Mutton Kulambu Recipe

Mutton Kuzhambu or Mutton Kulambu is a traditional South Indian gravy dish made with lamb or mutton, onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and spices. Spicy mutton kuzhambu is made authentic way with ground masala which goes well with some hot rice or some chapati. It can be had with Appam, Idiyappam and Kerala Parotta. Learn how to make perfect mutton kuzhambu with step by step pictures and video.

Mutton Kulambu

One of the most requested recipe in YUMMY TUMMY is a proper mutton kulambu. I have been getting request for that from so many viewers. Last week I made for my sister and we had an awesome lunch. I used pressure cooker to cook mutton pieces with all the spices. This made the mutton so meltingly tender. If you have got a little time, let the gravy sit for a while so that the flavours will meld together and taste even more delicious. I served it with plain rice, but this taste equally delicious with aapam, idiyappam, roti and paratha. 

About Mutton Kuzhambu (Kulambu)

Kuzhambu also known as kulambu is nothing but a gravy made with onions, tomatoes, spices sometimes with coconut or without coconut. It is a traditional South Indian side dish for rice. Some of the most popular non veg kuzhambu is my meen kuzhambu, chicken kuzhambu & nattu kozhi kuzhambu. Did you know that I have over 85 kuzhambu recipes on this blog.

This is my style of making mutton kuzhambu. This recipe is made nearly 9 years back, ever since I have tried version of this mutton kuzhambu. I have shared an updated version of mutton kuzhambu recipe in the video. This version is the easy and tasty recipe which I don't want to change. It is a version which is loved by many as well.

The recipe starts by marinating the mutton with a freshly ground onion tomato spice masala. Pressure cooking it and then adding it to sauted onions and chillies. I added coconut fennel seed paste to thicken the kuzhambu which turned out great. You can serve it with rice, nool parotta, Tandoori roti, idli, dosa, idiyappam or ghee rice.

More Curry Recipes

• Nagercoil Chicken Curry
• Chettinad Mutton Curry
• Lamb Vindaloo
• Chettinad Chicken

Watch Mutton Kuzhambu Video

The video below is slightly different from this recipe. The ingredients used is same, but It is an updated version of the recipe below.

Mutton Kulambu Ingredients

Lamb | Mutton - use tender cuts of mutton pieces with bone-in for best flavour. Bone-in mutton is best for making any kulambu since it adds so much flavour to the gravy.

Onions - You can use onions or shallots in kulambu. You need onions for making masala as well as sauteing.

Tomatoes - ground tomatoes is added in the marination which makes the gravy thick and tasty.

Ginger & Garlic - add lots of ginger garlic paste which gives a wonderful aroma.

Green Chillies - fresh green chillies adds flavour and gives the gravy spicy kick.

Spice Powders - usual spices like chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder and garam masala powder is used.

Coconut - every traditional kulambu recipe uses coconut which gives the taste. I add some fennel seeds into the coconut for grinding. You can add some cashews, roasted gram dal or almonds in this when grinding which gives a thicker gravy.

How to Make Mutton Kulambu (Stepwise Pictures)

Make Marination

1)Take onion, tomato, spice powders in a blender and make it into a fine puree.I added some salt as well.

2)You can add little water if you want. But the water from the tomatoes is enough to make it into a fine paste.

3)Add this paste into the mutton pieces and mix well.

4)Allow this to marinate for 10 to 15 minutes. You can leave to marinate overnight also, but it is not required.

Pressure cooking Mutton

5)Take the marinated mutton in a pressure cooker. Add ½ cup of water to this if needed. We are going to pressure cook the mutton.

6)Cover the pressure cooker and cook for 5 to 6 whistle. If you are making this in a cooking pot instead of pressure cooker. It might take around 1 hour to 1.5 hours to cook the mutton. I have included instant pot method below make sure you check that.

7)Now the mutton is cooked completely. Set this aside so we can make the base.

Grinding Coconut

8)Take coconut, fennel seeds in a blender. You can add some cashews, roasted gram dal or almonds in this when grinding which gives a thicker gravy.

9)Grind the coconut fennel seeds to a fine paste. Set this aside. We will be using this in the end.

Make Mutton Kulambu

10)Heat coconut oil in a large pot. Add in curry leaves, sliced onions and green chillies.

Pro Tip: Instead of onions you can use chopped shallots. Shallots gives a sweet flavour to the curry.

11)Saute the onions till it gets lightly golden brown. Add in spice powders and mix well.

12)Once the spice powders are added, reduce the flame and cook else the spices may get burnt. Add in the cooked mutton pieces along with the cooking liquid.

13)Pour in extra water if needed and bring it to a full boil. Once it starts to boil, reduce the flame and add in the coconut masala.

14)Mix the coconut into the gravy, reduce the flame and cover the pot with lid. Cook on low heat for 10 minutes.

15)Mutton kuzhambu is ready. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with rice.

16)Serve mutton kuzhambu with rice or any main dish.

Instant Pot Mutton Kuzhambu Recipe

Marinating Mutton - Grind ingredients as mentioned and marinate mutton.

Sauteing in Instant Pot - Heat instant pot in saute mode. Add oil along with curry leaves. Let it sizzle for few seconds. Now add in onions and green chilli and saute this till they turn golden brown. Add in all the spice powders and mix well.

Adding Mutton - Now add mutton along with any sauce left in it and mix well. Saute for at least 10 mins. Pour some water Add salt if needed. Cover the instant pot and set it to pressure cook mode and set for 10 mins. Once the timer goes off. let the pressure release by itself.

Finishing Kulambu - Meanwhile grind coconut with fennel seeds to a smooth paste. Open the instant pot, add the ground masala and mix well. Cook on low for 5 mins. Add in coriander leaves and mix. Serve.

Expert Tips

• You can cook this dish in pressure cooker or regular pot. If using pressure cooker, the cooking time is less. If cooking in cooking pot, it takes more time.
• Mutton takes more time to cook. So I cook in pressure cooker.
• Small onions (shallots) add sweetness to the dish. You can use shallots of regular onions.
• Roasted gram dal in coconut paste adds thickness to the gravy.
• Once coconut paste is added, don't boil too vigorously else the coconut will curdle.

Serving & Storage

Leftover mutton kulambu can be stored in fridge and reheated on stove top when needed.

Mutton Kulambu recipe is perfect to enjoy with some hot rice or some chapati. It can be had with Appam, Idiyappam and Kerala Parotta. Kuzhambu is usually served with rice, nool parotta, Tandoori roti, idli, dosa, idiyappam or ghee rice.

More Mutton | Lamb Recipes to Try

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