
Lehm e Murgan
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)Whole spices for the aromatic potli
5 gCrushed and tied into the muslin pouch (step 3)Spices for the yoghurt
4 gStirred into the whisked yoghurt (step 4)Ginger and garlic pastes
8 gFried with the lamb and onion paste (step 5)Finishing ground spices
1.5 gStirred in for the final simmer (step 7)Everything else
Method
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- In a small bowl, thoroughly whisk the spices for the yoghurt into 61.2 g yogurt.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Don't have something?

Lamb shank

Lamb shank and chopUse the same weight; the chop cooks faster, so check 20–30 minutes earlier.
Lamb legUse the same weight; cut into large chunks. Cooks 20–30 minutes faster and gives less gelatine.
Bone-in lambUse the same weight; simmer 30–40 minutes longer. Less gelatine but good body.

Lemon juice

Lime juiceUse equal volume or weight; delivers almost identical sharp acidity with a faintly more aromatic, bitter-edged profile.
Dried mango powderUse 25% of the weight (about 1 g amchoor for 4 g juice); provides clean fruity tartness without thinning the sauce.
White vinegarUse 75% of the volume; gives direct sourness without any citrus floral fragrance.

Ghee

Unsalted butterUse 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 oilUse 85% of the weight; holds high cooking temperatures without smoking, but the final dish will lack traditional dairy depth.
Mustard oilUse equal weight; heat to smoking point and cool slightly before cooking, bearing in mind it introduces an assertive, pungent edge.

Cashew nut

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

Chironji kernel

Blanched almondUse the same weight, soak 20 minutes and use whole or grind; slightly sweeter and less bitter.
Cashew nutUse the same weight, soak 20 minutes; creamier and milder than chironji.
PistachioUse the same weight, blanch and peel; stronger in flavour, so use slightly less if you want subtlety.

Poppy seed

Cashew nutUse 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 seedUse equal weight. Soak and grind finely; provides similar thickening and body with a slightly nuttier, faintly bitter edge.
AlmondUse 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 coconutUse equal weight directly; it is the identical ingredient under a different label.
Fresh coconutGrate 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 coconutGrate finely using a microplane and use equal weight. Offers a slightly oilier, toastier coconut profile.

Clove

Ground clovesUse 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 berriesUse 100% of the weight whole in tempering. Imparts a warm, clove-like aromatic profile combined with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon.
Black cardamom podUse 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 seedUse 35 to 40% of the total pod weight; lightly bruise the seeds before frying in oil to release their essential oils.
Ground green cardamomUse 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 podUse 1:1 by pod count or weight; crack gently before using, though it is slightly less intensely floral.

Black cardamom pod

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

Mace blade

Ground maceUse 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.
NutmegGrate finely, using 50% of the weight; sweeter, deeper, and slightly heavier in aroma than delicate mace.
Ground nutmegUse 40% of the weight; stir in gently with ground spices, avoiding high direct heat to prevent bitterness.

Cassia bark

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

Yogurt

Plain yogurtUse 100% of the weight. Whisk thoroughly until smooth before stirring into warm gravies to prevent curdling.
Single creamUse 90% of the weight combined with 10% lemon juice to replicate the lactic tang and rich body in marinades and curries.

Ground coriander

Coriander seedsDry-roast lightly in a pan and grind to a fine powder; use equal weight (1:1). Offers a noticeably fresher, brighter citrus note.
Ground cuminUse 50% to 75% of the weight. Lacks the floral, citrusy profile of coriander and turns the gravy heavier, earthier, and darker.
Garam masalaUse 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 powderUse 100% of the weight. Provides direct, sharp heat and red colour in equal measure.
Kashmiri chilli powderUse 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 pepperUse 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 oilUse equal weight; handles high tempering heat well and keeps flavours neutral.
ButterUse equal weight; cook over gentle heat to prevent browning the milk solids too quickly.

Onion


Onion paste

OnionUse 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 pasteUse 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 pasteUse 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

GarlicUse equal weight; crush or finely grate to a smooth pulp to replicate the same fresh, pungent moisture in your base gravy.
Garlic powderUse 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 gingerUse equal weight; peel and grate very finely on a microplane or pound to a fine paste in a mortar.
GingerUse equal weight; mince finely and crush with the flat of a knife before frying.
Ground gingerUse 20% of the weight; add directly with the dry spice powders, though it yields an earthier, less pungent profile.

Stock

Vegetable stockUse the same weight. It is lighter than meat stock, so taste and add a little extra salt or spices at the end.
Chicken stockUse the same weight where the recipe is not vegetarian; it gives a fuller savoury body than vegetable stock.
WaterUse 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 peppercornUse the same weight and crush or grind as the recipe needs; whole peppercorn is the same spice.
Ground black pepperUse the same weight; add nearer the end if the recipe calls for whole pepper, as ground loses aroma faster.
Ground white pepperUse about 75–80% of the weight; it is milder and earthier, with less bite.

Ground green cardamom

Green cardamom seedGrind freshly extracted inner black seeds finely; use equal weight (1:1). Greatly superior aroma with potent eucalyptus and citrus notes.
Green cardamom podLightly crack whole pods and simmer them in the gravy; use 150% of the weight of ground cardamom. Fish out the pods before serving.
Ground nutmegUse 50% of the weight. Delivers warm, sweet aroma, but lacks cardamom's cooling, citrusy top notes.

Ground black cardamom

Black cardamom seedsUse equal weight; grind freshly in a mortar or spice mill for an even more vibrant camphor-and-smoke aroma.
Black cardamom podUse 2.5 times the weight in whole pods; crack open, extract the sticky seeds, and grind to a fine powder, discarding the husks.
Garam masalaUse 60% of the weight; provides some warm resinous smokiness if it contains black cardamom, though it adds cinnamon and clove notes.

Ground mace

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

NutmegGrate 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 maceUse 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

RosewaterUse equal volume; replaces the grassy, pandan-like kewra aroma with a sweet floral note.
Green cardamom podCrush seeds from 2 pods per teaspoon of floral water and add to the simmering gravy; provides sweet aromatic lift without floral perfume.
Similar dishes

- 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.

- 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.

- 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.

- 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.




















































