ARABIC MUTTON MANDI

A perfect recipe to take the centre stage on your table. Try this Arabic Mutton Mandi and have a joyous time with your friends and family…

By You Desk
|
September 09, 2025

recipe

INGREDIENTS

Coriander seeds 1 ½ tbs

Cinnamon sticks 6-8

Green cardamom 16-18

Black peppercorns 12-14

Cumin seeds ½ tbs

Cloves 14-16

Dried lemons 3

Nutmeg ½ piece

Saffron strands ½ tsp

Bay leaves 4

Himalayan pink salt 2 ½ tsp or to taste

Turmeric powder ½ tsp

Red chilli powder ½ tsp or to taste

Cooking oil 6-8 tbs

Onion chopped 1 medium

Star anise 1

Ginger garlic paste 1 ½ tbs

Mutton (whole leg) 1.25 kg

Stock cube (optional) 1-2

Onion chopped 1 small

Basmati rice 600g

Water as required

Charcoal for smoke

Almonds (fried)

DIRECTIONS

* In a spice grinder, add coriander seeds, cinnamon sticks, green cardamom, black peppercorns, cumin seeds, cloves, dried lemon, nutmeg, saffron strands, bay leaves and grind well to make a powder.

* Add pink salt, turmeric powder, red chilli powder and grind well. Arabic mandi masala is ready!

* In a large pot, add cooking oil, onion and mix well.

* Add cinnamon sticks, star anise, green cardamom, black peppercorns, and cloves and mix well.

* Add ginger garlic paste, mix well and sauté for 1-2 minutes.

* Add 1 tsp of prepared Arabic mandi masala, pink salt, mix well and cook for a minute.

* Prick mutton leg with the help of fork from both sides.

* In a pot, add mutton leg, water, stock cube, mix well and bring it to boil.

* Remove the scum, flip the leg, cover and cook on low flame until mutton is 90 per cent tender (40-45 minutes).

* Take out mutton leg in a separate tray, set aside and strain stock (approx. 2 and ½ cups) and reserve for later use.

* On the mutton leg, sprinkle 1-2 tsp prepared Arabic mandi masala and cooking oil on both sides and rub evenly.

* In preheated oven, grill mutton leg at 180°C for 10 minutes (on both grills).

* In a bowl, add rice, water, wash thoroughly and soak for 30 minutes then strain soaked rice and set aside.

* In a pot, add cooking oil, cloves, green cardamom, bay leaves, dried lemons, onion and sauté until light golden.

* Add rice, 2 tsp prepared Arabic mandi masala and mix well.

* Add reserved mutton stock (2 and ½ cups and mix well).

* Add pink salt (adjust salt if required) and mix well, bring it to boil and cook on medium flame until ½ cup water is left, cover and steam cook on low flame for 10-12 minutes.

* On a platter, add mandi rice, mutton mandi and give coal smoke for 2 minutes.

* Garnish with fried almonds, serve with salad and tomato chutney!

Courtesy: Food Fusion Recipe by: Kanwal Mohsin