I make - Lamb Pasanda

After several rounds of would-rather-forget beef brisket dishes (including the most recent beef curry), I've decided that the best meat this country has to offer is lamb. I didn't like lamb until I arrived in the UK and it took me a few years before I realized how good lamb is. The meat is always tender, succulent and rich but not bold. I just love it. Lamb shoulder is my favorite cut. It roasts so well seasoned minimally, not fussy about temperature or time (although low and slow is hard to beat) and always with great outcome. Recently I also tried lamb rump, the part of the animal just before the hind legs. I grilled mine on the stove top after marinating in soy sauce and shaoxin wine. What can I say, tender, juicy and very flavorful. We both wished we had more to share that night.

Then it was lamb pasanda. So far, I would consider Butter Chicken is my signature curry dish but tonight's lamb curry deserves to go on my repertoire. It's a gentle curry enriched with yogurt and cream, mildly spiced and with the great British lamb. Here is my version based on Curry Guy's recipe.


My Lamb Pasanda

Lamb and the marinade
- 900g (2lbs.) lamb shoulder, cut into 1-inch chunks
- 4 tablespoons of yogurt
- 1 teaspoon of mixed powder (or use chicken masala or tandoori masala powder)
- 1 tsp grated ginger
- juice from 1/2 lemon
- 1/4 tsp salt

Pasanda gravy
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 3 tablespoon rapeseed oil/ghee
- 4 green cardamom pods, bruised
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon of grated ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon fenugreek powder (or 1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds)
- 1 tablespoon garam masala
- 1 tablespoon tandoori masala
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 tomatoes, chopped (or use 1 cup of canned tomatoes or 3 tablespoons of tomato paste)
- 1 large red bell pepper, in 1cm dices
- Water (enough to cover)
- 1 tablespoon of almond butter from a jar (or use 2 tablespoons of puree from cashews which have been soaked in hot water and drained)
- 100ml Greek yogurt (5% fat)
- 50ml single cream
- 1 tsp sugar
- Salt to taste
- Coriander leaves to decorate

Marinade lamb shoulder chunks at least 2 hours with all ingredients listed under Lamb and the Marinade.

To prepare the gravy, saute the chopped onions in oil or ghee until golden brown. Add in ginger, garlic, cardamon pods, fenugreek powder/seeds, cinnamon stick and two masala powders. Cook the spices and the aromatics in the oil for 30 seconds to release the aroma. Dribble some water to prevent from sticking or burning.

When the pan is almost dry (no visible water pools), cook the marinated lamb chunks in the same pot. You may need to grill the lamb in two batches, depending on the size of your pan. You want light brown crust to form under each lamb chunk.

After all lamb chunks are lighted browned, add in chopped tomatoes and bell peppers. Stir well and add water just enough to cover the top (it's ok to see a few chunks). Bring the pot to a rolling boil, cover and bring the heat to low. Cook for 45 minutes.

In the meantime, mix Greek yogurt and cream in a bowl and set aside at the room temperature. This minimizes the chance of yogurt splitting in the hot curry.

After 45 minutes, remove the lid and stir the curry lightly to prevent anything stuck on the pan. Stir in almond butter and the yogurt/cream mixture. Season with 1 teaspoon of sugar. Cook for another 15-20 minutes uncovered at low heat until the lamb is tender. Taste, season with salt and scatter coriander leaves on top.

2018 weekly - Week 39

27/09/2018

Delivered an improved talk today. I gave myself 85%, improved from 79% back in May.

28/09/2018

Talked to a headhunter for a position in China. I did it mostly out of curiosity. Very tempting, I must say.

2018 weekly - Week 38

16/09/2018

Made this simple creme as a quick dessert. Very yummy.

- 250 g Mascarpone cheese
- 1/2 cup lemon curd
- 170 g 0% Greek Yogurt (a small pot)
- zest and juice from 1 lemon

Stir everything together into a smooth mixture. This could serve six people. Chill for 2 hours (at least) before serving.

21/09/2018

Killing Eve is addictive! Excellent acting all around.

2018 weekly - Week 37

12/09/2018

First French class after the summer break. Disaster. Couldn't catch any word from a 2 and half minute video about le break. What on earth would I know about the break dance but that's not the point. My listening is really poor, even though my reading, writing and speaking is not bad.

I need a therapy session.


13/09/2018

I felt that I've earned my next trip to collaboration meetings. FYA.

2018 weekly - Week 36

08/09/2018

Pleased with my work this work. Energised by the feeling after scientific exchange. This is what gives me buzz. I can't deny it, despite how unpleasant the surroundings are.

2018 weekly - Week 35

26/08/2018

We are back to the familiar British weather. Sun, rain, clouds and blue sky all in one hour. Now it looks like it's going to catch up with the rain we didn't have for two months. Well, can't really complain. High 16C today, eerily familiarly comforting.

Binge-watched BBC's 1995 Pride and Prejudice last night. Now I understand why people just can't stop talking about it. It's such a classic with excellent acting. Mrs Bennett is unbearable with a few silly daughters to match. I resisted with all my power not to fast forward when she rants. Really wondered why Mr Bennett decided to marry her but hey ho. Yes, the obvious stars are Miss Elizabeth Bennett and Mr Darcy. Yes the production is more than 20 years old but it feels refreshingly modern. I love it.

27/08/2018

Made a seriously evil thing today called Banana Caramel Pudding which is actually custard. You are supposed to start with white sugar and make caramel, add banana puree and finish fresh cream in the end (did you smell this already?) but I already have salted caramel sitting in the fridge. So I heated salted caramel first and added banana puree. The smell is intoxicating. Then the pudding was made by adding eggs, milk and cornstarch. I have to exercise greatest restraint not to woof down in one go.

Glad to have another way to solve my two-banana conundrum*, other than smoothie or banana bread.

*I always seem to have two overripe bananas sitting staring at me whenever I buy bananas.