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Ceylonese Lamb Curry














Ingredients

Quantity
Breast of lamb – cut each rack into 1” strips
4 pounds
Olive oil
 1 tbsp
Vegetable oil
1 tbsp
Madras – style curry powder
2 tbsp
Crushed dried hot chillies
1 tsp
Anise seeds
½ tsp
Ground cinnamon
1 tsp
Fresh dill weed
¾ tsp
         Or

Dried dill weed
½ tsp
Garlic cloves – finely minced
8
Grated fresh ginger
2 tbsp
Onion – chopped
1 large
Beef broth
2 cups
Brown sugar
½ cup
Distilled vinegar
¼ cup
Additional crushed dried hot chillies
optional
Onions – cut into bite- sized chunks
2 medium
Bell pepper – seeded and cut into strips
1 large
Cooking apples – peeled , cored & cut into bite-sized chunks
2 medium
Seedless oranges – cut into thin slices with peels
2 medium
Fresh ripe pineapple – core & cut into bite-size chunks
½
Cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water
1 tbsp
Salt & fresh black pepper

Minced fresh cilantro
½ tbsp
Minced fresh mint leaves
1 tbsp
Green onion and tops – minced and peeled
4
Pineapple spears and mint spring
for  garnish


Put the meat in a large pot, cover with cold water, and bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes and drain. Heat the oils over high heat in a large skillet. If they begin to smoke, reduce the heat slightly. Add the herbs and spices, garlic, ginger, and onion. Stirring rapidly, cook for about 2 minutes, or until a paste is formed. Add the meat and stir to coat all evenly.

Pour in the broth, reduce to a rapid simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the meat is exceedingly tender. Add the brown sugar and vinegar and taste. If you want a more distinctly sweet and sour taste or more heat, add additional sugar, vinegar, and red pepper at this time. Add the onions, pepper, and fruit and continue simmering until the apples are tender but not falling apart. Stir in the cornstarch mixture and continue to simmer, stirring gently, until the sauce is thickened and glossy.

Add salt and pepper to taste. Add the cilantro, mint, and green onions and stir lightly. Pour into a heated serving platter. You may cut the remaining pineapple into spears to use for garnish along with sprigs of mint. Sometimes I set the spiked top of the pineapple in the center of the dish and ladle the curry around it. This makes an attractive display. Serve with steamed white rice or saffron rice and hot steamed chapatis. (Chapatis and flour tortillas are very similar.)
 
NOTES:                 Cut the strips of meat apart between the ribs. Yield: 6 to 8 servings.