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Atul Kochhar’s lamb pepper fry

Name: Atul Kochhar’s lamb pepper fry
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: Serves 4
Cuisine: Indian recipes
Ingredients: 600g boneless lamb rump or neck fillet, chopped into bite-size pieces; 2 tsp white wine vinegar; 2 tsp freshly ground black pepper (see Tips); 1 heaped tbsp coconut oil; 2 onions, finely sliced; 5 fresh or dried curry leaves; 2½ cm piece fresh ginger, finely chopped; 4 garlic cloves, finely sliced; 2 tsp caramelised onion paste (optional); ½ tsp turmeric; 1 tbsp chopped coriander

By: Atul Kochhar

Published: 17 May 24
Updated: 3 Jun 24

This special Keralan dish is flavoured with curry leaves, cloves and plenty of black pepper. “From Kerala, this curry – a very common recipe among the Christians of the region, where it would most likely be made with mutton or goat – has very little gravy,” says Atul Kochhar. “In my catering college, I had lots of classmates from Kerala and they were all experts at cooking curries like this. I was fortunate to learn first-hand from the masters. I owe so much to George; he was an absolutely amazing chef and this was his favourite curry as well… All you need is some bread to serve with this.”

Atul Kocchar is a guest chef at Pub in the Park this summer – Tom Kerridge’s music festival for food lovers, which is popping up in four locations: Marlow (16-19 May), Chiswick (28-30 June), Reigate (12-14 July) and St Albans (6-8 September). Discover our all-star collection of Pub in the Park chef recipes, including dishes by Angela Hartnett, Andi Oliver and Rick Stein – and buy tickets direct from Pub in the Park. We’ll see you there!

Easy
Online only 2024

Test kitchen approved

Serves 4
Hands-on time 30

Nutrition: Per serving

Calories: 405kcals
Fat: 25g (15g saturated)
Protein: 36g
Carbohydrates: 7g (5.4g sugars)
Fibre: 2.5g
Salt: 0.3g

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Ingredients

600g boneless lamb rump or neck fillet, chopped into bite-size pieces
2 tsp white wine vinegar
2 tsp freshly ground black pepper (see Tips)
1 heaped tbsp coconut oil
2 onions, finely sliced
5 fresh or dried curry leaves
2½ cm piece fresh ginger, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, finely sliced
2 tsp caramelised onion paste (optional)
½ tsp turmeric
1 tbsp chopped coriander

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Method

Put the lamb in a large saucepan with the vinegar, ½ tsp of the freshly ground black pepper, ½ tsp salt and 200ml water. Cover and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and leave the meat to simmer for 8 minutes. Strain, reserving the cooking liquid.
Meanwhile, melt the coconut oil over a medium-high heat in a frying pan. Add the onions, curry leaves, ginger, garlic and a pinch of salt, and cook, stirring, until the onions are lightly coloured (about 8 minutes). Stir in the onion paste (if using) and turmeric and cook for 30 seconds.
Stir in the meat and half the reserved cooking liquid, which will be absorbed and evaporate quite quickly. Then add the remaining liquid, a little at a time, stirring, until largely evaporated. The gravy should almost be like a thin paste coating the lamb and the lamb should be tender.

Stir in 1 tsp of the freshly ground black pepper, season to taste with salt, if necessary, and continue stirring until all the liquid has evaporated. Sprinkle over the remaining pepper and the chopped coriander leaves just before serving.

Recipe from Online only 2024 Issue

Nutrition

Nutrition: per serving

Calories: 405kcals
Fat: 25g (15g saturated)
Protein: 36g
Carbohydrates: 7g (5.4g sugars)
Fibre: 2.5g
Salt: 0.3g

delicious. tips

Atul says, “I have actually been very cautious with the black pepper here although it might look like a lot, but if a Keralan chef was making this, they would add lots and lots of pepper, so feel free to add as much as you like.”