Indian cooking
Indian cooking / Dishes / Lehm e Murgan
Lehm e Murgan (Invigorating Lamb Curry)

Lehm e Murgan

Invigorating Lamb Curry
Non-vegetarian●●●Origin AwadhPrep 45 minutes, plus marinating timeCook 2½ hours

An opulent, slow-cooked lamb curry thickened with a toasted nut and seed paste, steeped with an aromatic spice pouch, and finished with delicate warming ground spices and scented floral water.

Poppy seeds for the majoon paste

2.8 gSautéed with the coconut and chironji (step 2)
01
2.8 g1 teaspoon
spice
Keep whole.

Whole spices for the aromatic potli

5 gCrushed and tied into the muslin pouch (step 3)
01
0.6 g8 cloves
spice
04
0.2 g1 blade
spice
Lightly crush with a pestle before tying into cloth.

Spices for the yoghurt

4 gStirred into the whisked yoghurt (step 4)
01
2.7 g1½ teaspoons
spice
02
1.3 g½ teaspoon
spice
Whisk thoroughly into the yoghurt.

Ginger and garlic pastes

8 gFried with the lamb and onion paste (step 5)
Stir directly into the pan.

Finishing ground spices

1.5 gStirred in for the final simmer (step 7)
01
~0.3 gpinch
spice
03
~0.3 gpinch
spice
04
~0.3 gpinch
spice
05
~0.3 gpinch
spice
Blend together evenly.

Everything else

02
to taste
salt
03
31 g2 tablespoons
souring agent
04
13 g1 tablespoon
oil/fat
05
22 g15 cashews
nut/seed
06
10 g2½ teaspoons
nut/seed
07
2.5 g1½ teaspoons
nut/seed
08
61 g4 tablespoons
dairy
10
Onion · Pyazlarge, sliced
150 g1 onion
vegetable
12
621 g625 ml
liquid

Method

  1. Place 1000 g lamb in a shallow dish, rub thoroughly with 30.6 g lemon juice and a pinch of salt to taste, then cover and set aside for 15 minutes.
  2. Melt 13.2 g ghee in a small pan over medium heat. Fry 15 cashew nuts until lightly golden, about 1 minute, and transfer to a blender. In the remaining fat, sauté 2.5 tsp chironji kernels, the poppy seeds for the majoon paste, and 2.5 g desiccated coconut for 1 minute. Tip into the blender with the cashews, add a splash of water, and blend to a smooth paste.
  3. Lightly bruise the whole spices for the aromatic potli in a mortar. Transfer them onto a piece of muslin along with 1 cinnamon stick, gather into a bundle, and tie securely with kitchen twine.
  4. In a small bowl, thoroughly whisk the spices for the yoghurt into 61.2 g yogurt.
  5. Warm 100 g ghee or vegetable oil in a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add 150 g sliced onion and cook for 5–7 minutes until deep golden brown. Add the marinated lamb, season with salt to taste, and fry for 2 minutes. Stir in 1 tbsp boiled onion paste along with the ginger and garlic pastes and fry for 1 minute.
  6. Take the pan off the heat and stir through the spiced yoghurt mixture. Return to the heat, suspend the spice pouch into the liquid, and cook for 2–3 minutes until the oil separates from the gravy. Pour in 625 g stock, bring to a boil, then cover and simmer over medium heat for roughly 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the lamb is tender.
  7. Stir the blended majoon paste into the curry, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes. Drop the heat to very low, add 1 tsp coarsely ground roasted spices and the finishing ground spices, stir well, then cover and cook gently for 10 minutes.
  8. Remove from the heat. Lift out and discard the spice pouch, stir in 0.1 g kewra water or rosewater, adjust the salt if required, and serve.

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Lamb shank
  • Lamb shank and chop

    Use the same weight; the chop cooks faster, so check 20–30 minutes earlier.

  • Lamb leg

    Use the same weight; cut into large chunks. Cooks 20–30 minutes faster and gives less gelatine.

  • Bone-in lamb

    Use the same weight; simmer 30–40 minutes longer. Less gelatine but good body.

Lemon juice
  • Lime juice

    Use equal volume or weight; delivers almost identical sharp acidity with a faintly more aromatic, bitter-edged profile.

  • Dried mango powder

    Use 25% of the weight (about 1 g amchoor for 4 g juice); provides clean fruity tartness without thinning the sauce.

  • White vinegar

    Use 75% of the volume; gives direct sourness without any citrus floral fragrance.

Ghee
  • Unsalted butter

    Use 120% of the weight; melt gently over low heat to avoid burning the milk solids, which will yield a softer, creamier richness rather than a nutty aroma.

  • Vegetable oil

    Use 85% of the weight; holds high cooking temperatures without smoking, but the final dish will lack traditional dairy depth.

  • Mustard oil

    Use equal weight; heat to smoking point and cool slightly before cooking, bearing in mind it introduces an assertive, pungent edge.

Cashew nut
  • Almond

    Use 100% of the weight. Soak in boiling water and slip off skins before frying or grinding; gives a lighter, slightly less sweet richness to curries.

  • Poppy seed

    Use 60% of the weight for gravies. Soak in warm water and grind into a fine paste to thicken royal kormas without adding heavy oiliness.

  • Shelled peanut

    Use 100% of the weight. Roast, skin, and grind; creates a thicker, earthier texture typical of Maharashtrian and western Indian curries.

Chironji kernel
  • Blanched almond

    Use the same weight, soak 20 minutes and use whole or grind; slightly sweeter and less bitter.

  • Cashew nut

    Use the same weight, soak 20 minutes; creamier and milder than chironji.

  • Pistachio

    Use the same weight, blanch and peel; stronger in flavour, so use slightly less if you want subtlety.

Poppy seed
  • Cashew nut

    Use equal weight. Soak in warm water for 20 minutes and grind to a smooth paste; produces an even creamier, slightly richer gravy than poppy seeds.

  • White sesame seed

    Use equal weight. Soak and grind finely; provides similar thickening and body with a slightly nuttier, faintly bitter edge.

  • Almond

    Use equal weight. Blanch, peel, and grind finely with a splash of water; lends a velvety body and gentle sweetness to gravies.

Desiccated coconut
  • Grated desiccated coconut

    Use equal weight directly; it is the identical ingredient under a different label.

  • Fresh coconut

    Grate finely and use 130% to 140% of the weight to compensate for higher moisture; toast gently in a dry pan over low heat if a dry texture is needed.

  • Dried coconut

    Grate finely using a microplane and use equal weight. Offers a slightly oilier, toastier coconut profile.

Clove
  • Ground cloves

    Use 1 g ground for 4 g whole (or 1 small pinch per 2 to 3 whole cloves). Add with spice powders; disperses intense warmth quickly, so use with restraint.

  • Allspice berries

    Use 100% of the weight whole in tempering. Imparts a warm, clove-like aromatic profile combined with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon.

  • Black cardamom pod

    Use 1 pod for 3 to 4 cloves in whole tempering. Shares a camphor-like warmth and medicinal depth, though it introduces a distinct smoky undertone.

Green cardamom pod
  • Green cardamom seed

    Use 35 to 40% of the total pod weight; lightly bruise the seeds before frying in oil to release their essential oils.

  • Ground green cardamom

    Use 20 to 25% of the pod weight (about 1 generous pinch per pod); stir in toward the end of cooking so the delicate floral notes do not dissipate.

  • White cardamom pod

    Use 1:1 by pod count or weight; crack gently before using, though it is slightly less intensely floral.

Black cardamom pod
  • Ground black cardamom

    Use 0.5 g of ground seeds for each whole pod. Stir directly into the curry base; delivers identical smoky flavour without woody husks.

  • Green cardamom pod

    Use equal pod count or weight. Crack slightly and fry whole; tastes sweet, menthol-fresh, and floral rather than dark and smoky.

Mace blade
  • Ground mace

    Use 0.5 g ground mace for 1 g mace blade; add towards the end of frying spices as ground powder burns much quicker than whole blades.

  • Nutmeg

    Grate finely, using 50% of the weight; sweeter, deeper, and slightly heavier in aroma than delicate mace.

  • Ground nutmeg

    Use 40% of the weight; stir in gently with ground spices, avoiding high direct heat to prevent bitterness.

Cassia bark
  • Ceylon cinnamon

    True cinnamon: thinner, papery quills, milder and sweeter. Use about 1.5 times the weight, and taste.

  • Ground cinnamon (cassia)

    Use about a third of the weight (0.5 g ground for a 2.5 cm piece), stirred in with the ground spices rather than fried whole, since the powder burns quickly.

  • Cassia buds

    Use 60-70% of the weight; stronger and more peppery, so taste before adding more.

Yogurt
  • Plain yogurt

    Use 100% of the weight. Whisk thoroughly until smooth before stirring into warm gravies to prevent curdling.

  • Single cream

    Use 90% of the weight combined with 10% lemon juice to replicate the lactic tang and rich body in marinades and curries.

Ground coriander
  • Coriander seeds

    Dry-roast lightly in a pan and grind to a fine powder; use equal weight (1:1). Offers a noticeably fresher, brighter citrus note.

  • Ground cumin

    Use 50% to 75% of the weight. Lacks the floral, citrusy profile of coriander and turns the gravy heavier, earthier, and darker.

  • Garam masala

    Use 50% of the weight and stir in near the end of cooking. Adds warmth and depth since it contains ground coriander, but introduces stronger spices like clove and cinnamon.

Chilli powder
  • Red chilli powder

    Use 100% of the weight. Provides direct, sharp heat and red colour in equal measure.

  • Kashmiri chilli powder

    Use 150% to 200% of the weight if matching colour, but add a pinch of black pepper or hot chilli if you need equivalent fiery heat.

  • Cayenne pepper

    Use 75% to 100% of the weight. Offers a sharp, clean heat with slightly less earthy depth and less crimson colour.

Ghee or vegetable oil
  • Peanut oil

    Use equal weight; handles high tempering heat well and keeps flavours neutral.

  • Butter

    Use equal weight; cook over gentle heat to prevent browning the milk solids too quickly.

Onion
  • Shallot

    Use equal weight, finely sliced. Shallots soften and brown faster, giving a slightly sweeter and more delicate base to curries.

  • Cabbage

    Use 80% of the weight, finely shredded and browned slowly with a pinch of asafoetida. Replicates the bulk and natural sweetness in gravies without allium.

Onion paste
  • Onion

    Use the same weight of raw onion, peeled and blended to a smooth paste. It is the same ingredient in unprocessed form; cook as directed until the raw smell goes.

  • Boiled onion paste

    Use the same weight. It is milder and sweeter and will not brown in the same way; fry a little longer if the recipe expects a golden base.

  • Fried onion paste

    Use 60–70% of the weight, as it is concentrated and sweet. Add a splash of water to loosen; the dish will be darker and richer.

Garlic paste
  • Garlic

    Use equal weight; crush or finely grate to a smooth pulp to replicate the same fresh, pungent moisture in your base gravy.

  • Garlic powder

    Use 20 to 25% of the weight; mix with a teaspoon of water before adding to oil so it does not burn, noting it lacks the fresh bite.

Ginger paste
  • Fresh ginger

    Use equal weight; peel and grate very finely on a microplane or pound to a fine paste in a mortar.

  • Ginger

    Use equal weight; mince finely and crush with the flat of a knife before frying.

  • Ground ginger

    Use 20% of the weight; add directly with the dry spice powders, though it yields an earthier, less pungent profile.

Stock
  • Vegetable stock

    Use the same weight. It is lighter than meat stock, so taste and add a little extra salt or spices at the end.

  • Chicken stock

    Use the same weight where the recipe is not vegetarian; it gives a fuller savoury body than vegetable stock.

  • Water

    Use the same weight and add a little extra salt and a pinch of garam masala or pepper; the dish will be thinner in flavour.

Black pepper
  • Black peppercorn

    Use the same weight and crush or grind as the recipe needs; whole peppercorn is the same spice.

  • Ground black pepper

    Use the same weight; add nearer the end if the recipe calls for whole pepper, as ground loses aroma faster.

  • Ground white pepper

    Use about 75–80% of the weight; it is milder and earthier, with less bite.

Ground green cardamom
  • Green cardamom seed

    Grind freshly extracted inner black seeds finely; use equal weight (1:1). Greatly superior aroma with potent eucalyptus and citrus notes.

  • Green cardamom pod

    Lightly crack whole pods and simmer them in the gravy; use 150% of the weight of ground cardamom. Fish out the pods before serving.

  • Ground nutmeg

    Use 50% of the weight. Delivers warm, sweet aroma, but lacks cardamom's cooling, citrusy top notes.

Ground black cardamom
  • Black cardamom seeds

    Use equal weight; grind freshly in a mortar or spice mill for an even more vibrant camphor-and-smoke aroma.

  • Black cardamom pod

    Use 2.5 times the weight in whole pods; crack open, extract the sticky seeds, and grind to a fine powder, discarding the husks.

  • Garam masala

    Use 60% of the weight; provides some warm resinous smokiness if it contains black cardamom, though it adds cinnamon and clove notes.

Ground mace
  • Mace blade

    Grind dried blades finely in a spice mill; use equal weight (1:1). Provides an identical, freshly aromatic, sweet-musky profile.

  • Ground nutmeg

    Use 75% to 80% of the weight. Derived from the seed of the same tree, it shares the flavour profile but is heavier, sweeter, and more pungent.

  • Ground cinnamon (cassia)

    Use 50% of the weight. Adds warming sweetness, but lacks mace's savoury, elegant floral notes.

Ground clove
  • Ground allspice

    Use 1.5–2 times the weight; it has a similar warm pungency but is milder and rounder, so the dish loses clove’s sharp medicinal heat.

  • Ground cinnamon (cassia)

    Use the same weight; it gives warmth but is sweeter and lacks clove’s strength, so use only if the amount is small.

Ground nutmeg
  • Nutmeg

    Grate whole nutmeg finely on a microplane; use 80% to 100% of the weight. Freshly grated nutmeg has significantly more aromatic oils and a more vibrant aroma.

  • Ground mace

    Use 100% to 120% of the weight. Mace is nutmeg's outer husk, providing almost identical warmth but with a lighter, slightly more delicate, floral edge.

  • Ground cinnamon (cassia)

    Use 75% of the weight. Adds comparable warmth and sweetness, though it lacks the musky, nutty undertone of nutmeg.

Kewra water or rosewater
  • Rosewater

    Use equal volume; replaces the grassy, pandan-like kewra aroma with a sweet floral note.

  • Green cardamom pod

    Crush seeds from 2 pods per teaspoon of floral water and add to the simmering gravy; provides sweet aromatic lift without floral perfume.

Similar dishes

Taar Qorma
Lamb with Rich Sauce
Taar Qorma tastes richer, heavier, and sweeter from the fried onions and cashews, lacking the sharp citrus acidity and smoky black cardamom notes of this dish.
  • Same: Both are slow-cooked lamb curries cooked in ghee and yogurt, spiced with coriander, green cardamom, mace, and nutmeg, and finished with fragrant floral water.
  • Different: Taar Qorma uses a much larger quantity of ghee, fried rather than boiled onion paste, and cashews instead of coconut and poppy seeds, while omitting lemon juice and black cardamom.
Baadam Pasanda
Lamb Fillets with Cashews & Almonds
Baadam Pasanda tastes heavier, silkier, and purely nut-sweet, lacking the tart citrus edge and floral aroma of this dish.
  • Same: Baadam Pasanda also slow-cooks lamb in ghee with boiled onion paste, yogurt, and warming spices like green cardamom, mace, nutmeg, and cloves.
  • Different: Baadam Pasanda enriches its gravy with cashew paste and much higher amounts of ghee and yogurt, but omits the lemon juice, poppy seeds, coconut, black cardamom, and floral water used in this dish.
Dahiwala Meat
Lamb in Yoghurt Sauce (I)
Dahiwala Meat tastes more tangy and onion-forward with green-chilli heat, while this dish tastes nuttier, richer, and floral from its nut-seed paste and scented water.
  • Same: Dahiwala Meat shares with this dish a slow-cooked lamb curry base built on yogurt, ghee, onion, ginger-garlic paste, clove, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, and chilli powder.
  • Different: Dahiwala Meat uses boneless lamb, more yogurt and onion, green chilli, garam masala, and coriander leaf, while this dish uses lamb shank, lemon juice, stock, a cashew-chironji-poppy-coconut paste, mace, nutmeg, and kewra or rosewater.
Dahi ka Keema
Lamb Cooked in Yoghurt
It tastes tangier and significantly more fiery from the heavy yogurt base and fresh green chillies, lacking the sweet floral finish and nutty richness of this dish.
  • Same: Dahi ka Keema also slow-simmers lamb in ghee with onions, ginger, garlic, yogurt, and warming spices like cardamom, cloves, and mace.
  • Different: It uses minced lamb cooked in five times as much yogurt without lemon juice, omitting the coconut-poppy seed paste and floral water in favor of cinnamon, bay leaf, and ninety grams of flash-fried green chillies.