Mutton Ishtu/Mutton Stew

 













Mutton Ishtu/Mutton Stew is a very common style of cooking mutton in Kerala,especially as a combination for Vellayappam,Palappam,Kallappam,Noolpittu(Idiyappam),Puttu etc...Mutton stew is in fact a european recipe and I guess the colonialism might have introduced this recipe to our mothers and grandmothers who Indianised it as 'Mutton Ishtu' with their Indian spices!This deceptively bland looking Mutton stew is but one of the most gorgeous mutton preparations...I have seen some add vegetables like carrot to the gravy, but I being a 'pure' nonvegetarian have not allowed any corruption of my mutton!! Here is the Mutton Stew recipe that I have learnt from my mother...

Ingredients:

Mutton-250 g-cleaned & cut into pieces
Ginger-25g-pounded
Garlic-20g-pounded
Green Chilli-4-slitted
Cinnamon stick-1 inch-broken
Cloves-7
Cardamom-5(crushed)
Fennel seeds-1/2tsp
Curry leaves-2 sprigs
Potato-2 large-Diced
Red Onion-1 large-chopped
Indian shallots-50g-chopped
Coconut milk-1 cup(thick)
Pepper corns-1tsp-pounded
Water-3/4 cup
Salt-as required
Oil-1 1/2 tbsp
Coriander leaves-optional

Method:

Marinate the cleaned and cut mutton pieces with half a teaspoon pepper powder and salt.(some add a little lemon juice to marinate,bt I have not added)Heat oil in a wok.Saute curry leaves,cardamom,cinnamon,fennel seeds, onion,shallots,ginger,garlic,green chillies(in the same order) till they become transluscent.Add the potato and the mutton.Saute for a couple of minutes. Now add water and cook it till done.(I pressure cooked it for 5 whistles).Now add the pounded pepper corns and cook futher for a couple of minutes.Finally add the coconut milk,mix well and switch off the stove. Let it remain for sometime.You may garnish it with coriander leaves and serve it hot with any of these dishes:

UnniPaalappam

Paalappam

AriPathiri

Puttu

KeralaPorota

Thenga dosa

Chappathi