Easy Coconut Mutton Curry with Bottle Masala
I call this my East-Indian mutton masala. It is a wonderful aromatic combination of spices both from the east-Indian bottle masala as well as classic mutton masala recipe. The coconut helps mellow and blend the spices beautifully.

This is one of our family's favorite recipes and I have been making it for family and friends for many years now. It always has given me rave reviews. The best thing about this mutton curry is that it tastes even better the next day. So, when possible go ahead and make it a day in advance. I am using mutton but beef and pork with this recipe is just as delicious.
When I make it for my non-Indian friends I do add a. tad less bottom masala because they can't handle spicy like we desi's do.
Personally, I have always cooked in my Dutch-oven because it cooks evenly. I find the best flavor in this dish is developed with slow cooking for an hour or two. But, it also does work well in a pressure cooker. Whichever method you use make sure to cook the meat until it's fork-tender.
In our home, we usually have it with roti or chapati but my little Rhea loves it with simple steamed rice.
Equipment /Tools
- Cast Iron Pan
- Pressure cooker
- Blender
Ingredients
Marinate mutton
- 1.5 kg Mutton with bones
- 1 Tbsp Bottle masala or curry powder
- 1 tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Pepper
- 2 tbsp Lemon juice
Ground Masala Paste
- 4 Kashmiri chillies dry
- 1 cup Onions sliced
- 10 Garlic cloves large (or 20 small)
- 3 inch Ginger fresh
- 3 tbsp Bottle masala or curry powder
- 1 tsp Coriander seeds dhania
- ½ tsp Cumin seeds jeera
- 1 tbsp Fennel seeds Sauf
- ¼ tsp Turmeric powder haldi
- 1 cup Coconut grated
- 3 inch Cinnamon stick dalchini
- 4 Cloves Lavang
- 2 Cardamom green green elichi
- 2 Caradmom black black elichi
Plus
- 4 tbsp Cooking oil
- 2 tbsp Ghee or butter
- 1 tsp Fenugreek leaves kasoori methi
- 2 large Bay leaves
- 2 tbsp Lemon juice
Instructions
Marinate the mutton
- Clean, cut and pat dry the mutton
- Season with salt, pepper, lemon juice, and bottle masala
- Cover and leave to marinate for an hour up to 8 hours in the fridge. Thaw the meat at least one hour before cooking (room temperature meat cooks evenly)
Ground masala
- Dry roast the red chilies, coriander, fennel seeds, and cumin seeds along with all the garam masala like cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon. Remove and set aside
- Then, dry roast the onions, garlic, and ginger until onions are fairly chared but not burnt
- Next, dry roast the grated coconut until lightly golden (but not burnt)
- Add all the ground masala ingredeints to a blender and grind to a smooth paste - using a ½ cup water or more if necessary
Sear the mutton
- Heat a heavy bottom saute pan (such as a dutch oven pan) or pressure cooker
- Add 2 tbsp oil and 1 tbsp ghee - add the marinated mutton pieces
- Saute on medium-high heat so it brown on all sides (we are not cooking the meat now just getting some color)
- Remove the meat from the pan and set aside
For the curry
- To the same pan (do not clean), add the remaining oil and ghee
- Then add the ground masala and saute well for 2 to 3 minutes. You will get a nice aroma from the spices as they cook
- Then, return the mutton back to the pan, saute another 2 to 3 minutes until the mutton is well coated in the masala
- Add one cup of water, fenugreek leaves, lemon juice, and bay leaves.
- Season with salt and pepper
- Reduce the heat to simmer and cook on low for 1 hour or until mutton is fork tender
- Alternatively, you can cook in the pressure cooker for 3 whistles plus 15 minutes.
- When done taste and adjust seasoning. If necessary add more water for consistency.
- Serve over rice or rotis
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Nutrition Information
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
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