HOW TO PREPARE ROGAN JOSH.

Rogan Josh is a classic aromatic curry from the Kashmiri cuisine, often characterized by its tender meat in a red spiced gravy, made primarily with yogurt and a melange of spices.

Ingredients:

500 grams mutton or lamb, cut into pieces
3 tablespoons vegetable oil or ghee
2 large onions, finely sliced
2 teaspoons ginger-garlic paste
1 cup yogurt, whisked
2 teaspoons red chili powder (adjust as per taste)
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon coriander powder
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
4-5 green cardamom pods
2 black cardamom pods
4-5 cloves
1-inch cinnamon stick
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon fennel powder (saunf)
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
A pinch of asafoetida (hing)
Salt, to taste
Fresh cilantro for garnishing
Water as required
Instructions:

Marinating the meat: Add salt, red chili powder, and ginger-garlic paste to the meat. Mix well and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes.

Preparing the gravy base: In a large pot or deep pan, heat the oil or ghee. Add cumin seeds, bay leaf, green cardamom, black cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon. Sauté until aromatic.

Add the finely sliced onions and cook until they turn golden brown.

Once the onions are golden, add the ginger-garlic paste and sauté for a minute or two until the raw smell disappears.

Add the marinated mutton or lamb pieces to the pot and fry them until they’re browned on all sides.

Reduce the heat to low and add the whisked yogurt to the pot, stirring continuously to ensure it doesn’t curdle.

Now add turmeric powder, coriander powder, and fennel powder. Mix well.

Add water as required to make the gravy. Usually, around 2-3 cups should be sufficient, but you can adjust based on your desired consistency.

Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 1-1.5 hours or until the meat is tender and cooked through. You can also use a pressure cooker to reduce cooking time.

Check seasoning, and adjust salt and spices if needed.

Finally, add garam masala and a pinch of asafoetida. Mix well.

Garnish with fresh cilantro.

Serve hot with rice or naan.

Note: Authentic Rogan Josh uses a special type of Kashmiri red chili which provides a bright red color but isn’t very spicy. If you’re using regular red chili powder, adjust the quantity as per your heat tolerance. You can also use a combination of paprika and cayenne pepper to achieve the desired color and heat level.