Mutton Xacuti
This is one of my favourite dishes growing up. Xacuti is a Goan masala that every family prepares and they would have their own blend of spices. Along with the spice blend, I also believe marinating the meat is an important step. This tenderises the meat, reducing the cooking time but also enhances the flavour.
Equipment
- Pot and pan
- Chopping board and knife
- Food Processor or Blender
- Pressure cooker
Ingredients
- 11/2 kg Mutton
For marination
- 5 tbsp yoghurt
- 1 tsp salt
- 11/2 tsp ginger and garlic paste
- 4 tbsp ground masala
Masala
- 350 gms grated coconut I use frozen grated coconut
- 5 kashmiri chillies
- 2 tbsp coriander seeds
- 11/2 inch cinnamon stick
- 1/2 star anise
- 2 black cardamon
- 2 green cardamon
- 1 mace
- 1 tsp poppy seeds
- 1 tsp nutmeg powder
- 26 peppercorns
- 18 cloves
- 1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds
- 1/4 tsp fennel seeds
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/2 inch ginger
- 14 cloves garlic
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 tbsp oil
Gravy preparation
- 2 medium onions finely chopped
- 2 large potatoes cut into medium pieces
- 1 large tomato finely chopped
- 4 tbsp oil
- salt to taste
Instructions
Masala preparation
- In a pan, dry roast the spices. I always do the chillies first, then the coriander seeds followed by the rest of the whole spices. Add a little salt to the spices when you roast them. Add these spices, powdered turmeric and nutmeg along with the ginger and garlic to the food processor. Blend with a little bit of water. Keep this aside.
- To the same pan, add one tbsp oil and fry the onions until lightly brown. Then put in the coconut and fry until till its golden brown.It's important that you take your time doing this process, you have to ensure you do not burn the spices or the coconut. Add the coconut and onions to the spice blend in the food processor and grind this to a slightly coarse consistency. Xacuti masala is meant to be a coarse masala
Meat Marination
- Wash the meat, add salt, yoghurt and ginger garlic paste. Add 4 tblsp of ground masala to this. Mix well and marinate this for 4 hours. I marinate it overnight.
Curry preparation
- In a pressure cooker, put the oil and add one chopped onion. Fry for a few minutes until the onions are soft and translucent. Put in the marinated mutton and fry for a few minutes. Add 1 cup water and pressure cook this for 3 - 4 whistles. I boil the mutton until it's soft but not fully cooked because, I like to cook it further in the masala
- In a pot, add 3 tbsp oil. Add one chopped onion, fry till the onions are light brown. Add the chopped tomatoes and cook till soft. To this, add the masala and fry for 5-7 minutes on low heat. Add the chopped potatoes and the boiled mutton and mix well. Add salt. Cook until the potatoes and mutton are soft and cooked.
Notes
I enjoy this with steamed rice or paratha. Hope you enjoy this as much as I do