Kosha Mangsho — Durga Puja Mutton Curry
A dark, slow-cooked mutton curry with caramelised onions and a deep spice blend, a beloved Durga Puja afternoon indulgence in Kolkata.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 90 min
- Total
- 120 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Calories
- 420 kcal
Equipment
- •Heavy-bottomed kadai
Nutrition
Per serving, approximate
- Calories
- 420 kcal
- fat
- 28 g
- carbs
- 10 g
- fibre
- 2 g
- protein
- 32 g
- calories
- 420 kcal
Instructions
- 1
Mix the mutton with yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, half the red chilli powder and salt. Leave for at least 2 hours, ideally overnight.
- 2
Heat mustard oil in a heavy kadai (deep pan). Fry the sliced onions on low heat until deep brown, about 20 minutes.
- 3
Add sugar and let it brown slightly. Add the whole spices, bay leaf and remaining ginger-garlic paste.
- 4
Add the tomato puree. Cook until the oil separates from the masala (spice mix).
- 5
Add the marinated mutton. Fry on high heat for 8–10 minutes, stirring often, until well browned.
- 6
Lower the heat. Cook uncovered in its own juices, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes until the masala turns dark.
- 7
Add a little hot water as needed. Cover and cook gently on low heat for 40–50 minutes until the mutton is tender.
- 8
Stir in garam masala powder. Cook uncovered for a final 5 minutes until the gravy coats the meat thickly.
- 9
Leave the curry to rest for 15 minutes before serving so the flavours settle.
Chef's tips
Slowly browning the onions gives the dish its signature dark colour, so do not rush this step. Marinating overnight noticeably improves the tenderness of the mutton.
Ingredient substitutions
- mutton → goat meat, which is traditionally used interchangeably
Storage
Refrigerate for up to 3 days; flavour improves the next day.
Reheating
Reheat gently on the stovetop, adding a splash of water if the gravy has thickened too much.
Common mistakes to avoid
- •Rushing the onion browning, which results in a pale, thin gravy.
- •Adding too much water, which thins out the thick, clingy gravy.
Serving suggestions
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