Name: Whole Leg of Lamb in a Spicy Yogurt Sauce (Raan masaledar)
Yield: Serves 4–6
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: ½ teaspoon cloves; 16 cardamom pods; 5 cm/2 inch cinnamon stick; 10 black peppercorns; 8 garlic cloves, peeled; 2.25 kg/5 lb leg of lamb, trimmed; 225 g/8 oz onions, peeled and coarsely chopped; 50 g/1¾ oz blanched almonds; 4 tablespoons sultanas; 4 fresh, hot green chillies, coarsely chopped; 570 ml/1 pint natural yogurt; 2 tablespoons ground cumin seeds; 4 teaspoons ground coriander seeds; 2.5 cm/1 inch cube of fresh ginger, peeled and coarsely chopped; 10 g/¼ oz blanched, split or slivered almonds; ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper; ½ teaspoon Garam masala; 3½ teaspoons salt; 6 tablespoons vegetable oil

Preparation info

Serves
4–6

Difficulty
Easy

Appears in

Madhur Jaffrey's Indian Cookery

By Madhur Jaffrey

Published 2023

About

If you are having guests for dinner, this might be the perfect dish to serve. It is quite impressive: a whole leg dressed with a rich sauce, presented garnished with almonds and sultanas. I often serve it with Sweet yellow rice and a green vegetable.

You need to buy a 2kg/4lb 8oz leg of lamb. Get the butcher to remove the ‘H’ bone and to make a deep pocket to hold a stuffing. (You will not actually stuff the leg, but most butchers seem to understan