Mutton Kheema Masala / Koththukari Masala

Ingredients : Minced lamb /mutton -- 1/2 kg (acc to ur requirement) Ginger garlic paste -- 1 tsp Mutton masala powder -- 2 tsp (optional) Onion -- minced, 1/2 cup Fennel seed powder -- 1/4 tsp Cinnamon -- 1/2 " piece Cardamom -- 1 no. Cloves -- 1 no. Salt -- to taste Oil -- 2 tsp To Pressure cook : Ginger garlic paste -- 1 tsp Turmeric powder -- 1/8th of a tsp Red chilli powder -- 1/3 tsp Water -- 3/4 cup Onion -- 1/4 cup, chopped Salt -- as needed Tomato -- 1/2 no. + Mutton ( specified above) To crush : Garlic pods -- 10 nos. Whole peppercorns -- 5 to 6 nos. Poppy seeds -- 1/2 tsp

Method :

Pressure cook the minced lamb with onion, tomato, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, salt, gg paste and add one cup of water. Cook for 12 whistles ( mine took 12 whistles to cook very soft) In the meantime , crush the garlic pods , peppercorns, poppy seeds using a mortar n pestle / else in a mixie and make into a coarse mixture.( do not add water) Heat oil in a kadai and do the seasoning with cinnamon, cardamom and cloves. Stir in the fennel seeds powder as well. Now add the crushed mixture to the seasoning mixture and fry for a minute keeping the heat in low. Now, ur house will be entirely filled with the aroma of these spices . ( hmmmm...) Now throw in the minced onions and saute well adding half the salt ( remember, we've already added some salt in the cooked kheema mixture). Saute until the onions turn slightly brown. Add the remaining gg paste and again saute till the oil starts oozing out. Stir in the mutton masala powder (optional) at this stage, if u r using and mix well with the masala. Finally add in the cooked kheema mixture ( kheema mixture should not be watery, thatz y we r adding only a cup of water, just enough to get cooked) and blend well with the masala. U may add 1/4 th cup of water ,if ur mixture is too thick. Give them a rapid boil for 5 minutes and once it reaches the consistency we want, switch off and the kheema masala is ready to be eaten with idli's, dosa n roti's. ( take a look at the picture for the consistency it needs to be)