South Indian Style Mutton Curry

A robust, deeply spiced South Indian mutton curry with freshly ground coconut masala. This recipe captures the essence of home-cooked mutton curry from Tamil Nadu – earthy, aromatic, and rich with whole spices. Perfect with rice, idiyappam, or parotta.

⏱ Prep: 20 mins🍳 Cook: 50 mins⌛ Total: 70 mins🍕 Serves: 5

Ingredients

  • 750g mutton, cut into medium pieces
  • 3 tbsp Precious cold pressed groundnut oil
  • 2 onions, finely sliced
  • 1.5 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
  • 3 tomatoes, chopped
  • 2 tsp red chilli powder
  • 2 tsp coriander powder
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp cumin powder
  • 1 tsp pepper powder
  • 1.5 tsp garam masala
  • For coconut paste: 1/2 cup grated coconut, 1 tsp fennel seeds, 4 garlic cloves – blend smooth
  • For tempering: 1 tbsp Precious sesame oil, mustard seeds, curry leaves
  • Salt to taste
  • Fresh coriander to garnish

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Heat groundnut oil in a pressure cooker. Add sliced onions and fry until golden brown.
  2. Add ginger-garlic paste and saute 2 minutes.
  3. Add tomatoes and cook until they break down completely.
  4. Add red chilli, coriander, turmeric, cumin, and pepper powders. Cook 2 minutes.
  5. Add mutton pieces and toss on high heat for 5 minutes to seal.
  6. Add 1.5 cups water. Pressure cook for 5-6 whistles until mutton is tender.
  7. Open cooker once pressure releases. Add coconut-fennel-garlic paste.
  8. Stir and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes until gravy thickens.
  9. Add garam masala and salt. Taste and adjust.
  10. Finish with a tempering of sesame oil, mustard seeds, and curry leaves. Garnish with coriander.
Chef's Tip: Browning the onions and tomatoes properly before adding the mutton is non-negotiable for depth of flavour. Precious cold pressed groundnut oil and sesame oil together – one for cooking, one for the final tempering – give this curry its authentic South Indian character.

Cook with authentic cold pressed oils — the difference is in every bite.

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Suren

Written by

Suren

Suren is the co-founder of KN Agro Concepts and the creator of Precious cold-pressed oils. Based in Tamil Nadu, he has spent years working directly with traditional Mara Chekku wood-press artisans to bring authentic, chemical-free oils from Coimbatore to health-conscious families across India. He writes about cold-pressed oil, traditional Indian food practices, and the science of natural nutrition.

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