Expecting new things and doing things differently, doesn't mean I wasn't up to my regular things. I still got to get up early for the morning walks and yes, as I might have said, Dad has a penchant for getting up early, it always rubbed off me too. Early never meant the wee hours, but please 6 or 6.30 am was pretty early in my books then. If there was one thing we could do, and get Daddy happy, it was getting up early and going either for a jog or a walk. Dad liked us getting up early and lazy slumbering beneath layers and layers of blanket never came to picture! Well I have finally come to conclude that this again changes with the life juncture one is at! Right now, I would prefer my kids not being so bent on pleasing their Thatha, guess I could do with some peace to complete my morning chores on time! They not only get up early, but are very active right from word go!
Anyway there I was, standing for the signal to go green, while the branches were shedding its leaves. I was transported to a different time and place. I could see myself walking brisk, every step becoming more aggressive, in tune with Sukhwinder Singh shouting at his top of the voice, Chaiyya Chaiyya...
Well today's post has got nothing to do with either autumn or my walks, rather my eagerness to cook something new and special on Sundays for hubby dear. I guess I am one of those lucky few who have got willing guinea pigs. Though I must hasten to say he wasn't always this willing, but guess growing old together has lot to be said about! But my litmus test was in making him remember his childhood days or as cooked from his side of the family. Though I have a long way to go, to reach up my Athamma's expertise, I was happy I climbed few notches with this fare!
Andhra Mutton Kura!
Ingredients Needed:
Mutton - 500 gms
Onions - 2 medium
Tomato - 1 medium
Mint leaves - handful
Coriander leaves - few stacks
Poppy seed powder (Gasa gasa) - 1 & 1/2 tsp
Chili powder - 1 & 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Curry leaves
Green chilies - 1 long
Oil - 2 tsp
Masala to be ground
Fresh coconut, chopped- abt handful (50 - 60 gms)
Green chilies - 1 long
Coriander leaves - handful
Fennel seeds - 3/4 tsp
Cloves - 3
Cinnamon - 2"
Cardamom - 1
Ginger - 4"
Garlic - 10 flakes
( I took about 2 tsp from this ground masala for the rice)
Method to prepare:
Wash mutton and let it drain. Get the ground masala ready. Keep it aside.
Then heat a pressure cooker pan with oil. Add curry leaves, green chilies and onions. Sauté the onions till they start turning brown.
Add the drained mutton, sprinkle the turmeric and salt. Cook on high flame, while you keep stirring it. Then simmer it for 2 -3 mins.
Then add the ground masala (keep about 2 tsp for the rice) to the mutton, again cook on high. This time you will find water coming out and you should cook till it evaporates. Add the mint and coriander leaves. Then chopped tomatoes.
Simmer again for 3 - 4 mins, by this time you will have a good masala coating the meat. Add in the chilli, coriander, garam masala, fennel and poppy seeds powders. Combine everything well and cook till you find it letting out a little oil.
Then add required water and pressure cook till the meat is tender. Once the pressure is off, remove lid and cook again if the gravy is not thick.
Note: This is a typical Andhra dish and is bound to be spicy, so please be cautious in using the chilies, its added in three different ways. But believe me, the aroma was your typical 'sweep your feet' kinds.
Masala Annam!
Ingredients Needed:
Sona Masuri/ Ponni - 1 & 1/2 cup
Onion julienne - 1 medium
Bay leaf , Mace or Javatri , Star anise, Clove, Cinnamon, Cardamom - 1 each
Salt to taste
Ground masala - 2 tsp
Oil - 2 - 3 tsp
Water - 2 & 1/2 cup
Method to prepare:
You can either cook this in pressure cooker or directly. So water measurement depends on which method you want to follow. Thumb rule being, you need to let the rice absorb water or allow it standing time.
Wash and soak rice for 15 mins.
Heat a pressure cooker pan with oil, add in all the spices. Then sauté the onions till they are pink, then add the ground masala. Cook well. Then add the drained rice.
Then add the water along with salt. Cover and pressure cook till rice is done.
The entire cooking time for both these dishes was within an hour, provided you have things within reach. And more than me, hubby dear was eager I capture these. So it proves it was very well received!
And the unexpected excitement and approval got from hubby dear goes to prove that I better remember my Amma's cooking and get to do them again. This kura was what my mom used to prepare long time ago, it just flashed through the memory and I was glad it did!
notyet100 says
platter looks yum,..:-)even i am goin to prepare mutton curry,..:-)
Asha says
Our trees have been bare for few mnts now. Weather is warming up now, so might see some buds anytime now. That means allergy for me! 😀
Kura looks yummy, might make with Lamb. Thanks Sri! 🙂
Poornima Nair says
That looks delcious...i'm off red meat for a while but thats tempting me so much...
Alka says
I had just tasted once in my life...a spicy and i mean real spicy, Andhra style Mutton curry and i was crying literally(tears both from spices and joy of tasting such wonderful dish)After that neither i was invited to that friend of us(where we ate that)nor did i thought of ever making it.Now while i was reading ur post ,suddenly the tasted lingered in my mouth and i was madly drooling ,recalling that taste
Superchef says
that looks like a good satisfying meal for a weekend!!
aquadaze says
oh the kura looks super delicious!
Soma says
Thats one spicy looking masala mutton. I love mutton, but since my hubby does n't eat I rarely get it, but salivate every time I see it:-)
Liked ur rajma with baby aloo too!
pooja says
Mee weekend lunch chala delicious ga vundi valli.......
Priya Sriram says
The look of the mutton kura is sooo inviting. Wonderful recipe Srivalli. Thanks for sharing. This weekend, you bet I try it 🙂
Cynthia says
You are indeed lucky. I wish I had people to cook for that liked my experimenting 🙂
homecooked says
Wow....the mutton curry looks awesome Sri!
Jaya says
Sri,
Litmus test LOL...But then DH is just like that... dont know how DH is going to react after few years down the line so far its good here!! Hehe...
and coming to mutton curry ,and rice they look absolutely yummy! I am ready to have that anytime..
hugs and smiles
Anonymous says
Srivalli,
I tried your recipe last night, the curry and the masala annam. My whole house smelled heavenly and you are right - it is the sweep you off your feet kind of delicious smell and taste. My masala was green when I ground it, and I was worried if I was going to get the beautiful color like yours, but I did indeed get that color - so mouth watering. The rice was a great combo for this curry. It was not that spicy - just perfectly balanced. Thanks a lot for a great blog, I appreciate all your hard work, great recipes and photos.
Regards,
Jyothi
Dallas,Texas - USA