Seyal Gosht (Meat Slow Cooked in Onions and Yogurt)

Ingredients–

• 850 gm onions, chopped
• 450 gm tomatoes
• 300 ml yogurt
• 2 cups coriander leaves
• 3 green chillies
• 1 kg mutton
• 4 bay leaves
• 2 black cardamoms
• 6 green cardamoms
• 1 blade of mace
• 2” piece of cinnamon stick
• 12 peppercorns
• 6 cloves
• 130 ml oil
• 6 tsp chopped garlic
• 6 tsp chopped ginger
• 4.5 tsp coriander powder
• 2 tsp cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 2 tsp red chilli powder
• 1 tsp caraway seeds
• 1 tsp green cardamom powder

Method –

1. Purée the onions in a blender and set aside
2. Purée the tomatoes and set aside
3. Purée the yogurt, coriander leaves and green chillies. Marinate the meat in this mixture for at least 1 hour
4. Heat half the oil in a cooking pot, add the onion purée and cook over a moderate heat for 20 minutes so that some of the moisture evaporates
5. Meanwhile, put the remaining oil with the whole spices in a frying pan over low heat
6. After 2 minutes, add ginger and garlic, followed 2 minutes later with the coriander, cumin, turmeric and red chilli powders together with 3 tbsp of water
7. Stir well to blend with the oil
8. Sauté for 2 minutes, then pour in the onion mixture
9. Add the puréed tomatoes and sauté for about 5 minutes
10. Leave to cool, then add the meat and yogurt and marinate for 1 more hour
11. Add salt and mix well
12. Cook over a high heat for 5 minutes.
13. Reduce the heat to low and gently cook until the meat is tender
14. Before serving, discard the whole spices, pound the caraway seeds and sprinkle with the cardamom powder