Paaya
Lamb or goat trotters (paaya) slow-cooked for hours in a fiery, thin broth of shallots, tomatoes, ginger-garlic, and whole spices until the collagen melts and the broth becomes deeply gelatinous. A pre-dawn Chennai Muslim breakfast eaten with parotta or idiyappam — sold from roadside stalls near mosques from 5am, with a bone-marrow richness that no other morning dish can match.
Cuisines
Chettinad
Madras
Hyderabadi
Best for
Breakfast
Dinner
Build a full meal around Paaya
Get a matched combo of sides and accents
Recipe
Prep: 20 min
Cook: 45 min
Total: 65 min
2-3 servings
Ingredients
|
500 grams | Goat Trotter |
|
2 tablespoons | Oil |
|
1 teaspoon | Fennel Seed |
|
1 teaspoon | Cumin , seeds |
|
2 pieces | Bay Leaf |
|
2 pieces | Clove |
|
2 pieces | Cardamom Pod |
|
1 stick | Cinnamon |
|
2 cups | Onion , finely sliced |
|
1 tablespoon | Ginger-garlic paste |
|
2 teaspoons | Red chili powder |
|
1 teaspoon | Turmeric powder |
|
2 teaspoons | Coriander powder |
|
1 cup | Tomato , chopped |
|
1 cup | Coconut Milk , thick |
|
2 cups | Water |
|
— | Salt , to taste |
|
2 tablespoons | Cilantro , chopped |
Instructions
- 1 Clean the goat trotters thoroughly and set aside.
- 2 Heat oil in a pressure cooker over medium heat.
- 3 Add fennel seeds, cumin seeds, bay leaves, cloves, cardamom pods, and cinnamon stick. Sauté until aromatic.
- 4 Add the sliced onions and cook until golden brown.
- 5 Stir in the ginger-garlic paste and sauté for a minute.
- 6 Add red chili powder, turmeric powder, and coriander powder. Mix well.
- 7 Add the chopped tomatoes and cook until they turn soft and oil separates.
- 8 Add the cleaned goat trotters and mix well with the masala.
- 9 Pour in coconut milk and water. Add salt to taste.
- 10 Close the pressure cooker lid and cook on medium heat for about 20-25 minutes or until the trotters are tender.
- 11 Once the pressure releases, open the lid and simmer for another 5-10 minutes to thicken the gravy if needed.
- 12 Garnish with fresh coriander leaves before serving.
Tips
For enhanced flavor, marinate the trotters with turmeric and salt for 30 minutes before cooking.