Mutton-based dishes lie in the centre of Indian cuisine. Mutton as a condiment becomes more popular as one travels towards the Southern part of India. People in states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Karnataka like to play with different spices and mutton to make dishes that furthertravel to different parts of the world and become a major hit. As people of these regions are such enthusiastic cooks, it is pretty obvious that one can find a myriad of mutton curries and dishes in South India. However, many people in other parts of the country are unaware of such delicious recipes because of the lack of geographical vicinity.
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Here's an amalgamated list of mutton dishes from South India that are worth trying at least once in a lifetime.
Also Read: Mutton Akbari: A Rich and Spicy Mutton Gravy
* Mysore Chilli Chops
Lamb chops are a very popular delicacy in many parts of India. Mysore-style lamb chops are extremely spicy and coated with a lot of regional spices that are used in that area. Lamb chops are perfectly marinated in a mixture of curd and some masalas before being coated with some sesame seeds. These are then grilled until they become extremely crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The most noticeable thing about these lamb chops is their spicy flavour. These are generally served with an equally tantalising dip.
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* Haleem
Haleem is the identification mark of Hyderabad. It is also very famous in Aurangabad city of Maharashtra which was previously the capital of the Hyderabad state during the colonial period. The local spices and the traditional way of making Hyderabadi Haleem is what makes it so special. The dish has Arabic origins and is made by using mutton with pulses, some rice, and wheat or barley. It is an enticing blend of different types of grains, mutton, and spices, all of which come together very well.
* Mutton Chukka
Mutton Chukka Varuval is a very delicious mutton recipe from South India that is delicately cooked by using spices that are ground with hands. A lot of delicious herbs are also used to make this dish taste as exotic as possible. The spicy flavour of this dish is attained by the combination of fennel seeds, cumin, and black pepper. The mutton is perfectly spiced with all these different ingredients and sprinkled with some fresh coriander leaves and shredded cheese.
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* Mutton Biryani
A list featuring mutton-based recipes is incomplete without including mutton biryani. Mutton biryani is the very soul and the essence of the Mughalai cuisine of South India. It is a multilayered and flabbergasting dish that instantly hits the right cords in the heart. It is cooked by using some marinated mutton that is carefully assorted with supreme quality rice, regional spices, herbs, caramelised onions, and other condiments like cardamom and saffron. This dish is like a bomb of flavours and makes one fall in love with itself from the first bite.
* Mutton Stew
Generally, people think that South Indian cuisine only features heavily spicy and flavourful dishes. But there are a lot of subtle and comforting dishes in South Indian cuisine as well. One such dish is mutton stew. This is a lightly seasoned dish that is made by using tender mutton, potatoes, carrots, and some other vegetables of one's preference. The stew is prepared by using creamy coconut milk and spicing it with ingredients like cloves and cinnamon. This dish is like a warm hug on winter days.
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* Mutton Chettinad
Chettinad cuisine is one of the most intriguing cuisines in the country. One of the many dishes in Chettinad cuisine is Mutton Chettinad. This is a heavy Chettinad-style mutton curry that has an extremely spicy flavour attained by using a blend of Chettinad spices. One can easily get an idea of the taste of this curry by looking at its bright red colour. It is generally eaten with white rice but one can even have it with any kind of Indian bread.
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* Mutton Sukha
Mutton Suka is another fiery and zesty mutton dish from South India that is famous for its robust flavours. It is prepared by using ingredients like bay leaves, green cardamom, cinnamon sticks, black peppers, and cloves. The blend of the spices along with some grated coconut gives it a very nutty flavour. The mutton sukha has a lot of depth. It doesn't have a lot of gravy and is towards the dryer end so it can be easily consumed with some Indian bread.