Lamb in Saffron and Cardamom Cream (Shahi Korma) Recipe

Saffron and spices really shine in this classic lamb dish. Slow cooking in broth and cream creates a flavorful gravy. Serve over rice for a satisfying meal. You may substitute beef for the lamb, but you may need to add additional liquid.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 50 minutes

Ingredients:

• Pinch of saffron threads (about 1/8 teaspoon)
• 1-1/4 cups heavy cream
• 8 cloves garlic
• 1 (1-inch) cube of fresh ginger, peeled
• 5 Tablespoons blanched slivered almonds
• 1 cup water or beef broth, divided use
• 7 Tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 pounds boned lamb, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 10 whole cardamom pods
• 6 whole cloves
• 1 (1-inch) stick of cinnamon
• 2 medium onions, peeled and chopped
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 2 teaspoons ground black cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1-1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon garam masala

Preparation:

Gently warm the cream only until it begins to steam. Remove from heat, stir in saffron threads, and set aside.

In a heavy-duty blender or small food processor, blend the garlic, ginger, almonds, and 7 tablespoons of the water or broth into a paste. Set aside.

Place the oil in a heavy, deep non-stick skillet and heat over medium-high. Brown the lamb in batches, placing in a single layer, taking care not to crowd the skillet. Remove lamb to a bowl as you brown it and keep warm.

Into the same pan, add the cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon to the remaining oil. As soon as the cloves expand (a matter of seconds), add the onions and stir-fry until lightly browned. Reduce heat to medium and add the garlic-ginger paste, coriander, cumin, and cayenne pepper. Continue to stir-fry until browned, another 3 to 4 minutes.

Return the lamb (including any accumulated juices) to the onions and spices in the skillet along with the salt, heavy cream, and remaining water or broth. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer lamb about 1 hour until tender, stirring frequently. Skim off any fat. Mix in the garam masala. Simmer an additional 3 minutes, remove cinnamon stick and any large spice pods. Serve with rice, if desired.

Yield: 6 servings