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Rogan Josh with lamb, yogurt and garam masala — India recipeIndiaIndia
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Sergei Martynov

Роган Джош — это блюдо с историей. Оно пришло в Кашмир вместе с персидскими поварами Великих Моголов в XVI веке. Красный цвет — от кашмирского чили и паприки, а не от томатов (которые добавили позже). В оригинальном рецепте томатов нет вовсе. Каждая кашмирская семья хранит свою версию.

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The secret to a smooth sauce: add yogurt one spoonful at a time over medium heat, stirring constantly — never add cold yogurt to a very hot pan. And do not rush the onions: deeply caramelized onion is the flavor foundation of every good rogan josh.

Meat Dishes

Rogan Josh

🌶️Spicy🌾Gluten-free💪High Protein

A jewel of Kashmiri cuisine — tender slow-braised lamb in a deep red aromatic sauce of yogurt, tomato, paprika, and warming spices. 'Rogan' means oil or clarified fat, 'Josh' means heat or passion in Persian. A royal Mughal dish that is earthy, rich, and deeply satisfying without being fiercely hot.

⏱️
90
Minutes
👥
4
Servings
🔥
420
kcal
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IngredientsInstructionsCommentsRelated Recipes

Key Ingredients

lambplain yogurtgaram-masalapaprikaturmeric

What you'll need

Ingredients

How to make it

Instructions

  1. 1

    Heat oil or ghee in a deep pan. Fry the onion over medium heat until deeply golden. Add garlic and ginger, fry 1 more minute.

  2. 2

    Add the lamb pieces. Brown on all sides until golden.

  3. 3

    Add ground spices (turmeric, paprika, coriander, cumin, cayenne, garam masala) and whole spices (cinnamon, cardamom, bay leaves). Stir well.

  4. 4

    Add yogurt one spoonful at a time, stirring constantly so it does not curdle. Add tomato paste, then water or broth. Bring to a gentle boil.

  5. 5

    Reduce heat to minimum. Cover and braise for 1–1.5 hours until the meat is very tender and the sauce is thick and glossy.

  6. 6

    Serve with rice or flatbreads, topped with fresh cilantro or mint.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is rogan josh and why is it red in color?

Rogan Josh is a classic Kashmiri lamb curry. 'Rogan' means oil or fat in Persian, 'Josh' means heat or passion. The red color comes from Kashmiri chili and paprika — they are vivid but not very hot. This is a Mughal royal court dish.

Why add yogurt to rogan josh and how to stir it in properly so it does not curdle?

Yogurt softens the heat and gives a creamy tang. The key rule: add it one spoonful at a time into a hot pan, stirring constantly — otherwise it curdles into lumps. Yogurt should be at room temperature before adding.

Can lamb be replaced with beef or chicken in rogan josh?

Beef works well but needs 30 more minutes of braising. Chicken thighs are the fastest option — 30–40 minutes. Lamb is traditional and gives the richest flavor thanks to its fat content.

What is garam masala and can it be made at home?

Garam masala is a blend of 'warm' spices: coriander, cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and pepper. At home: toast whole spices in a dry pan and grind in a coffee grinder. Homemade is several times more aromatic than store-bought.

How does rogan josh differ from other Indian lamb curries — rara masala, korma?

Rogan Josh is Kashmiri, red, moderately spicy, with tomato and yogurt. Korma is Mughal, white or cream-colored, with almonds and cream, not spicy at all. Rara masala is Punjabi style — with minced meat and chunks combined, very rich.