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Prep Time: 120 Minutes Cook Time: 120 Minutes |
Ready In: 240 Minutes Servings: 10 |
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This fabulously tasty Xacutti (pronounced as sha- kooti)is a specialty of the Goan kitchen. The spice mixture, or masala might look daunting, but even if you didnt have all the spices, you can still make a very good masala. If you really want to cheat for convenience, replace Xacutti masala with 1/4 cup of good quality Indian curry powder and 1 to 2 tbsp ground dried red chillies. You can also toast dried unsweetened coconut instead of fresh, if you like. Serve this with steamed basmati rice. Ingredients:
1 (4 -6 lb) leg of lamb |
1 fresh coconut |
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice |
6 garlic cloves, smashed |
2 tablespoons chopped gingerroot |
5 hot green chili peppers, chopped |
2 tablespoons vegetable oil |
3 onions, sliced |
1 cup chopped tomato |
1 tablespoon seedless tamarind paste |
1 1/4 teaspoons salt |
30 dried hot red chili peppers, preferably kashmiri |
8 green cardamom pods |
8 cloves |
4 black cardamom pods |
1 piece cassia or 1 cinnamon bark, 2-inch broken up |
1/4 whole nutmeg, grated |
2 tablespoons coriander seeds |
1 tablespoon white poppy seeds or 1 tablespoon peanuts |
1 tablespoon fennel seed |
2 teaspoons cumin seeds |
1 1/2 teaspoons black mustard seeds |
1 1/2 teaspoons turmeric powder |
3/4 teaspoon ajwain or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme |
3/4 teaspoon anise seed |
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns |
1/2 teaspoon mace |
1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds |
Directions:
1. Cut lamb into 1 1/2 inch cubes and place in non-aluminum bowl. In blender, puree lemon juice, garlic, ginger and hot green peppers. Mix with lamb; marinate for 1 hour at room temperature or refrigerate for 2 to 6 hours. Crack open coconut,discarding the liquid. Pry out coconut meat. Pare off brown out side layer; discard. Grate coconut. In dry skillet, toast coconut over medium heat, stirring often, until golden brown, about 12 minutes.
2. Masala:.
3. In dry skillet, toast each spice separately over medium heat until fragrant and darkened in color. Transfer to spice grinder or blender along with toasted coconut; process until fine powder. Set aside.
4. In large shallow Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat; fry onions, stirring often, until goldenbrown, about 7 minutes. Stir in lamb and increase heat to high; fry. stirring, until liquid is mostly evaporated and oil begins to separate, about 12 minutes. Add masala; reduce heat to medium and fry, stirring until fragrant and oil is separated, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, tamarind, salt and 2 cups water.
5. Bring to simmer, reduce heat to medium- low and cook, partially covered and stirring often, until meat is tender and sauce is thick and clings to meat, about 1 1/2 hours.
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