Dried Fruit Lamb Or Beef Curry Recipes

INDIAN LAMB CURRY

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven or heavy bottom skillet, add the oil, ghee, and whole spices.Pro tip - if possible use a Dutch oven as it retains heat evenly and will cook without losing too much liquid. if not, use a heavy bottom skillet with a tight lid.
• Then, add onions and saute until caramelized, almost brown - about 10 minutes (see video).Pro tip - depending on the heat it may take 10 to 15 minutes to caramelize the onions. Do not cook on high as it will burn the onions not caramelize.
• Next, add the ginger and garlic - saute for another minute. Add the lamb pieces, saute for 2 to 3 minutes until the lamb is no longer pink.Pro tip - ginger and garlic can burn easily so keep the heat on medium. Then turn the heat a little higher to sear the lamb on all sides.
• Then, add the ground spices and chopped tomatoes. Saute for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant.
• Next, add the yogurt. Combine it then add 1/2 cup water. Season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil on medium-high heat.Pro tip - stir the yogurt separately in a small bowl to ensure there are no lumps before you add it to the lamb otherwise you will have lumps in the curry.
• Continue to simmer it on the stovetop on medium-low heat stirring frequently until meat is cooked through and becomes fork-tender - about 1 to 1 ½ hour adding water if necessary. Pro tip - Always ensure you have enough water so the meat has enough moisture to cook. If necessary add ¼ to ½ cup more.
• When cooked to fork-tender, taste and adjust seasoning. Adjust gravy by adding a bit more water depending on how you going to serve it.Pro tip - If you serve it with chapati, naan, or roti - keep it thick. If you serve with rice, add a little water to make a gravy.
• Garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley.

DRIED FRUIT LAMB (OR BEEF) CURRY

Steps:

• Combine the apples, prunes and raisins in a bowl, pour the water over them and let soak for at least an hour, turning the fruit occasionally.
• Dry the cubed meat with a paper towel and sprinkle them with the salt.
• In a heavy large skillet, heat the oil over moderate heat until it is hot enough that a haze forms above it; brown the meat in the hot oil in 2 or 3 batches, turning the meat even ly to get them a good rich brown color; as they brown transfer to a plate and set aside.
• Pour off all but about 2 tbsps of the fat from the pan and drop in the onions; stir constantly and scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan; cook the onions for about 3 to 4 minutes, until they are soft.
• Reduce the heat to low, add the Curry powder and stir for 2 minutes or so to toast the Curry a bit, thus intensifying it's flavor ( a step you should always take when using Curry powder; it leeches any bitterness from some of the stronger spices in Curry).
• Return the meat to the pan, along with any liquid that has accumulated around it; stir in the fruits along with their soaking water, the vinegar and the lemon juice.
• Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low.
• Partially cover the skillet and simmer for about one hour or until the meat is tender and shows no resistance when poked with a sharp knife.
• Check the pan periodically and if it looks too dry, add up to a 1/4 cup water, a few tablespoons at a time; when the curry is done however, most of the liquid should be dried up as this is a dryer curry not a soupy one.
• Taste for seasoning and mound the curry on a heated platter; just before serving sprinkle with the peanuts and slice the bananas and arrange around the curry.
• Serve with hot rice, preferably Jasmine, and your favorite chutney.
• Also, I like a hotter curry and have found that adding an additional 1/2 tbsp of curry powder or paste does the trick, especially if I am serving with a hot chutney.