Melt-in-your-mouth mutton and lentil patties, infused with aromatic whole spices and pan-fried to a perfect golden-brown. A classic Mughlai appetizer that's rich, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying.
Prep25 min
Cook50 min
Soak30 min
Servings4
Serving size: 1 serving
424cal
31gprotein
22gcarbs
Ingredients
500 g Boneless Mutton (Cut into 1-inch cubes)
0.5 cup Chana Dal (Rinsed and soaked for at least 1 hour)
1 medium Onion (Roughly chopped, for pressure cooking)
A soft, fluffy leavened flatbread from Punjab, traditionally cooked in a tandoor but easily made on a stovetop tawa. Perfect for scooping up rich curries like chole or dal makhani.
Perfectly spiced Shami Kebabs with soft Kulcha – a protein-packed, homestyle comfort food.
This awadhi dish is perfect for breakfast. With 814.4200000000001 calories and 38.31g of protein per serving, it's a nutritious choice for your meal plan.
24gfat
1 pcs
Black Cardamom
0.5 tsp Turmeric Powder
1 tsp Red Chilli Powder (Adjust to taste)
1.5 tsp Salt (Adjust to taste)
1 cup Water (For pressure cooking)
3 tbsp Coriander Leaves (Finely chopped)
2 tbsp Mint Leaves (Finely chopped)
1 large Egg (Lightly beaten, for binding)
0.25 cup Ghee (For shallow frying)
Instructions
1
Pressure Cook the Mutton and Dal
In a pressure cooker, combine the mutton pieces, drained chana dal, roughly chopped onion, ginger-garlic paste, green chillies, and all whole spices (dried red chillies, cinnamon, peppercorns, cloves, black cardamom).
Add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, salt, and 1 cup of water. Stir well to combine.
Secure the lid and pressure cook on medium-high heat for 6-7 whistles, or for about 25 minutes, until the mutton is fall-apart tender.
Allow the pressure to release naturally before opening the lid.
2
Dry and Cool the Mixture
Open the cooker. Check the mixture; if there is any remaining liquid, turn the heat to high and cook, stirring constantly, until all moisture has evaporated. The mixture should be very dry and pull away from the sides of the cooker.
Turn off the heat. Spread the cooked mixture onto a large plate or tray to cool down completely. This step is crucial for preventing the kebabs from breaking.
Once cooled, pick out and discard the hard whole spices like the cinnamon stick and black cardamom pod for a smoother texture.
3
Grind and Prepare the Kebab Dough
Transfer the completely cooled mixture to a food processor or a strong grinder. Grind in batches to a fine, smooth paste without adding any water. The resulting texture should be like a firm, non-sticky dough.
Transfer the ground paste to a large mixing bowl. Add the finely chopped small onion, coriander leaves, mint leaves, and the lightly beaten egg.
Knead the mixture gently with your hands until everything is well incorporated.
4
Shape and Fry the Kebabs
Lightly grease your palms with oil or ghee. Divide the mixture into 12 equal portions.
Take one portion and roll it into a smooth ball, then flatten it into a round patty (tikki), about 2 inches in diameter and 1/2 inch thick. Smooth out any cracks on the edges.
Heat ghee in a non-stick skillet or heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. The ghee should be hot but not smoking.
Carefully place the shaped kebabs in the pan in a single layer, without overcrowding. Fry for 4-5 minutes on the first side until deep golden-brown and crisp.
Gently flip the kebabs using two spatulas and fry for another 3-4 minutes on the other side until equally browned and cooked through.
Remove the kebabs and place them on a wire rack or a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess ghee.
5
Serve Hot
Serve the Mutton Shami Kebabs immediately while they are hot and crisp.
Garnish with fresh coriander and serve with a side of green mint-coriander chutney, lemon wedges, and pickled onion rings (sirke wale pyaaz).
390cal
8gprotein
51gcarbs
17gfat
Ingredients
2 cup Maida (approx 250g)
0.5 cup Curd (whisked until smooth)
1 tsp Sugar
1 tsp Baking Powder
0.5 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Salt
2 tbsp Oil (plus extra for greasing)
0.5 cup Warm Water (adjust as needed)
1 tsp Kalonji Seeds (for topping)
2 tbsp Coriander Leaves (finely chopped, for topping)
3 tbsp Butter (melted, for brushing)
Instructions
1
Prepare the Dough
In a large mixing bowl, sift or whisk together the maida, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to combine them evenly.
Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour in the whisked curd and 2 tbsp of oil.
Using your fingertips, mix the wet ingredients into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
Gradually add warm water, a little at a time, and knead for 8-10 minutes to form a very soft, smooth, and pliable dough. It should be slightly sticky but manageable.
Grease the dough with a little oil, cover the bowl with a damp cloth or a lid.
2
Rest the Dough
Place the covered bowl in a warm, draft-free spot for at least 2 hours.
The dough will rise and become light and airy due to the leavening agents.
3
Shape the Kulchas
After 2 hours, gently punch down the risen dough and knead it for another minute.
Divide the dough into 8 equal portions and roll each portion into a smooth ball.
Take one dough ball, dust it lightly with dry flour, and roll it into a round or oval shape about 5-6 inches in diameter. Keep it slightly thicker than a chapati.
Sprinkle some kalonji seeds and chopped coriander leaves over the rolled kulcha. Gently press them into the dough with your palm or a rolling pin so they adhere well.
4
Cook the Kulchas
Heat a cast-iron tawa or a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat.
Take the shaped kulcha and flip it over (topping-side down). Apply a thin layer of water to the plain surface.
Carefully place the kulcha, water-side down, onto the hot tawa. The water helps it stick to the surface.
Cook for about 1-2 minutes, or until you see bubbles forming on the top surface.
Using tongs, flip the kulcha and cook the other side for another 1-2 minutes until golden-brown spots appear. Press gently with a spatula for even cooking.
For a charred, tandoori-like effect, you can carefully lift the kulcha with tongs and cook it directly over an open flame for 10-15 seconds, turning continuously until you see light char marks. Use caution during this step.
5
Serve
Remove the cooked kulcha from the tawa and immediately brush it generously with melted butter.
Serve hot with your favorite curry, such as Chole Masala or Dal Makhani.