Mutton Curry (Oriya Style) : ''Magnsa Tarkari''

Ohhh, here comes another authentic Oriya dish. Chunks of melting tender mutton pieces with plentiful of dark brown gravy. What more can you ask for when you also have big chunks of potatoes here and there!!

A must in most of the Oriya weddings, a royal treat.

And who makes this mutton curry the best way – no one but my Daddy dearest..And no matter which ever cook does his magic, no one can beat the taste of mutton curry made by you Papa..I owe this one to you!!

All that I use:

(Serves 4)

• Mutton – ½ kg (chopped into small cubes)

• Potato – 2 (medium sized)

• Onion – 1

• Tomato - 1

• Ginger garlic paste – 2 tsp

• Jeera (Cumin Seeds) – 1 tsp

• Turmeric powder – 1 pinch

• Red chilly powder – 1 tsp

• Bay leaf - 1

• Sugar – ½ tsp

• Mustard oil – 4 tsp

• Vegetable oil – 1 tsp

• Water – 2 cups

• Salt – To taste

How I make it:

• Slice the onions into fine thin slices.

• Chop the tomatoes into small pieces.

• Soak the Jeera (cumin seeds) for 10 minutes in water and then grind it into a fine paste.It’s ok to use Jeera (cumin) powder, in case you can’t have the paste.

• Peel and cut each potato into 4 uniform cubes. Use the vegetable oil in a pan and sauté the potatoes till they are semi-cooked and golden brown in color.

• Put a medium sized pressure cooker on medium heat. Put the oil in it. Add the sugar to it and keep an eye on it.

• As the oil warms up, the sugar will turn golden brown and start to leave the bottom of the vessel. This is when you add the onions and the bay leaf follows. Keep stirring in between.

• Once the onions change their color, add in the ginger garlic paste as well as the Jeera paste.

• Let it simmer till the aromas are out. Now add the tomatoes.

• Once a uniform paste forms, add in the turmeric and red chili powder. Put in salt also.

• Add the mutton to the gravy. Let it sauté on low flame for 10 minutes.

• Add the water and close the cooker. Keep it on medium flame. Let it have 3 whistles and then switch off.

• Once the steam inside the cooker goes out automatically (in 5-10 minutes time), open it and add the sautéed potatoes. Close the cooker and add 1 more whistle before it’s finally done.

P.S. – (Before you add the potatoes) Once the steam inside the cooker is out on its own, check if the meat is almost cooked or not (don’t worry as we still have to give it 1 more whistle once we add the potatoes). If the meat is still not as much tender (we don’t want it fully cooked yet), its ok, as some kind of meat takes a little longer to get cooked. In that case, close the cooker (remember we are not adding the potatoes yet) and get 2 more whistles and then switch off. Then do the last step.