Mutton Stew (Kerala Style)

Kerala's stew is a mildly spiced preparation made with meat/vegetables and coconut milk, popularly served as an accompaniment with appams. Mutton stew is a popular stew prepared in Kerala. Though we eat mutton, but I hardly cook them at home. I have added carrots and potato to add substance to the gravy.I made it for Easter breakfast and all enjoyed it. Do try and relish !!

Preparation time~ 30 minutes
Cooking time ~ 45 minutes
Serves~ 4–5 adults

Ingredients
mutton 1 lb (approx 1/2 kg)
onion 1 medium, half moon sliced
ginger chopped fine 1tbsp
garlic chopped 1 tbsp
green chillies 2-3 vertical slit
potato 1 medium-sized, cubed and divided
carrot 1 medium-sized cubed
coconut milk medium thick 1 cup
coconut milk very thin 1 cup
salt to taste
curry leaves few
oil 1tbsp
spice mix
fennel powder 1/4 tsp
turmeric powder 1/4 tsp
coriander powder 1tbsp
pepper powder 1/2 tsp

whole spices
cinnamon 1" strand
cloves 3-4
cardamom 3
whole peppercorn 4-5
star anise 2
bay leaf 1

to temper 
shallots 2-3 thinly round sliced
curry leaves few
oil (preferably coconut oil) 2tsp

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Method

• Wash the mutton pieces thoroughly under running water for 5–6 times or until the water runs clear (If the pieces are big, cut them medium-sized and then wash).Drain water in a colander and leave aside.
• Heat oil in a pressure cooker and when hot, add the whole spices listed.Fry them until fragrant and then slide in the chopped ginger and garlic.Sauté until the raw smell disappears.Add the sliced onions along with curry leaves and green chillies.Sauté until the onion turns translucent.
• Keep the flame low and add in the spice powders (mix) listed, sauté until a nice aroma wafts.Add in the mutton pieces and fry them with the spice onion mix.Keep stirring until the mutton starts to release water.Add in half the potatoes, salt and add the very thin coconut milk.
• Close the pressure cooker with weight and cook on high for 1 whistle, then lower the flame to low and cook for another 12–14 mins.Then switch off flame (the meat should be tender and cooked by now, if not continue to cook after you checked).
• In the meantime, add the reserved half potatoes and carrot in a pan.Add salt lightly with 1/2 cup of water.Cook covered until tender.Keep aside.
• Once the pressure is released, open the pressure cooker, and you see the meat is nicely cooked, and the potatoes are overcooked (don't worry, they will get mashed and add to the gravy once you proceed further).
• Add the cooked carrots and potatoes (reserve the stock if any).Bring this to a boil and wait till the gravy thickens slightly.I added the stock to dilute the canned coconut milk and make medium thick coconut milk along with water (If you have no stock left, add water and dilute).
• When one or two bubbles appear, switch off flame, adjust salt if required and keep covered.
• In another pan, heat oil.Add in sliced shallots and curry leaves. Fry till the shallots turn pinkish brown.Switch off flame and pour over the curry.Keep covered for 10 mins and then serve warm with paalappam,vellayappam(kallappam), whole wheat paalappam or even chapathis !! 

NOTES
* I haven't added the thick coconut milk as the taste and consistency was just correct.If you feel the need and if you are using coconut milk squeezed from fresh coconuts then add 1/4 thick coconut milk or than paal to make the gravy richer.
* I have used canned coconut milk.I dilute the very thin coconut milk by adding a tbsp of  thick coconut milk to a glass of water.I made the medium thick coconut milk by adding water and coconut milk in 1:1 ratio.
* In some places in Kerala,they add vinegar too to the stew.But in our place,we generally don't so haven't added.You can add a tbsp of vinegar or lemon juice if you like tangy flavors in stew towards the end of cooking.
* You can make without adding vegetables too but adding vegetables adds to the consistency of the stew.
* Adding potato to mutton and cooking is to make the consistency of the gravy thicker.You can omit if you don't wish to add potato like that.

For all Kerala breakfast recipes,click here.

Try making this over the weekend and enjoy !!