Bengali Mutton Curry Robibarer Mangsho Sunday

Ingredients

• 700 g mutton — bone-in, cut into medium pieces
• 1 cup yogurt — beaten smooth
• 1 tbsp ginger paste, 1 tbsp garlic paste
• 1 tsp red chilli powder, 1/2 tsp turmeric, salt for marinating
• 4 tbsp mustard oil
• 3 large onions — finely chopped
• 2 bay leaf, 4 green cardamom — crushed, 4 cloves, 1 inch cinnamon
• 1 tbsp ginger paste, 1 tbsp garlic paste
• 2 tomatoes — finely chopped
• 2 tsp red chilli powder, 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp coriander powder, 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 3 medium potato — peeled and halved
• 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp garam masala, salt

Method

1. Marinate the mutton: Combine mutton with yogurt, ginger paste, garlic paste, red chilli powder, turmeric and salt. Marinate minimum 2 hours — overnight is better.
2. Heat mustard oil until smoking: Heat 4 tbsp mustard oil in a heavy pot until smoking. Reduce to medium-high.
3. Add whole spices: Add bay leaves, crushed cardamom, cloves and cinnamon. Sizzle 20 seconds.
4. Cook onions until golden: Add finely chopped onions. Cook 12 to 15 minutes until deep golden-brown.
5. Add ginger and garlic: Add ginger paste and garlic paste. Stir 2 minutes.
6. Add tomatoes: Add finely chopped tomatoes. Cook 6 to 8 minutes until soft and oil separates.
7. Add spice powders: Turn to low. Add red chilli powder, cumin powder, coriander powder and turmeric. Stir 3 minutes.
8. Add marinated mutton: Add the mutton with all its marinade. Cook on medium-high heat stirring for 10 minutes until the yogurt reduces completely.
9. Add potato and sugar: Add the halved potatoes and sugar. Add salt. Add 1 cup water. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook on medium-low heat for 45 to 50 minutes until mutton is completely tender.
10. Add garam masala and serve: Uncover. Cook 5 minutes to reduce gravy slightly. Add garam masala. Serve with steamed rice.
11. Note: Robibar er Mangsho (Sunday mutton) is one of the most deeply embedded food rituals of Bengali life — the Sunday mutton curry eaten with white rice is as much a cultural institution as it is a meal. In traditional Bengali households, the morning trip to the market to get fresh mutton on Sunday, the slow cooking through the morning, and the midday meal together as a family is a ritual observed for generations. The potato in the curry is mandatory — the Bengali mutton curry without potato is considered incomplete.