Mutton Sukka Recipe is a popular Chettinad mutton recipe made with coconut oil, whole spices, onions, tomatoes, spices and coconut cooked until it is dry and thick like a masala. This mutton sukka is also known as mutton chukka which is a dry and spicy masala coated mutton preparation just like my mutton roast. In this blog post, I have shared two version of making mutton sukka with step by step pictures and enjoy with some parotta.
Mutton Sukka (Chukka Recipe)
Mutton sukka is one of our family favorite. I make them quite often and everyone in the family loves it. For me a proper mutton sukka should have a thick spicy masala coating on top which is achieved by the addition of roasted gram dal powder or coconut paste. I have shared both version in this blog post. For more mutton recipes, check these mutton thoran, mutton kuzhambu, chettinaad style gravy and mutton masala.
About Mutton Sukka | Mutton Chukka Recipe
Mutton chukka is probably the most famous recipe around the world. It is one of the popular recipe made using mutton or lamb. "Sukka or chukka" means "dry curry". It is seriously addicting side dish for parotta or roti. We love to have it with rasam rice.
Mutton sukka preparation starts with a marination of mutton to make it flavourful. Since mutton takes longer time to cook, you have to cook mutton separately with spices and masala. I like to use my pressure cooker for cooking mutton. Depending on the tenderness of the cut of lamb used, the cooking time might vary.
Once the mutton is cooked, there will be some cooking liquid left in the pressure cooker. For creating the sukka part, you have to dry the cooking liquid and make the dish dry. I like to use roasted gram dal powder which is added in the mutton to make it dry. Sometimes I use a special coconut masala and cook till the mutton gets dry.
This spicy Mutton sukka is best served with rice, roti, pulao or biryani.
Mutton Sukka Ingredients
Mutton - use tender cuts of lamb or mutton for this dish. I prefer to use boneless mutton and some with bones-in. Pressure cook mutton separately with spices and ground masala till it is cooked. usually mutton takes 5 to 6 whistle in pressure cooker to get cooked.
Onion - sliced onions is used for tempering in the end. Peeled shallots is used for grinding the masala.
Ginger & Garlic - lots of ginger garlic is used in the marination. You can use whole peeled and crushed garlic when tempering curry leaves.
Chillies - I used dry red chillies and red chilli powder for making the marination.
Curry leaves - use a handful of curry leaves for tempering. it adds so much flavour.
Spices - spices like fennel seeds is used for grinding.
Roasted Gram Dal - I like to use a sprinkle of powdered roasted gram dal in the end to create the dry sukka texture.
How to Make Mutton Sukka (2 Recipes & 2 Method)
Mutton Sukka (Simple)
- Grind fresh masala of chillies, fennel, ginger, garlic, shallots, garam masala powder to a smooth paste. Add to mutton along with salt, turmeric, lemon juice and marinate.
- Take it in pressure cooker rand cook for 5 whistle.
- Temper curry leaves, sliced onions in coconut oil, add in the cooked mutton and any liquid. Add in roasted gram dal powder and roast for 10 minutes. Garnish with coriander leaves, pepper powder and lemon juice. Serve hot.
Mutton Sukka (Chettinad)
- marinate mutton with spices, ginger garlic paste and salt.
- In pressure cooker, temper with fennel, cinnamon, onions, chillies, curry leaves, tomatoes. Add in marinated mutton and pressure cook for 5 whistle.
- Grind coconut with poppy seeds and fennel seeds.
- Heat oil, add in onions, curry leaves, green chillies, tomatoes. Add in cooked mutton and ground coconut masala.
- Cook on high for 10 minutes till mutton sukka dries up. Add coriander leaves and serve.
How to Make Mutton Sukka (Stepwise Pictures)
Grinding masala for mutton sukka
1)Take fennel seeds in a blender. Add in ginger, garlic and peeled shallots. You can use 10 cloves of garlic and 2 inch piece peeled ginger. I added ginger paste and garlic paste since I had those on hands.
2)Add in kashmiri red chillies and red chilli powder. Kashmiri chillies are for colour.
3)Add in garam masala powder and grind this into a smooth puree.
Marinating Mutton
4)Take mutton in a bowl. I like to use a mixture of boneless mutton pieces and mutton with bone for flavour. Add in a touch of turmeric powder.
5)Add in salt, lemon juice and mix well till it is combined.
6)Now add in the ground chilli masala paste and mix well. You can allow this to marinate for few hours before cooking. But I cooked it straight away.
Cooking Mutton
7)Take the marinated mutton in a pressure cooker, add a splash of water. Don't add too much water else the mutton will give out lots of water.
Pressure cook mutton for 5 to 6 whistle. Turn off the flame and let the pressure release by itself.
8)Once the pressure is released. Open the pressure cooker and check whether the mutton is cooked or not. if it is not cooked, you can cover the cooker again and cook for few more whistle. For cooking mutton in Instant pot check notes.
Making Mutton Sukka
9)Heat coconut oil in a large kadai. Add in curry leaves. Add in the cooked mutton with all the cooking liquid. You are going to cook this on high heat till all the moisture dries up. it will take around 10 to 15 minutes.
Pro tip: Use a large flat pan for this process which makes the cooking easier & faster. Along with curry leaves you can add some sliced onions for flavour.
10)Once the mutton has dried mostly. I like to sprinkle some roasted gram dal powder for absorbing the extra liquid and making sukka drier.
Once roasted gram dal is added, saute them on high heat till it is well roasted. it will take around 10 minutes.
11)Now the mutton sukka is well cooked and dried. At this point, add in lemon juice, black pepper powder and coriander leaves. Mix well.
12)Serve hot with rice.
Chettinad Mutton Sukka (with coconut )
This is a more lengthy authentic mutton sukka preparation from chettinad region. It uses onions, tomatoes, freshly ground coconut poppy seeds paste to make the sukka.
The process includes few lengthy steps which is totally worth it. I have shared detailed recipe below and in the recipe card as well. But here is how it is done.
- marinate mutton with spices, ginger garlic paste and salt.
- In pressure cooker, temper with fennel, cinnamon, onions, chillies, curry leaves, tomatoes. Add in marinated mutton and pressure cook for 5 whistle.
- Grind coconut with poppy seeds and fennel seeds.
- Heat oil, add in onions, curry leaves, green chillies, tomatoes. Add in cooked mutton and ground coconut masala.
- Cook on high for 10 minutes till mutton sukka dries up. Add coriander leaves and serve.
Ingredients Used
For Marinating Mutton
- ½ kg Mutton
- 1 tblspn Ginger Garlic Paste
- 1 tsp Turmeric powder
- 1 tbsp Coriander powder
- 1 tsp Chilli powder
- 1 tsp Garam masala powder
- 1 tsp Pepper powder
- Salt to taste
For Cooking Mutton
- 1 tbsp Coconut Oil
- 1 large Onion sliced
- 4 Tomatoes chopped finely
- 1 Green Chilli
- 1 sprig Curry leaves
Marinating Mutton & Cooking Mutton in Pressure Cooker
Marinate the ingredients given in the list for at least 30 mins. Take a pressure cooker. Add 1 tbsp of coconut oil. Add in onions, green chilli, curry leaves and the marinated mutton pieces. Pour a cup of water in and mix well. Cover the pressure cooker and cook for 4 whistle and simmer for 10 mins. Switch off the flame and let the pressure go all by itself.
Grinding | For Masala
- ½ cup Coconut
- 2 tbsp Poppy Seeds
- 1 tbsp Fennel Seeds
Making Mutton Sukka
- 3 tbsp Coconut Oil
- 1 tsp Fennel Seeds
- 1 piece Cinnamon
- 1 Onion Sliced
- 1 Tomato chopped
- 2 tbsp Ginger Garlic Paste
- 1 sprig Curry leaves
- 2 slit Green Chilli
- Coriander leaves
Cooking Mutton Sukka
Grind coconut, fennel seeds and poppy seeds to a smooth paste. Set aside.
Now heat a kadai on high heat. Add coconut oil in it. Add fennel and cinnamon and let it crackle. In goes onions, curry leaves, green chilli and ginger garlic paste. Saute it for a min. Add in Tomatoes and cook till mushy. It will take around 5 mins.
Now add the cooked mutton pieces along with any water. Mix well on high heat. Add the ground coconut masala as well and mix on high heat. Keep stirring till the gravy gets thick and the masala coats on all the mutton pieces. Add a handful of coriander leaves and toss well. Switch off the flame and serve.
Expert Tips
- Make sure you use coconut oil for cooking mutton sukka for better flavour.
- Depending on how tender the mutton is, the cooking time will vary.
- Add lots of curry leaves for taste and aroma.
- You can use sliced shallots instead of onions.
Instant Pot Mutton Sukka
Marinating Mutton & Cooking Mutton in Instant Pot
Marinate the ingredients given in the list for at least 30 mins.
Set instant pot to saute mode. Add 1 tbsp of coconut oil. Add in onions, green chilli, curry leaves and the marinated mutton pieces. Pour a cup of water in and mix well. Cover the instant pot and set pressure cook mode for 15 minutes. Let the pressure release by itself. Open the instant pot and Remove the mutton from instant pot to a separate bowl.
Cooking Mutton Sukka in Instant pot
Grind coconut, fennel seeds and poppy seeds to a smooth paste. Set aside.
Set instant pot to saute mode. Add coconut oil in it. Add fennel and cinnamon and let it crackle. In goes onions, curry leaves, green chilli and ginger garlic paste. Saute it for a min. Add in Tomatoes and cook till mushy. It will take around 5 mins.
Now add the cooked mutton pieces along with any water. Add the ground coconut masala as well and mix. Keep stirring till the gravy gets thick and the masala coats on all the mutton pieces. Add a handful of coriander leaves and toss well. Remove from instant pot and serve.
More Mutton Recipes to Try
📖 Recipe Card
Mutton Sukka Recipe | Chettinad Mutton Chukka Recipe
Ingredients
MUTTON SUKKA (SIMPLE VERSION)
- 2 tbsp Coconut Oil
- ½ cup Curry Leaves
- 3 tbsp Roasted Gram dal powdered
- Lemon Juice to taste
- 1 tsp Pepper Powder
- 3 tbsp Coriander leaves chopped finely
For grinding:
- 1 tbsp Fennel Seeds
- 5 no Kashmiri Red Chilli
- 2 tbsp Red Chilli Powder
- 2 inch Ginger peeled
- 10 cloves Garlic peeled
- 10 Shallots peeled
- 1 tsp Garam Masala Powder
For Cooking Mutton
- 500 grams Mutton
- 1 tsp Turmeric Powder
- Salt to taste
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
CHETTINAD MUTTON SUKKA RECIPE
For Marinating Mutton
- 500 grams Mutton
- 1 tbsp Ginger Garlic Paste
- 1 tsp Turmeric powder
- 1 tbsp Coriander powder
- 1 tsp Chilli powder
- 1 tsp Garam masala powder
- 1 tsp Pepper powder
- Salt to taste
For Cooking Mutton
- 1 tbsp Coconut Oil
- 1 large Onion sliced
- 2 no Tomatoes chopped finely
- 1 no Green Chilli
- 1 sprig Curry leaves
For Grinding | For Masala
- ½ cup Coconut
- 2 tbsp Poppy Seeds
- 1 tbsp Fennel Seeds
For Making Mutton Sukka
- 3 tbsp Coconut Oil
- 1 tsp Fennel Seeds sliced
- 1 stick Cinnamon chopped finely
- 1 large Onion Sliced
- 1 large Tomato chopped
- 2 tbsp Ginger Garlic Paste
- 1 sprig Curry leaves
- 2 no Green Chilli slit
- Coriander leaves
Instructions
MUTTON SUKKA (SIMPLE VERSION)
Cooking Mutton in Cooker
- Take a blender, add in all grinding ingredients and make it into a puree by adding some water. Take mutton in a bowl, add in salt, turmeric powder, lemon juice and mix well. Leave this to marinate for 15 mins. Add the ground puree to the mutton and mix well. Transfer this to a pressure cooker and cook it for 5 to 6 whistle. Turn the heat off and let the pressure go all by itself.
Making Mutton Sukka
- Heat coconut oil in a kadai. Add a handful of curry leaves in it. Add in the mutton and toss well for 5 mins till it is well roasted. Add in gram dal powder and toss again for 10 mins. Once the mutton turn golden and well roasted, turn off the heat and serve.
CHETTINAD MUTTON SUKKA RECIPE
Marinating Mutton & Cooking Mutton in Pressure Cooker
- Marinate the ingredients given in the list for at least 30 mins.
- Take a pressure cooker. Add 1 tbsp of coconut oil. Add in onions, green chilli, curry leaves and the marinated mutton pieces. Pour a cup of water in and mix well. Cover the pressure cooker and cook for 4 whistle and simmer for 10 mins. Switch off the flame and let the pressure go all by itself.
Cooking Mutton Sukka
- Grind coconut, fennel seeds and poppy seeds to a smooth paste. Set aside.
- Now heat a kadai on high heat. Add coconut oil in it. Add fennel and cinnamon and let it crackle. In goes onions, curry leaves, green chilli and ginger garlic paste. Saute it for a min. Add in Tomatoes and cook till mushy. It will take around 5 mins.
- Now add the cooked mutton pieces along with any water. Mix well on high heat. Add the ground coconut masala as well and mix on high heat. Keep stirring till the gravy gets thick and the masala coats on all the mutton pieces. Add a handful of coriander leaves and toss well. Switch off the flame and serve.
Notes
- Make sure you use coconut oil for cooking mutton sukka for better flavour.
- Depending on how tender the mutton is, the cooking time will vary.
- Add lots of curry leaves for taste and aroma.
- You can use sliced shallots instead of onions.
Mutton Sukka in Instant Pot
Marinating Mutton & Cooking Mutton in Instant Pot Marinate the ingredients given in the list for at least 30 mins. Set instant pot to saute mode. Add 1 tbsp of coconut oil. Add in onions, green chilli, curry leaves and the marinated mutton pieces. Pour a cup of water in and mix well. Cover the instant pot and set pressure cook mode for 15 minutes. Let the pressure release by itself. Open the instant pot and Remove the mutton from instant pot to a separate bowl. Cooking Mutton Sukka Grind coconut, fennel seeds and poppy seeds to a smooth paste. Set aside. Set instant pot to saute mode. Add coconut oil in it. Add fennel and cinnamon and let it crackle. In goes onions, curry leaves, green chilli and ginger garlic paste. Saute it for a min. Add in Tomatoes and cook till mushy. It will take around 5 mins. Now add the cooked mutton pieces along with any water. Add the ground coconut masala as well and mix. Keep stirring till the gravy gets thick and the masala coats on all the mutton pieces. Add a handful of coriander leaves and toss well. Remove from instant pot and serve.Nutrition
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Vimitha Anand
Will try this soon as hubby loves mutton. Nice one
Valarmathi Sanjeev
yummy recipe...looks absolutely delicious...mouthwatering...
Anonymous
Wow, what a mouth-watering recipe with good presentation. Super...... Can we do in this method with Chicken, I don't get mutton here dear. UmaRaghu/ Poland
Food, Fun and Life in the Charente
I love spicy lamb curry, must try this recipe. Thanks Diane
Priya
Seriously cant take my eyes from ur irresistible click,super tempting dish.;
Anonymous
superb
PT
inviting clicks..
Suja Manoj
Perfect and drool worthy,love it.
Inside a British Mum's Kitchen
this sounds so delicious - i love the spices you use - fantastic!
Mary x
Aarthi
@Anonymousyes u can do with chicken too..
Chef Mireille
I made this a few months ago and it was such a delicious curry.. btw, we miss you at bm 🙁 however hope you are adjusting well to married life 🙂
Unknown
hi..i wanted to have mutton chukka for a very long time....but cudn find it anywhere else so gud as in anjappar hotel...am in bangalore...and i found it difficult to get a gud chukka varuval...so i thought why dont i tahe the help of internet do it by myself...so..i tried it as said ..came out very well....my hubby loved it so much...he usually resists to eat mutton b'cos of the fatty stuff....but cudn resist eating it since it was amazingly tasty...
RPV
hi AArthi ,
have tried some of ur recipies its yum n specially i like the pic presentation tat u give its awesome .
keep posting new recipes its great
RPV
hi AArthi ,
have tried out some of your dishes its yum .specially the pic presentation is wonderful.
Anonymous
Hi, this is chettinad mutton varuval. Sukka varuval is only with 3 ingredients. Small Onion, Red chillies and Mutton. You can add curry leaves finally if needed..
Anonymous
can u share the recipe of sukka varuval
Kalpana
hi aarthi,
I tried this mutton chukka last sunday...wow it was so yummy. My husband and my cousin loved it. Normally we prepare mutton curry and fry with homemade masala. but this time we had a good change. thank u so much.ur presentation is excellent. I love ur blog, keep on trying with ur recipes.:)
Babu Samuel
I was trying in my family all said 'GOOD'... It was so yummy...I have not at all tasted like this in any hotel 'Wonderful'... Thank you so much 'Excellent'....
merlin
Akka u r amazing ..... I made mutton chukka today .I'm not a lover of mutton and I never thought to have it I usually run away from mutton. But this recipe made me mouth watering while preparing . even my neighbor from the next door could smell and taste this recipe and she asked about it chukka . but the sad news is there is no remaining stuff in the kadai and the more bad news is I licked them all ... U r soooo into my heart now thank u akka
Anonymous
I tried today and it tastes very special and good. Really a delicacy. Goes nice as a side-dish with mutton biryani!
Sekar M
Hi mam can u post mutton thalai curry recipe...
Sekar M
Nice dish mam... thk u for ur guidance
Lydia
I prepared this recipe today and it was awesome. Thank you so much fo this recipe.
Lydia
I tired this recipe today, it was awesome. Thank you.
Nila Abdul
Yummy dish Arthi...try this soon..step by step procedure for each recepies looks great......plz visit my blog
http://nilascuisine.blogspot.ae/?m=1
Anonymous
Hi Aarthy....Thanks for sharing this recipe. I tried it and everyone enjoyed it saying that it had different taste than the usual mutton fry
Anonymous
Hi Aarthy....Thanks for sharing this recipe. I tried it and everyone enjoyed it saying that it had different taste than the usual mutton fry. UK
Anonymous
Hi Aarthy....Thanks for sharing this recipe. I tried it and everyone enjoyed it saying that it had different taste than the usual mutton fry. UK
Anonymous
I used to worry about cooking good authentic and flavouresome curry.I cook European and Meditteranean food as its part of my heritage but Indian was always a struggle.Just found this site after years of trying to cook decent curry.Excellent pictorialsEasy instruction,It also tastes as I think it should because my friends tell me its like their mums food.Thanks,very very impressed.Nick
Durga Vinoth
Hi,
I tried it on Sunday, your receipe is super.. my husband loved it...
Priya
Hi, can anything else be substituted for poppy seeds please? Thank you.
Aarthi
you can use some cashews.