A creamy Rajasthani lamb curry with tender bone-in lamb in a yoghurt-thickened gravy, warmed by cumin, clove and gentle chilli. It is rich, mildly spiced and best kept at a gentle simmer so the yoghurt stays smooth.
Whole spices for the ghee
0.6 gAdded to the hot ghee before the onion paste (step 4)
Mix 800 g lamb leg pieces with 15 g garlic paste in a bowl and set aside to marinate.
Whisk 280 g Greek yoghurt with 18 g chickpea flour, the yoghurt mix spices (2.6 g Kashmiri chilli powder and 3 g ground turmeric) and 199 g water until lump-free; set aside.
Crush 2.1 g cumin seed coarsely with a pestle and mortar; set aside.
Melt 39.6 g ghee in a large heavy-based saucepan over medium heat. Add the whole spices for the ghee (0.3 g asafoetida and 0.3 g clove) and 4 g green bird's-eye chilli slit lengthways; fry for a few seconds.
Add 200 g white onion paste and fry over medium heat for 8 minutes, stirring and scraping the pan base.
Add the marinated lamb and fry for 10 minutes, stirring as it browns and seals.
Pour in 596 g water or lamb stock and add salt to taste. Bring to the boil, cover, and simmer over low heat for 1 hour 20 minutes, stirring halfway; the lamb should be tender.
Remove from the heat. Stir in the yoghurt mix a little at a time, whisking continuously for 2–3 minutes until fully added.
Return to low heat and stir for 5–6 minutes until the gravy thickens. Turn off the heat.
Stir in the finishing cumin. Garnish with chopped coriander to taste.
Use 15% to 20% of the weight (about 1 g for every 5 to 6 g fresh cloves). Whisk into sauces; gives a savoury, toasted garlic flavour without raw pungency.
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.
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.
For crisping batters or binding cutlets: use 50% to 60% of the weight. Produces a very crisp shell but lacks the earthy, roasted nutty flavour of besan.
Steep a tiny pinch (0.1 g per 2 g turmeric) in 2 tbsp warm water; use to match the rich golden hue. Contributes an aristocratic, honeyed floral flavour rather than earthy bitterness.