Mutton Rezala

Mutton Rezala

Rezala has very popular and authentic dish originated in Bengal and highly influenced by Mughlai cuisine but it little bit different from other typical Mughlai dishes. Generally made with mutton- ribs or chops  pieces with bones (often seena pieces used) cooked in a very fragrant mild white sauce of medium thin consistency. The secret behind a successful Rezala is the use of cardamom, cinnamon and cloves, the dish is spiced with rose petal powder, jayphal – javitri (nutmeg – mace) powder, shahi mirch powder (white pepper powder) and got contrasted by whole dry red chili. The fat used in the dish is ghee/ clarified butter. Also use Varity of attr (essence) such as kewra water or rose water.
That’s why the dish “Mutton Rrezala” is very royal.
You can also prepare it with chicken, paneer, egg or prawns.

Ingredients:

Mutton 1kg , preferably ribs (I used goat meat, lamb can also be used)

Onion - 1 medium ground into a fine paste

Garlic paste - 1tbsp

Ginger paste - 2tbsp

Plain yogurt - Half cup

Cashew paste - 2tbsp

Ghee / Clarified butter - half cup

Dry whole red chili - 8, 10

Peppercorn - 1tsp

Bay leaf

Saffron - 1/4th tsp.

Milk - 2,3 tbsp

Kewra essence few drops

Salt &  Sugar

Grind the following dry spices into a powder

Black cardamom - 2

Green cardamom - 2,3

Cloves - 5,6

Mace (Javitri) - 1, 2 leaves

Method:

Soak the saffron strands in warm milk and keep aside.

Take a bowl and blend onion paste, ginger garlic paste, cashew paste with yogurt. In a mixing bowl marinate the mutton pieces with yogurt mixture along with salt, sugar and two tsp. of dry spice powder. Let it rest overnight.

In a heavy bottom  pan or pressure cooker heat ghee on a low heat. Temper it with bay leaf. Take out the mutton pieces from the marinade and after shaking off all the excess liquids add the meat pieces to the pan.

Sauté it for about 4-5 mins on medium heat. Now add the marinade slowly and mix well.

Add whole red chilies and peppercorn. Cook it covered on low heat for about 30-40 mins till the meat is tender. During cooking add water if required and stir in between to prevent the meat sticking at the bottom or if you want can cook in pressure cooker for about 2-3 whistles on medium high heat and once the pressure releases and cook it covered till the rest is done.  It Once the mutton is just done add the saffron infused milk along with a few drops of kewra water. Cook for another two mins to mix the flavor of saffron and kewra into the meat. Let it stand for an hour. Serve with naan or paratha.