Mutton Chukka, Cooked in an Earthen Pot

Our Grandmother used to cook meat and other food in earthen pot, which tasted very delicious. Here I made Mutton Chukka (Dry Curry) in an earthen pot which I bought from the local weekly market.

• An earthen pot
• Wooden spoon / ladle
• Mortar and pestle set

If your earthen pot is new, then you have to season it before using it for cooking.

• Immerse the new pot in water for a few hours
• Then clean the pot, fill water and boil it till the earthen smell disappears from the pot.

For this recipe I have used about 500 grams of mutton, cut to pieces. Wash and clean the mutton pieces and keep aside.

• One tomato, finely chopped
• One large size onion, finely chopped
• Ginger Garlic paste. Here, I have used the Mortar and pestle set to make the ginger garlic paste.
• Handful of finely chopped Coriander leaves and mint leaves
• One to two teaspoon of Red chili powder. Please adjust it to your own taste.
• One teaspoon of Cumin seed powder
• One teaspoon of Garam Masala powder
• Half a teaspoon of Turmeric powder
• A tablespoon of cooking oil
• Salt to taste

Other Spices in small quantities

• Green Cardamom
• White poppy seeds
• Kalpasi (Armotrema Perlatum, commonly known as black stone flower)
• Star Anise
• Cinnamon sticks
• Cloves
• Fennel Seeds

• Heat the earthen pot on a stove
• When the earthen pot is properly heated without moisture, add a tablespoon of cooking oil
• When the oil is heated, add the spices like Green cardamom, white poppy seeds, Kalpasi, Star anise, Cinnamon sticks, gloves and fennel seeds to the hot oil
• Lightly fry the spices using the wooden ladle.

• Add the finely chopped mint and coriander leaves and stir
• Add the Ginger garlic paste
• Add chopped onions
• Cook them all in oil till raw small disappears

• Now add all spice powders and chopped tomatoes and cook for a few minutes
• Add salt to taste

• When all the ingredients are well cooked in oil, add the Mutton pieces
• Mix all ingredients together.
• Add one cup of water to the pot and mix well
• Cover the pot and keep it on fire
• Stir the contents from time to time to prevent the dish from sticking to the pot.

• When the gravy starts to thicken, check to see whether the meat is properly cooked.
• If you find it a bit hard, then add some more water and cook till meat becomes tender
• Once the meat is properly cooked and the gravy thickens, remove from heat.
• Transfer the Mutton Chukka to a serving dish.

Hope you all will enjoy the Mutton Chukka cooked in a earthen pot