Raan Masaledar Recipe

Whole Leg of Lamb in A Spicy Sauce,,,

Raan Masaledar Recipe:

Ingredients

5 lb leg of lamb

SAUCE:

1. 2 oz Almonds, blanched
2. 1/2 lb Onions, coarsely chopped
3. 8 Garlic cloves, peeled
4. 4 Cubes ginger, 1″, peeled ;chopped coarsely
5. 4 Green chillies, chopped
6. 20 fl Yoghurt, plain
7. 2 tblsp Cumin seed, ground
8. 4 tsp Coriander seed, ground
9. 1/2 tsp Cayenne pepper
10. 3 1/2 tsp Salt
11. 1/2 tsp Garam masala
12. 6 tblsp Vegetable oil
13. 1/2 tsp Whole cloves
14. 16 Cardamom pods
15. 1 Cinnamon stick, 2″ long
16. 10 Peppercorns, black

GARNISH:

1. 4 tblsp Sultana raisins
2. 1/2 oz Almonds, blanched, slivered

Directions:

• Make sure that all the fat has been trimmed from the outside of the leg and that most of the fell (parchment-like white skin) has been pulled off.
• Put the leg in a baking dish made, preferably, of pyrex or stainless steel.
• Put the 2 oz. almonds, onions, garlic, ginger, green chilies, and 3 tablespoons of the yogurt into the container of a food processor or blender and blend until you have a paste.
• Put the remaining yogurt into a bowl.
• Beat lightly with a fork or a whisk until it is smooth and creamy.
• Add the paste from the processor, the cumin, coriander, cayenne, salt and garam masala, mix.
• Push some of the spice paste into all the openings in the lamb.
• Be quite generous. (You need to ask the butcher to make a deep pocket to hold a “stuffing”, in this case, some spice paste mixture, or make a pocket yourself).
• Spread the paste evenly on the underside of the leg (the side that originally had less fat).
• Now, using a small, sharp, pointed knife make deep slashes in the meat, and push in the spice paste with your fingers.
• Turn the leg over so its outer side (the side that was once covered with fat) is on the top. Spread a very thick layer of paste over it. Again, make deep slashes with the knife and push the spice paste into the slashes.
• Pour all the remaining spice paste over and around the meat. Cover with plastic cling film and refrigerate for 24 hours.
• Take the baking dish with the meat out of the refrigerator and let the meat come to room temperature.
• Remove the cling film. Heat the oil in a small frying pan over a medium flame.
• When hot, put in the cloves, cardamom, cinnamon and peppercorns.
• When the cloves swell – this takes just a few seconds – pour the hot oil and spices over the leg of lamb.
• Preheat the oven gas mark 6, 400 F.
• Cover the baking dish tightly either with its own lid or with a large piece of aluminium foil then Bake, covered, for 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Remove the foil and bake uncovered for 45 minutes. Baste 3-4 times with the sauce during this period.
• Sprinkle, the sultanas and the 1/2 oz. almonds over the top of the leg and bake for another 5-6 minutes.
• Remove the baking dish from the oven and let it sit in a warm place for 15 minutes.
• Take the leg out of the pan and set it on a warm platter.
• Spoon off all the fat from the top of the sauce.
• Use a slotted spoon and take it out all the whole spice from the sauce.
• Discard the spices, pour the sauce around the leg.

Notes: Serve the sauce separately, in a gravy boat. It is delicious!