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Rogan Josh

Kashmiri lamb curry rich with chilli and yoghurt.

100min
1091kcal
46.5gprotein
Rogan Josh — Indian recipe, finished and plated
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Ingredients

Servings 4
  • 900 g Lamb shoulder
  • 200 g Yogurt
  • 2 Onion
  • 2 tbsp Kashmiri chili powder
  • 1 Ginger
  • 6 cloves Garlic
  • 4 Green cardamom pods
  • 1 Cinnamon stick
  • 1 tbsp Garam masala
  • 4 tbsp Ghee
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 240 g Basmati rice

Method

  1. Rinse the basmati rice until the water runs clear, then cook it in twice its volume of water, covered, until tender and the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
  2. Slice the onions thin.
  3. Heat the ghee in a heavy pot over medium heat. Add the cardamom pods and cinnamon stick and let them sizzle a few seconds, then tip in the onions. Fry 12 minutes until deep brown, stirring now and then so they colour evenly.
  4. While the onions brown: cube the lamb shoulder into roughly 4 cm pieces, trimming any heavy fat.
  5. While the onions brown: grate the ginger and garlic to a coarse paste.
  6. Add the lamb, ginger-garlic paste, and Kashmiri chili powder. Cook until the lamb is browned all over. Take the pan off the heat and whisk in the yogurt a tablespoon at a time so it doesn't split.
  7. Add the salt and enough water to barely cover the lamb. Cover and braise gently 60 minutes until the lamb is fork-tender.
  8. Stir in the garam masala off the heat.
  9. Serve with rice.

Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.

About Rogan Josh

Rogan josh is one of the signature dishes of Kashmiri cuisine, a slow-cooked lamb curry whose name points to its defining features: rich, red, and cooked in oil. The color and warmth come largely from Kashmiri chili powder, which lends a deep crimson hue and gentle fruity heat rather than aggressive spice, while whole green cardamom and a cinnamon stick bloomed in ghee at the start perfume the whole pot. Yogurt whisked in a little at a time gives the gravy its characteristic body and a subtle tang, and the long, patient browning of the onions builds the sweet, savory backbone the sauce is built on.

The technique here rewards patience: onions are fried a full twelve minutes to deep brown before the lamb goes in, and the yogurt is added off the heat and incorporated gradually so it enriches the sauce instead of curdling. Lamb shoulder is the right cut because its connective tissue melts over the roughly hour-and-forty-minute cook into fork-tender, spoon-coating richness. Traditionally it's served with plain basmati rice or Indian breads to soak up the fragrant gravy, and it's a natural centerpiece for a celebratory or weekend meal. Finished with garam masala, it's aromatic and warming without being fiery.

Rogan Josh: frequently asked questions

What does "rogan josh" mean?

"Rogan josh" comes from Persian, reflecting the dish's Mughal origins in Kashmiri cuisine: "rogan" means oil, fat, or clarified butter (ghee), and "josh" means heat, intensity, or passion (as in cooking at high heat or bringing to a vigorous boil). So the name essentially describes an aromatic lamb curry braised in fat at intense heat. Its signature deep-red color traditionally comes from mild Kashmiri chilies and ratan jot (alkanet root), rather than from tomatoes or intense spiciness.

How many calories are in Rogan Josh?

A serving has about 1091 calories — 46.5g protein, 65.8g carbs, 71g fat, 5.9g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.

Is it high in protein?

Each serving has about 46.5g of protein, roughly 17% of its calories.

Is Rogan Josh gluten-free?

Based on its ingredients, Rogan Josh has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.

Is Rogan Josh dairy-free?

Not as written — it uses Yogurt, Ghee. Swapping those for a plant-based alternative makes it dairy-free.

How long does Rogan Josh take to make?

About 100 minutes start to finish, but only around 35 of those are hands-on — the rest is largely unattended cooking time you can step away from. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.

How many servings does Rogan Josh make?

This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.