Mutton fry ... sweet, sour, spicy .... ( the way I make and like it )

August is not a very good month for me. Has never been.
I had not noticed it earlier; but now I have numerous reasons to wish from the bottom of my heart to dislike it with a passion.
How I wish I could delete August from the calendar forever.

 I have not been keeping too well recently.
And the weather is not helping much.
Initially it rained on and off the whole month of July. I love the monsoons that way.
A few spells of rain and then a burst of sun one day. Perfect for me.
But with the start of August, the heavens have opened up with determination.
Nothing to complain about that .... but when it comes to Pune, I have a good reason to dislike this.

The dark and dreary outside with rain pelting down on the trees standing in quiet submission is still alright. In fact is beautiful to watch too. But it is too darned cold inside.
Thanks goodness for our bay windows of glass that we can keep them shut forever and still get to see the view outside.
I keep burrowing inside layers of warm clothes. The temperature is almost always 22 degrees.... goes down in the nights ... when we resort to the room heater.
Talked to FIL just this morning, who is visiting Didi in Delhi ... and he complained about the heat and humidity and the a/c on. We wished we could swap places.

All this is no woe at all when compared to my condition right now.
I have been very ill recently and had to cancel our trip home twice. And now when we are all set to leave tomorrow, I am all wound up again.
I have been dreading this journey for ever since this year started. But time never stands for a moment. And now it is one year already.
The same rains; the same turmoil in the heart; the same uncertainty; the same heart rending pain; the same tears.
I am going home for Bapi. And for Bapi's absence.
My heart feels like it will break into a thousand pieces and life will never be the same again.

I fought with myself for long and finally decided to make a post after all.
I did not want to disappear just like that. 
So I am leaving you with a beautiful mutton fry that I had made one of these months .... when I had some friends over.
Sweet, sour, sticky, spicy ... everything heavenly ... it is finger licking good.

I did not want to make the usual mutton curry or the kosha. So just threw in some things together ... as I usually do with my chicken dishes.
Since I have not followed any recipe and eyeballed everything, I do not have a proper name for this.
But I am trying to give the measurements here.

This mutton fry is very spicy ... tone down the heat level if you want to.

Need :

Mutton - 250 gms

For marination -
Turmeric powder - 2 tsp
Red chilli powder - 2 tsp
Vinegar - 3 tsp ( I used chilli vinegar )
Lemon juice - 2 tbsp
Onion - 1 small, chopped
Ginger + garlic crushed together - 2 tbsp
Black cardamom - 1, crushed
Grated papaya - 3 tbsp (optional )
Bay leaf - 1
Cooking oil - 1 tbsp

For cooking - 
 Cooking oil - 3 tbsp
Onion - 1 big, sliced
Sugar - 2 tsp
Ginger + garlic crushed - 1 tbsp
Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
Chilli sauce - 1 tsp
Soy sauce - 1 tsp
Salt - to taste

How to :

Mix the mutton with the marination well.
Let it stand for around half an hour.

Pressure cook, with salt, ( I never add salt when marinating) and around two big sized cupful of water, for 3 whistles on low flame.
This cooking time will depend upon the quality of your mutton.

Remove from heat and cool.
Remove the pieces ... they should be done but not mushy.
Keep the stock aside. You can use it for other dishes later.

Heat oil in a kadahi and deep fry the onion slices till golden brown.
Drain and remove.

Raise heat and let the same oil become very hot.
Add some sugar and let in the mutton pieces carefully.

Sear both sides till dark brown.
Lower heat.

Add the rest of the ginger garlic paste and lightly fry ... try not to add any water.
Cover for a while.

Remove cover and give a good toss.

Add chilli powder + chilli sauce + soy sauce.

And the fried onions.

Stir lightly and let everything come together.
Do a taste test and adjust salt or sugar accordingly.

Finally round off with the lemon juice.

Here is a closer look at the beautiful caramelisation of both the meat and the onions. 

Serve hot with parathas, luchi or this light mishti polau.  
I hope you will enjoy this mutton fry on your plate in these rains.

Here are a few other Mutton recipes for you to try this beautiful season.
Happy monsoons all.

I will not be around for some time.
Do take care everyone.
And stay well.