COASTAL STYLE MUTTON

What did I mean by this "Coastal Style?"..... You see I have little knowledge about Food History! Hence in most cases I avoid talking about it.... Earlier I had blogged about some meat / egg dishes of Malvani / Konkani origin ..... what I see mostly is that they fry a couple of spices along with onion, grated coconut in oil and then blend them to a paste before proceeding with the recipe. Now this may vary from one region to another depending on the most available ingredients there. Isn't it so that the Southern India or this island or the Barishal district of Bangladesh use coconut extensively in their cooking because of it's easy availability? I remember this COASTAL STYLE MUTTON was done on a Saturday.... so neither  stepwise pictures were possible nor an authenticity of any particular region or place could be maintained. You all know that most of the time I prefer taking rough ideas from around and go ahead with a recipe unless it is a heirloom, Bengali family recipe. 

Look at this home.... if someone is at home, the television is on 24/7! That someone who does not take interest in anything except politics, games, good movies or music of his choice is watching the Royal Wedding now! Ahh me too was jotting down certain points.... what makes the Queen accept such a decision of her grandson? Old age or she is trying to keep up with time?.... "shomoyer sangey cholun noyto pichiye porben?".... Her Highness did not allow her daughter to be with the man she wished to and now one from another nation, a cross breed, an actor, a divorcee ...... a commoner steps into her castle.... majority of her people may not be happy.... We are commoners, of another nation which has its own turmoils, we will hardly have any interest in the royal wedding.... but I am happy for Prince Harry and support him .... I am his mother's fan till date and if he could take such a decision and stay firm on it, he off course is his mother's son..... who despite been a royal bride had a compassionate heart towards the needy. As of the old queen, what she is doing or speaking does not represent her.... she is acting under pressure... trying to be with time! Of the similar kinds I see around, I only smile and whisper "I do not believe in what you say, you need not act good to me.... just be normal!" My whispers do not take shape.... I try to be good to the elderlies or a sense of responsibility works inside unless and until they rob me of my self-respect! 

Whether the British Queen accepted it willingly or unwillingly, it is a welcome move. Right now it's showing the wedding vows... that line that will make any Indian / South Asian mother go wild.... "will you forsake all others to remain faithful to your wife / husband?".... Hahaha... do not take me seriously but its a truth.... both the mothers of a son or a daughter do not wish to leave control over their kids even after marriage ..... but they cook yum curries as this COASTAL STYLE MUTTON for their own! Now, I will not be surprised if today and tomorrow in one particular social forum there are shares about how cruel kids are these days to their parents... hihi.... good... at least "some" people do read my rubbish! You know S possesses an idle brain, I was thinking what if Meghan's bridal makeup was in the hands of my teen hood friend from college.... Arundhati Chaudhury? She would have given some fillers to her cheeks... some red touch ups.... Till date I could not understand why do we have to be too skinny with boney cheek lines! My excuse to have more of "luchi, porota, bhaat" 😆! 

Meghan must have that quality in her to rule the television industry there with a freckled face.... so it is not about the face everywhere.... she could not have made it in Bollywood unless she had been too lucky! Anyway, my above mentioned beautiful friend suffers from a condition of extreme obesity who stays alone... her well off parents expired.... she has proved that one can be single and yet happy! .... She is the teacher of a government run beauty institute in Kolkata.... She promised a makeover of my greys on my next visit.... no I will not spend 500 sing dollars on a Jean Yip package! 

Look at the lady down.... I did not see when the television switched to Colours from CNN.... I like the lady... below.... In the show biz world, she is not eager to show off her physical assets... she writes, speaks and acts on social issues! ... We do not expect a VS Naipaul style from a Mrs. Funny Bones... everyone  have their distinctive style.... I love her wit... the way she resurrected her husband's life... haha I meant his choice of films! Guess the song... my favourite!... No, I will not show the hero's face... his fists are not in his control how much of a charitable person he is .... Oh! I adore Bollywood, the day I shared the fish fry and dhoka bhaja recipe, it was one of my heartthrob Madhuri Dixit's birthday.... I did not know and it felt good! A reminder once again... the lady below in black does not pay for my Jean Yip packages... I am that free willed person who decides her own likes and dislikes ...

This COASTAL STYLE MUTTON may not be an authentic one.... I used the available spices in my kitchen and went ahead! I do slow cooking most of the time..... I am a stay-at-home and have enough time.... more so if you store enough energy having "aam / kola doi / dudh chirey / muri"..... puffed rice / flattened rice with milk / yogurt , mango or banana.... we call it "pholar" probably..... the daddy's girl this way.... this kinds were his "evening food".... I have got irregular with my walks and exercise regime.... all of the toning is gone.... I look like a football but do not forget to click or express my delight at the sight of such a small, fruit bearing "jamrul gach".... more so when it seems I cannot grow any fruit or vegetables on my balcony.... a kind of insect or may be caterpillars eat them.... only the "orchids, togor, patabahars" love me! Nothing comes for free in this world.... even the plants seek the love I show towards mutton and hilsa! There had been some kulfi making session too! I loved doing the super quick, no cook coolers..... this island gives you the freshest of fruits and yes, peace...... 

Coming to our mother, she cooks in less oil, loves fruits ... any kind, roshogolla and oh so patient and cool in any dreadful situation. The daughter loves everything unhealthy.... "chop, shingara, pantua, tel rogrogey patha o ilish".... and is impatient. Yesterday, the husband went for an invitation after I gave a nod.... he loves his wife come on.... he knows I will not go anywhere leaving the son alone at home at this moment.... I missed watching Raazi too... oh! its a Meghna Gulzar film and has to be different.... This girl Alia Bhatt will go far.... a young, confident, natural actor who does not dump the face with makeup... like her too! The parents of the boy or the girl who would stand 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the son's class might have seen Raazi by now or partied hard this weekend or may not be.... but I am this way! If I have given birth to him, I should behave responsibly.... I am selfish enough to admit that he is the prime in my life.... the rest of the world comes next.... though I am not eager to prove it in the social media every other day.... The son got Mac meals for him and Cristine didi at night.... I told him to but our mother would not have allowed outside food during any examination. What did this primitive eat? "Ruti, peyaz, lanka" and what you call hash browns... I keep a frozen packet for the men.... I have once in six months.... I liked it.... "ruti-aloobhaja".... what else is required?

I am yet to settle on an Oshi Palav recipe ..... I do not have any friend in Uzbekistan.... I have to depend on big brother Google though  it ignores it's little sister....  it does matter but I do not bother. The way I name my recipes these days.... they are not to be chosen by the search engines it seems! Lets eat... drink.... merry instead! This COASTAL STYLE MUTTON can be done either with lamb or mutton. I used mutton though the senior prefers lamb and the later will take little less time to cook! I lightly fried all the spices used, grated coconut, onion, ginger and garlic in oil and then prepared a paste with all adding little water! The mutton off course had to be marinated for hours. What else is left but cooking it over slow fire?

By the way, if anyone from Kolkata is reading my blog post, do check with our childhood friend Nabendu Saha's food joint "FOODPATH".... the Laketown unit is relocating, the Sinthimore unit is active... just beside the PNB... our friend Swati Bhattacharya's daughter has already visited and gives a thumbs up both to the food and the ambience!

I have just updated the pictures of a previous blog post of PRAWN CURRY WITH RIDGE GOURD AND POTATO.... for us there is nothing like light curries in summer... be it fish, meat or mixed vegetables! Click the heading below for the recipe!

PRAWN CURRY WITH RIDGE GOURD AND POTATO

INGREDIENTS :

Mutton : 1kg [can be lamb too]
Garlic Cloves : 8-10 [peeled and washed]
Onion Slices : 1medium cup [peel, wash, slice the onion]
Ginger Slices : 1tbsp [peel, slice, wash the ginger pieces]
Grated Coconut : 1small cup
Cumin Seed : 1tsp
Coriander Seed : 11/2tsp
Fennel Seed : 1tsp
Black Peppercorn : 1tsp
Dry Red Chilli : 5-6
Cinnamon Stick : 3-4 two inch size
Green Cardamom : 3-4
Cloves : 3-4
Bay Leaf : 1big
Lemon Juice : 1/2small cup
Turmeric Powder : 1tsp +1/2tsp
Red Chilli Powder : 1tsp
Ginger Paste : 1tsp
Garlic Paste : 1tsp
Salt : As Required
Oil : 3tbsp +4tbsp

PROCEDURE :

If I cook mutton for lunch, I usually marinate it the previous night.... you can do it for at least 5 hours.

Wash the mutton pieces thoroughly under running water. Drain all the water.

Apply 1tsp turmeric powder, salt, red chilli powder, ginger paste and garlic paste to the mutton pieces. Rub very well. Refrigerate in an airtight container for at least 5-8 hours and take out an hour before starting to cook it.

Heat 3tbsp oil in a wok and add the ginger and onion slices, garlic cloves.... fry till they turn golden brown. 

Add the black peppercorns, dry red chillies, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, fennel seeds and the grated coconut! Fry at low heat for 2-3 minutes. Switch off gas and let cool.

Transfer the fried spices along with the remaining oil to the blender! Add little water and blend to a paste with regular intervals. Add more water if required.

Heat 4tbsp oil in a wok and temper with cinnamon sticks, green cardamoms, cloves and a bayleaf.

As they splutter, add the spice paste and stir for 2-3 minutes. Add 1/2 tsp of turmeric powder and little salt. Stir for a minute.

Add the mutton pieces without the marinade. Stir for 5 minutes at high heat. Reduce heat to minimum and add the marinade. Cover with a lid.

It will release a good amount of water and then to dry up it may take 35-40 minutes.... always to keep the heat at minimum. We will open cover and stir every 3-4 minutes to avoid the bottom to burn.

Once all the water dries up, add 11/2 coffee mug of warm water and fold in well. Cover cook for 8-10 minutes at minimal heat. We should be done. 

Transfer to a serving bowl and enjoy with rice, roti, paratha. You can see a Bengali style climbing perch fish curry with cauliflower and potato "fulkopi aloo diye koi maach" and daal in the platter.