One of my most vivid childhood memories is watching my mom work her magic with the pressure cooker, transforming tough cuts of red meat into tender, melt-in-your-mouth goodness. The sound of steam hissing and the comforting aroma of simmering meat filled the kitchen, signaling that something delicious was in the works. Inspired by my mom’s culinary prowess, I followed in her footsteps and recreate her recipe using my trusty Instant Pot. With her guidance and a few adjustments for modern convenience, I embarked on my journey of pressure cooking perfection. With each bite of that tender, flavorful meat, I felt a deep connection to my mom and the culinary traditions she had passed down to me. Replicating her recipe using the Instant Pot was a delicious success and a heartfelt tribute to the woman who had inspired my love of cooking.
Ingredients and substitutes
Lamb – I prefer to use a lamb shoulder or leg of lamb for this dish. The meat does take longer to cook, but it comes out tender and juicy and absorbs all those wonderful spices. Onions – I love to use a combination of brown and red onions. Red adds a bit of sweetness, which is very desirable. It is very important that you cook the onions longer and slower. This will help caramelize the onions, which not just enhances the taste, but also adds that touch of deep red color to this dish (which I love). Curry powder – This is a very easy-to-find Indian spice in most supermarkets. But, you can also make your own (using spices you probably already have in your pantry). Garam masala – Another Indian spice mix made with warm spices such as cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, etc. It can be easily found in most supermarkets. And you can also make this at home.
Step-by-step: Lamb curry – Instant pot/Pressure cooker
Turn the instant pot on saute. Or, heat the stovetop pressure cooker on medium heat. Add the oil and whole spices. Saute for 30 seconds. This will flavor the oil with warm spices.
Saute onions – Then, add the onions. Saute until the onions are almost reduced to half. Next, add the ginger and garlic – saute for another minute. Then, add the curry powder, paprika, and garam masala.
Cook the spices for 2 minutes adding the crushed tomatoes a little at a time. Lamb – Add the lamb pieces and coat well in the spices. Then, add the cilantro, lemon juice, and coconut milk. Followed by the chicken broth. Season with salt and pepper.
Pressure cook – Instant pot – Turn the saute off. Close and lock the instant pot lid. Close the seal and set the instant pot to pressure cook on high for 25 minutes. Stovetop pressure cooker – Close the pressure cooker and pressure cook for 45 mins. Natual release – When done, turn off and let natural release for 10 minutes. Open the instant pot. Taste and adjust seasoning Adjust gravy – Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup water and bring to a boil for more gravy. Alternatively, if there is too much gravy, remove the lamb pieces in a separate dish and continue to cook the sauce until it has been reduced to half. Then, return the lamb pieces to the pot. Keep it thick if you serve it with chapati, naan, or roti. If you serve it with rice, add a little water to make a gravy. Garnish with more chopped cilantro leaves.
Stovetop lamb curry
Follow the same process as above but use a stovetop pan or Dutch oven. Then, instead of pressure cooking continue to cook on medium heat for 60 to 90 minutes or until the lamb is cooked through.Pro tip – A good sign that the curry is ready is that the fat (oil and lamb fat) will be visible on top of the curry.
Frequently asked questions
Creative ways to use serve and use leftover lamb curry
Traditional style: Conventionally serve lamb curry with steamed basmati rice or fragrant saffron rice. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves (cilantro) and serve with warm naan bread or roti on the side. This classic combination allows you to savor the rich flavors of the dish. Lamb pizza: Turn your lamb into a unique pizza topping. Skip the tomato sauce on a pizza crust and add a generous amount of lamb curry as the base. Lamb sliders: Create delicious sliders by placing a spoonful of lamb curry on tiny buns or slider rolls. Lamb Pies: Create individual-sized lamb rogan josh pies by filling small pastry cases or puff pastry cups with the lamb.
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