Ingredients
Metric weights use grams. US weights use ounces; liquids use fluid ounces. Conversions are rounded. Spoon measures use 5 ml teaspoons and 15 ml tablespoons; cups use 240 ml.
Serves 4
Choose any positive whole number of servings. Ingredients and measured amounts in steps scale together. Times, temperatures and equipment stay unchanged. For larger yields, cook separate original-size batches. Counted ingredients can become fractions; beat eggs before dividing them. Fixed correction-water checks remain fixed.
Base
Meat
Paste
Braise
Equipment
Heavy pot with lid; blender; bowl; spoon; thermometer.
Check all product labels and cross-contact. Diet groups describe this listed draft, not every substitution.
Steps
Prepare the paste · About 10 min
- Soak 40 g blanched almonds in 100 ml water for blending for 10 minutes; blend until smooth.
Brown the onions · About 15 min
- Heat 40 g ghee. Cook 250 g onions, sliced over medium heat for 12–15 minutes; add 4 cardamom pods and 1 cinnamon stick for the final minute.
Add the meat · About 8 min
- Add 800 g boneless mutton shoulder, cubed, 20 g ginger-garlic paste, 1 tsp ground coriander, ½ tsp ground cumin and ¾ tsp salt; cook for 8 minutes. Do not wash raw meat. Lower the heat; stir in 200 g yogurt slowly.
Braise · About 80 min
- Add the almond paste and 400 ml water. Cover; simmer gently for 70–90 minutes, stirring every 20 minutes.
Check: The meat yields to a fork. Lamb must reach at least 63°C / 145°F; longer cooking softens this cut.
Finish · About 3 min
- Stir in 80 ml cream; warm gently for 2–3 minutes. Remove whole spices.
Tips
- Cook yogurt gently.
- Browned onions add sweetness; do not burn them.
Substitutions
- Use cashews instead of almonds.
- Lamb shoulder can replace mutton.
Storage
- Refrigerate perishable food within two hours, or within one hour in heat above 32°C / 90°F. Store covered at 4°C / 40°F or below. Use within two days for this draft.
- Reheat cooked dishes to 74°C / 165°F, stirring or turning for even heating. Serve cold salads, dips and chilled desserts directly from safe refrigeration.
- For sauces and soups, add a little water if thick and reheat gently. Crisp coatings soften after storage.
Make ahead
- Blend the nut paste one day ahead and refrigerate.
- Cook the curry ahead; add cream during reheating.
FAQ
Can I make a nut-free version?
Omit almonds and reduce the water. The sauce will have a different body.
Why does the sauce stick?
Nut paste thickens quickly. Use a heavy pot and stir during braising.
Can I use a pressure cooker?
This draft gives saucepan timings. Follow a tested pressure-cooker recipe for that method.
Food safety references
FoodSafety.gov: cooking temperatures · Food Standards Agency: rice storage and reheating



