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Lamb with Green Mango (Kacha Aam ka Gosht)
Serves 6-8
Green mangoes are a summer treat in India. They are very hard, unripe and sour. In North America, they are now available in Asian markets almost year-round.
2 tbsp Indian poppy seeds (see Tip, page 219) 25 mL
1⁄2 cup granulated sugar 75 mL
11⁄2 lbs green mangoes, peeled and cut into 750 mL
1⁄4-inch (0.5 cm) thick slices (approx.)
3 tbsp oil, divided 45 mL
1 tbsp cashews 15 mL
1 tbsp slivered almonds 15 mL
1 tbsp dried coconut flakes (see Tip, left) 15 mL
8 whole cloves 8
12 green cardamom pods, cracked open 12
3 sticks cinnamon, each about 2 inches (5 cm) long 3
3 bay leaves 3
2 lbs boneless lamb, preferably leg or shoulder, 1 kg
cut into 11⁄2-inch (4 cm) pieces
2 tbsp dry unsweetened coconut powder 25 mL
(see Tip, page 228)
2 tsp salt or to taste 10 mL
11⁄2 tsp cayenne pepper 7 mL
1⁄2 tsp turmeric 2 mL
1. In a smooth mortar, soak poppy seeds in 2 tbsp (25 mL) water for 15 minutes. Grind to a paste with pestle. Set aside.
2. In a saucepan, melt sugar in 3⁄4 cup (175 mL) water over medium heat. Add mangoes and cook gently for 3 minutes. Set aside.
3. In a large saucepan, heat 1 tbsp (15 mL) of the oil over medium heat. Add cashews, almonds and coconut flakes and sauté until lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
4. Add remaining oil to saucepan and return to medium-high heat. Add cloves, cardamom, cinnamon and bay leaves and sauté until fragrant, for 30 seconds. Add lamb and sauté until brown, 8 to 10 minutes.
5. Add poppy seed paste and coconut powder. Reduce heat to medium. Cook, stirring continuously, until mixture is dark brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add salt, cayenne and turmeric and sauté for 2 minutes.
6. Add 2 cups (500 mL) water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer, stirring periodically, until lamb is fork-tender, about 1 to 11⁄2 hours.
7. Stir mangoes with syrup into meat and cook for 5 minutes. Serve hot, garnished with fried nut mixture.
Tip
Dried coconut flakes are available in packages in Indian stores or in bulk bins in health food stores and specialty markets. The flakes are about 3⁄4-by 1⁄2-inch (2 by 1 cm) pieces.
Variation
Lamb with Green Mango and Spinach: Heat 1 tbsp (15 mL) oil in a skillet. Sauté 1⁄2 tsp (2 mL) cumin seeds until fragrant for 30 seconds. Add 1⁄4 tsp (1 mL) fenugreek seeds and sauté for 15 seconds. Add 8 cups (2 L) loosely packed baby spinach leaves and sauté until just wilted. Place in a serving dish and spoon lamb over top without covering spinach entirely.
Recipes reprinted with permission from Complete Book of Indian Cooking, by Suneeta Vaswani, Robert Rose Inc., 2007.
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