In association with Local Food Britain
Today I’m thrilled to be sharing my recipe for Mutton Kofta Curry with Chickpeas!
When was the last time you ate mutton? Chances are you’ve never eaten it as its popularity waned when Britain started importing lamb from New Zealand many decades ago. Local Food Britain is trying to get mutton back on our menus again.
The meat is darker than lamb with a more intense, almost gamey flavour and has a firm (not tough) texture. Renaissance mutton comes from sheep that are over 2 years old, from traceable farms, have been finished on a forage based diet and have been hung for at least 2 weeks post slaughter.
I have to admit that I had never cooked mutton before so when Local Food Britain asked me to develop a recipe for them I was quite excited by the challenge. My mind immediately went to curry as that is a favourite dish in our house and one that I associate with mutton.
I came up with Mutton Kofta Curry with Chickpeas and I have to say it was a huge hit in our house. My mother happened to pop by while I was developing the recipe and she tried some and loved it too! I would actually say it’s restaurant quality and far better than any take-away I’ve ever had! You might associate mutton with long slow cooking but when using mince you can make the same types of recipes you’d use minced lamb in.
Mutton isn’t available in any supermarkets (lets hope that changes) but you can buy it from butchers, farm shops and on-line butchers, it’s cheaper than lamb and best of all its British. I do urge you to try this curry as it’s packed full of flavour but not so hot your children won’t eat it as the coconut milk and chickpeas give it a milder edge! This recipe was commissioned by Local Food Britain!
More Mutton Recipes
I do hope you make my Mutton Kofta Curry with Chickpeas recipe as it’s so good! Do check out these mutton curry recipes from fellow bloggers too:
NB: Recipe commissioned by Local Food Britain.
Leave a comment and rating below when you’ve made this recipe; I love getting your feedback! You can also share your pictures by tagging @FabFood4All over on Instagram.
Mutton Kofta Curry with Chickpeas
Ingredients
- For the koftas meatballs:
- 500 g mutton minced
- 1 Small onion finely diced
- 15 g Fresh coriander leaves & stalks finely chopped
- 2 Green chillies deseeded & finely diced
- 1 tsp garam masala
- ½ tsp salt
- 100 mls rapeseed oil
- For the curry sauce:
- 100 mls rapeseed oil
- 2 large onions diced
- 3 Large garlic cloves crushed
- 2.5 cm cube of ginger root grated
- 2 green chillies deseeded & finely sliced
- 2 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp hot chilli powder
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1 tsp cumin
- ½ tsp turmeric
- salt
- 1 x 400g tin of chopped Italian tomatoes in juice
- 175 mls coconut milk made with 3 tbsp coconut milk powder & warm water
- 1 x 400g tin of chickpeas
- 15 g coriander stalks removed, finely chopped (leave a little for garnish)
- ½ a lemon or 1 lime juiced
Instructions
- Mix all the kofta ingredients (except the oil) together in a bowl thoroughly with your hands.
- Shape into 16 equal sized balls and put in the fridge to firm up.
- Heat 100 mls of rapeseed oil in a wok and fry the meatballs for about 10 minutes turning frequently until lightly browned.
- Place the meatballs on kitchen paper to drain and set aside.
- To make the curry sauce clean out the wok and heat up 100 mls of rapeseed oil and sweat the onions, stirring occasionally, until translucent (about 10 minutes).
- Stir in the ginger, garlic and green chillies and cook for a further 3 minutes.
- Add the spices and salt (to tastand cook for a further minute.
- Stir in the chopped tomatoes and add the meatballs, bring to the boil and then simmer under a lid for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile chop the coriander leaves (discarding the stalkand save a little for garnishing.
- Add the coconut milk and chickpeas and heat through for a few minutes.
- Stir in the chopped coriander and lemon or lime juice.
- Garnish with coriander.
- Serve with basmati rice or naan and a raita or salad plus mango chutney of course.
spiceoflife
Kofta is very popular with mutton and the recipe is so good and creative.
Camilla
Thank you. I’d forgotten all about this recipe so will be making it again soon:-)
Saima
Looks delicious! Mutton is my favorite meat and I love koftas. Taste bombshells, that’s what I call them! Never had mutton with chickpeas but you can bet I’ll be trying out your dish soon!
Camilla
Thank you Saima, it is fabulous meat and perfect for curry.
Meeta
Looks so delicious. I will try it soon!
Camilla
Thank you, I’m sure you’ll love it:-)
Marencia
Hi where is the recipe?
Camilla
Hi Marencia, the link is at the end of the post where it says to head over to Local Food Britain:-)
Amy Fidler
Never tried Mutton before,but this does look delicious x
Camilla
Thanks Amy, this curry is fabulous:-)
Leila Benhamida
Mutton with chickpeas is super delicious, remind me of my mum recipe.
Camilla
Thanks Leila, this really is delicious as you say:-)
Paul Wilson
Chickpeas work well in curries.
Camilla
Yes I love the, even in pasta dishes too:-)
Maya Russell
This is a recipe that I want to make! Looks so delicious. I always thought mutton was goat as well as sheep but maybe I’m wrong.
Camilla
Thanks Maya:-) I’ve only ever associated it with sheep and on reading up on it no goats were mentioned:-)
Paul Wilson
Tasty and healthy – a winning combination in my book.
Lindsey Stuart
This sounds and looks delicious thankyou for sharing yet another lovely recipe with us 🙂
Angela Campbell
Just popped over to check out the recipe – I can see it becoming a family favourite in my household, my eldest has trouble with whole pieces of meat so koftas are perfect for him. I’ll admit I used to be intimidated about cooking curries and used to buy jar sauces (I know!), but recently took the plunge and invested in buying a good selection of spices and I cant believe how foolish I’ve been for years – I now actually find cooking curries fun – it’s almost alchemy mixing and tasting to get the right flavour combinations! I’m really looking forward to trying your recipe out – thanks in advance! x
Camilla
Thank you Angela, I’m really pleased with this authentic curry, do let me know how you get on:-)
krati agarwal
The colours look gorgeous, definitely will give it a try.
Camilla
Fab, do let me know what you think:-)
Fish Fingers for Tea
Fab photos Camilla! And not an easy subject either. I can’t remember the last time I ate mutton, though I do remember my grandmother cooking it so it would have been when I was small. It’s something I really must investigate.
Camilla
Thank you Sian:-) I have some more in the freezer so shall be experimenting some more;-)
Emma (at Supper in the Suburbs)
Mmmmm mutton, yum! I’ve only had it a few times but love it. It’s a shame supermarkets don’t often stock it or I think more people would eat it.
Also wonderful pictures as ever – have you been polishing those bowls? 😉
Camilla
Thank Emma, yes it’s daft that supermarkets don’t sell British mutton. No bowl was polished – it’s just naturally shiny LOL:-)
chantelle hazelden
this has my mouth watering!! thanks for sharing x
Camilla
Thank you Chantelle:-)
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
Great photos Camilla.
I have eaten a lot of mutton when we have been in the Caribbean and I really like it. I didn’t think I would, but I really enjoyed it.
Camilla
Thanks Dannii! I hadn’t realised they ate mutton in the Caribbean, glad you enjoy it:-)
Julie's Family Kitchen
I love a curry and yours looks simply divine. I enjoy making a lamb dhansak which is delicious. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten mutton but I’d happily try it out.
Camilla
Thanks Julie – it really was lovely:-)
Jan @GlugofOil
Lovely recipe and great photos!
Camilla
Thank you Jan:-)
Fuss Free Helen
Lovely sounding recipe and I think the best photos you have ever taken Camilla – and such a tricky subject!
Camilla
Thank you so much Helen – I was very pleased with how they came out and the curry is delicious too:-)
Laura@howtocookgoodfood
Great shots here Camilla, love your style and new camera must be so inspiring to use. I like mutton and goat too. I can get both at halal butchers but I do wonder if supermarkets will offer it too at some point, hope so!
Camilla
Thank you so much Laura:-) I wonder how long the halal butchers hang their mutton for as the quality is improved with the length of hanging, I beleive 2 – 4 weeks is best.
Elizabeth
This is one seriously gorgeous looking dish! I have had mutton, but I tend to buy a whole local Shetland lamb for the freezer in the Autumn (none of this imported NZ malarkey!). I’ll have to defrost a piece and try your recipe!
Camilla
Thank you Elizabeth. How lucky you are to have a local lamb to feast on from your freezer. Do let me know what you think if you get around to making this curry, we all love it:-)
Sarah @tamingtwins
Camilla, this looks AMAZING! I adore lamb curry and had never thought of trying it with mutton. The photos are wonderful too. I find curries very hard to photograph and you’ve really nailed it.
Camilla
Aaw thank you so much Sarah. I on the other hand have not been a fan of lamb curry as they have always felt quite heavy to me. That’s why I wanted to make this a bit lighter with the coconut milk, chickpeas and lemon or lime juice:-) We have had this curry twice already and I can’t wait to make it again:-)
Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry
Oooooh. I just want to dig right in Camilla.
Camilla
Thanks Bintu:-)
ninjacat
Looks amazing and a recipe Imust indeed try
Camilla
Thank you so much Claire, I do hope you try it:-)
tiggerific1973
This looks amazing! I will try it soon 🙂
Camilla
Brilliant:-)
Claire @foodiequine
Love the look and sound of that. I definitely had mutton as a child but its not something that I’ve ever cooked with. Will need to investigate where I can get some locally.
Camilla
Great Claire, I’m sure it shouldn’t be too hard where you live:-)
Emily
Beautiful photography, Camilla! Really appetising. Popping over to read the recipe now.
Camilla
Thank you so much Emily that means a lot coming from you:-)