Varutharacha Erachi Curry - Mutton Curry in Roasted Coconut Paste

Sharing something, that reminds me a lot of things day in and day out...

The Qura'n clearly states that Allah will test us with our near and dear... our spouses, our children, our parents, our siblings, our relatives, our friends - close and distant, our foes... This is what the verse above means. Alhamdulillah, I have gone through a few experiences in the past couple of years through people I thought knew me inside out. However, the lessons we take from it must be valuable enough. We can be bitter about the experiences, lamenting how much misunderstanding has been created and keep making yourself miserable. On the other hand, you can take the lessons positively and realize that nobody will ever be able to understand you completely apart from the Creator. Never... once we accept this fact and move on, life becomes much easier to deal with... People may feel that you are being calm much to their irritation, but nobody apart from Him has the ability to know and calm down your internal turmoils and frustrations... I am slowly learning this, and trying to be there, but then being human, I do get a bit carried away. Only praying that He keeps me grounded till I am destined on this earth, InShaAllah... At no point, as human beings, can we be complacent about our state of affairs...

Today I thought of sharing with you another of umma's special curry. It's been long since I posted any recipe that she makes so well... Hmm... I have already shared previously the recipe of her varutharacha chicken curry, so this is a variation with mutton in it. More than chapathis and rice, this curry tastes so good with pathiris, which is a flattened rice bread, a totally Malabar specialty. I am yet to master the art of making perfect pathiris. InShaAllah, the time I master it, I do intend to do a post with a video, hehe... but how long it will take is a big question! ;) Till then, let me drool over this delicious mutton curry and you all could join me too! :)

Varutharacha Erachi Curry - Mutton Curry in Roasted Coconut Paste

Serves 4

Ingredients:

500 gm mutton or beef, washed and drained
1 tbsp coconut oil
2 large onions, sliced

3 green chillies, slit
1 large tomato, chopped
1 tsp ginger paste
1 tsp garlic paste
2 tbsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1/2 cup water

Salt to taste

For grinding:
3/4 cup grated coconut
4 shallots, chopped
1 sprig curry leaves

For tempering:
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
5 shallots, sliced
1 sprig curry leaves

Method:

Heat oil in a pressure cooker. Saute the onions along with the green chillies till soft. Add the tomatoes, ginger and garlic pastes and cook till tomatoes are mashed up. Add in the masala powders and fry briefly. Now add the water and mutton pieces along with salt and pressure cook till done. I normally cook for three whistles, and then switch off till the pressure is gone. 

In a small saucepan, add the "for grinding" ingredients and dry roast till slightly browned. Do not burn. Allow to cool. Add a little water and grind into a smooth paste.

Open the pressure cooker, add the ground paste, adjust the salt. Allow to cook on simmer for five minutes. 

In a frying pan, add the coconut oil. Splutter mustard seeds. Add the shallots and curry leaves and fry till the shallots are browned. Pour onto the curry and immediately close the lid. Keep as is for 10 minutes for the flavors to incorporate. 

Mix well and serve warm along with chapathis or neychoru - though pathiris are the best for this curry, just like I mentioned before!