Saoji Mutton – Nagpur

The famous mutton recipe from Nagpur needs no Introduction. It was playing on my mind for a while to recreate this dish once again but I was not getting the right composition of the Masala used to make this mutton. I chanced to get a ready made pack of Saoji Masala with the key ingredients already fried and packed, I decided to give it a try.

Recipe ingredients

• Mutton 500 gms – medium pieces
• Onions 3 large- Fine paste
• Tomatoes 2 Large – Pureed
• Garlic pods 8-10 – paste
• Red chili powder – 2 Tbsp
• Turmeric powder -1 tsp
• Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
• Asafoetida – 1 tsp
• Saoji Masala 3 heaped Tbsp
• Oil as per need
• Salt as per taste
• 1/2 cup Coriander leaves
• 1/2 cup Mint leaves ( Pudina patti)
• 2 green chili.
• 150 gms Yogurt

Recipe preparation

1. Make a paste of half cup coriander, half cup Mint (pudina) and 2 green chili.
2. Apply the paste to washed mutton pieces and keep it in refrigerator marination for 8 hours.
3. Heat Oil in a Kadhai.
4. Add mustard seeds and let the splutter.
5. Add onion and turmeric powder and stir well.
6. Once the onions leave their raw smell , add garlic paste and saute. Add pureed tomatoes and stir.
7. Once the entire mix starts leaving oil, add salt and red chili powder to it. Stir well again.
8. Add the marinated mutton, increase the flame to high and stir well for a minute or two.
9. Add the hing (asafoetida), salt and stir.
10. Reduce flame to medium and add the yogurt and keep stirring till the gravy attends a uniform consistency.
11. Cover and reduce the flame.
12. Slow cook it for 2 hours.
13. If your mutton is fresh it will be done.
14. Add Saoji Masala and stir well.
15. Add water about 250 ml and slow cook for another 2 hours.
16. Keep checking the gravy thickness and increase water content as per need.