MARINADE: marinate the diced Mutton with Salt, Sambar Powder and Cooking Oil for 3 hours to overnight. PIC: home made Sambar Powder
LENTILS: in a pot, add the Lentils with 2 cups of Water until boiling. When the liquid has rediced, add more Water, 1 cup at a time. Continue to cook until the Lentils have disintegrated and turns to mush. Turn off the heat and set aside.
MUTTON: in a large pot, heat 4-5 Tbsp of of Cooking Oil until hot. Add the Onions, Garlic, Ginger and Fresh Coriander Stems and fry them until fragrant (10 seconds). Next, add the Mutton, mix well and stir fry them until the Mutton browns all over.
ASSEMBLE: once the mutton browns, add 5 cups of Water as well as the Vegetables, the Red and Green Chillies, the Tamarind Slices (or Tamarind Juice), Palm Sugar, Salt (season as you go) and Lentils. Bring it to a simmer, cover the pot and cook for 1 hour or until the Mutton is tender and the liquid has reduced. Stir the bottom every 5 minutes.
AROMATICS & HERBS: while waiting for the ragout, heat 1 Tbsp of Cooking Oil in a pan and toast the Curry Leaves, Fenugreek and Mustard Seeds. WHEN the ragout looks done, add the Aromatics into the stew and mix well. Serve and garnish with Fresh Coriander Leaves.
