Vidarbha Tambda Rassa

Vidarbha Tambda Rassa

Vidarbha Tambda Rassa

Vidarbha red mutton broth — tambda (red) rassa is the fiery, thin, brick-red companion to the white pandhra rassa, both typically served together at Vidarbha feasts. Unlike the thick Saoji curry, the tambda rassa is a brothy, pourable mutton soup made by simmering mutton bones in a base of freshly ground dried red chilli paste, onion, garlic, ginger, and Kolhapuri-influenced spices (dried red chilli, coriander, and dagad phool) in a minimal amount of fat until thin and powerfully flavoured — more soup than gravy. The fat from the mutton bones rises to the surface and carries the red chilli oil. Poured over plain rice or drunk from a cup alongside the main curry. The Vidarbha tambda rassa is spicier and thinner than the Kolhapuri tambda rassa; it represents the Nagpur dhaba tradition of serving both a thick curry and a soup-like rassa at every meat meal.

Cuisines

Vidarbha Maharashtrian

Best for

Lunch Dinner

Recipe

Prep: 20 min Cook: 50 min Total: 70 min 2-3 servings

Ingredients

500 grams mutton, cut into pieces
2 tablespoons oil
2 cups water
1 cup onions, finely chopped
2 tablespoons ginger-garlic paste
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
2 tablespoons red chili powder
1 tablespoon coriander powder
1 teaspoon garam masala
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
2 pieces bay leaves
2 pieces cloves
1 piece cinnamon stick
2 tablespoons fresh coriander leaves, chopped
— salt to taste

Instructions

  1. 1 Heat oil in a deep pan over medium heat.
  2. 2 Add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, bay leaves, cloves, and cinnamon stick. Sauté until aromatic.
  3. 3 Add chopped onions and sauté until golden brown.
  4. 4 Stir in ginger-garlic paste and cook for 2-3 minutes until the raw smell disappears.
  5. 5 Add turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, and salt. Mix well.
  6. 6 Add mutton pieces and cook until they are browned on all sides.
  7. 7 Pour in 2 cups of water, cover the pan, and let it simmer on low heat for 30-35 minutes or until the mutton is tender.
  8. 8 Once the mutton is cooked, add garam masala and stir well.
  9. 9 Garnish with fresh coriander leaves before serving.

Tips

For a richer flavor, you can use mutton stock instead of water.