Lamb and Cabbage Curry
As you should know by now I don’t eat red meat but I still cook it for my boys. The little one was not too chuffed about the cabbage but he ate it. This was one of my favorite things to eat, when I did eat lamb. I love the flavors in a lamb curry with the tender pieces of lamb falling off the bone. You will note that this Lamb and Cabbage Curry is cooked very similar to my Durban Lamb Curry. The only real difference is the addition of the cabbage. For this dish you do need some meat on the bone, it’s where you get the best flavors. My mum always used the ribs together with other pieces. If I was cooking it for myself I would prefer meat on the bone. It was cooked for fussy kids so I didn’t add too much meat on the bone. I added just a few pieces for the sake of flavor. At least that went down well.
How to cook Lamb and Cabbage Curry
Firstly, we live at high altitude so everything here takes a lot longer to cook. I did cook the lamb for an hour before I added the cabbage. The curry was then cooked for an additional 15 minutes. If I added potatoes it would have probably taken much longer. With any curry always remember low and slow. A good curry can never be rushed. Sometimes I take shortcuts but I know it’s not going to be the best. Like all curries you start with a base of oil and onion. In this instance I added some whole spice. You then cook out your ginger and garlic paste. Nothing worse than having the raw taste of ginger and garlic in your food. The spices must be cooked for a bit and when adding your protein to the spices you also cook it for a while. This way you are guaranteed to have the flavors infuse into the meat. Only once it has cooked with the spices for a few minutes you then add your tomatoes and whatever else. Sometimes I don’t care if I have curry leaf in my fridge or not. But this is one time I don’t make the exception. I think any good lamb curry needs the curry leaf. Maybe I am being crazy but I want my kitchen to smell like I am cooking a lamb curry and only the curry leaf tells me that…haha!
It is always best to roast your spices and grind them yourself. It makes a huge difference to the taste of your Indian food. I often get asked what is a Masala and Garam Masala. I will explain again. Masala is a South African blend of spices. For the convenience most Indian homes have their favorite Masala. Masala starts with a base of Chilli Powder, followed by adding other ground spices. Therefore you may not require other spices in your curry if you have a good masala. Garam Masala is also a blend of spices, minus the chilli powder. It is a warming spice that’s usually added at the end of cooking, for that extra burst of flavor. Here in South Africa we add it at the beginning of our cooking process, with all the other spices. Especially if we are cooking the South African way. If you do not have masala you can increase the amount of chilli powder and add a teaspoon of cumin and coriander to your curry.
If you’re not into curries why not try this Lamb and Cabbage Stew by Emeril Lagasse. This recipe is totally delicious and I hope you love it. Please drop me a comment and a star rating if you do try the recipe. It is always appreciated. More Durban Recipes to try: Spicy Durban Chicken Curry Lamb Biryani Spicy Lamb Kebab Chutney If you loved this, please share!
