
Recipe by Valli Little
