Non-vegetarianPrep 2 hours 50 minutes, plus cooling timeCook 15–20 minutes
Goat meat is slow-roasted until tender in an aromatic broth of tomatoes and onions, then shredded and finished in a vibrant sauce perfumed with toasted fennel, ajwain, and kalonji.
Braising spices
9 gAdded to the roasting tin with the goat meat (step 1)
Place 4500 g goat meat into a large roasting pan along with 900 g chopped tomato, 300 g chopped onion, 17.4 g salt, 0.5 tbsp cayenne pepper, the braising spices, and 1 litre of water. Stir everything thoroughly, cover tightly with a fitted lid or aluminium foil, and roast for 2 hours. Remove from the oven and let cool until safe to handle.
Set a heavy skillet over medium heat and add 1 tsp kalonji seeds along with the toasting spices. Stir continuously for 2 to 3 minutes until the fennel takes on a pale yellow hue. Transfer to a bowl to cool, then grind in a spice grinder to a fine powder.
In a wide pot over medium-high heat, combine 114 g vegetable oil and 720 g puréed tomato. Stir in the ground toasted spice mixture, 11.6 g salt, the curry turmeric, and 0.5 tsp cayenne pepper. Cook for 5 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently, until the tomatoes thicken into a paste and oil starts to glisten on the surface.
Pour 1.2 litres of water into the tomato base and stir well. Bring the mixture to a boil, drop the heat to low, and simmer gently for 10 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and set aside.
Using gloved hands, strip all the meat from the braised bones and discard the bones. Return the meat to the roasting pan with its braising juices. Set the pan over medium-high heat on the hob, bring to a boil, then simmer uncovered for roughly 10 minutes until the liquid reduces to a moist coating rather than a thin soup.
Warm the tomato and fennel curry over medium heat, then fold in the shredded goat meat along with its braised tomatoes and onions. Heat through until bubbling gently.
Use 40% to 50% of the fresh tomato weight mixed with a splash of water. Imparts a deeper red colour, thicker sauce, and slightly sweeter cooked flavour.
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.
Use 50% of the weight mixed with equal parts ground coriander and a pinch of ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground green cardamom. Sprinkle near the end for a warming finish.
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.