Degi Mutton Kunna Recipe (1 kg, Slow Cooked on Low Flame)
Degi mutton kunna is a slow-cooked mutton dish: mutton, ghee and onion in a deg, a freshly crushed kunna masala, and one hour covered on a low flame. At the end the gravy is thickened with a little flour mixed in water. We filmed the whole recipe, and every amount below comes from the labels shown on screen in the video.
Serves: 4 | Prep: 30 min | Cook: about 1½ hours
Difficulty: Easy (our estimate) | Best for: Eid, dawats, weekend meals
Heat level: medium (our estimate)
Watch the Degi Mutton Kunna Video
What Makes Degi Kunna Different
A freshly crushed masala. The kunna masala is made from white cumin seeds, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and mace. Only 1 tbsp goes into the pot.
Ghee as the cooking fat. One cup of ghee gives the kunna its rich taste.
One hour on a low flame. The deg is covered tightly with a cloth under the lid, so the mutton cooks in its own steam.
A flour finish. Half a cup of flour mixed in water gives the gravy its body at the end.
Degi Mutton Kunna Ingredients
| Ingredient | 1 kg batchserves 4 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mutton and base | ||
| mutton | 1 kg | |
| ghee | 1 cup | |
| onions | 2 medium | sliced |
| turmeric powder | 1 tsp | |
| green cardamom | 3-4 | |
| cloves | 4-5 | |
| salt | 1/2 tbsp | |
| Kunna masala (crushed) | ||
| white cumin seeds | 2 tbsp | |
| cloves | 8-10 | |
| cinnamon stick | 2 pieces | 2 inch each |
| nutmeg (jaiphal) | 4-5 | with mace (javitri) |
| To finish | ||
| kunna masala | 1 tbsp | from the crushed mix |
| black cumin seed powder | 1 tsp | |
| flour | 1/2 cup | mixed in water |
| water | not stated | |
Amounts are from the video and recipe card. Items marked * are our estimate.
How to Make Degi Mutton Kunna
1. Start the mutton
Put 1 kg of mutton, 1 cup of ghee and 2 sliced medium onions in the deg. Add the turmeric, green cardamom, cloves and salt and cook on high flame for 4-5 minutes.
2. Crush the kunna masala
Crush 2 tbsp of white cumin seeds with 8-10 cloves, 2 pieces of cinnamon stick, nutmeg and mace into a coarse masala.
3. Add the masala and cook slowly
Add 1 tbsp of kunna masala and cook on high flame for 5 minutes. Cover the deg tightly with a cloth under the lid and cook on a low flame for 1 hour, until the mutton is tender.
4. Thicken the gravy
Add water and cook on high flame for 3 minutes. Add 1 tsp of black cumin seed powder. Mix 1/2 cup of flour in water, add it to the deg and cook until the gravy thickens.
Degi Mutton Kunna
Ingredients
Method
- Put the mutton, ghee, onions, turmeric, green cardamom, cloves and salt in the deg and cook on high flame for 4-5 minutes.
- Crush the white cumin seeds, cloves, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg and mace into a coarse masala.
- Add 1 tbsp of the kunna masala and cook on high flame for 5 minutes.
- Cover the deg tightly and cook on a low flame for 1 hour, until the mutton is tender.
- Add water and cook on high flame for 3 minutes.
- Add the black cumin seed powder.
- Mix 1/2 cup of flour in water and add it to the deg. Cook until the gravy thickens and serve hot.
Video
Notes
Kunna Problems and How to Fix Them
- The mutton is tough: cook it longer on the low flame with the deg tightly covered.
- The flour makes lumps: mix it into cold water until smooth before adding it, and stir as it goes in.
- The masala tastes raw: crush the spices fresh and cook the masala on high flame for the full 5 minutes.
Serving and Storing
Serve hot with naan or roti and a ginger and green chilli garnish. Leftovers keep for 3 days in the fridge; reheat gently with a little water.
Degi Mutton Kunna FAQs
What is kunna?
Kunna is a slow-cooked meat dish made in a covered pot with its own juices and a crushed spice masala.
Why is flour added at the end?
The flour mixed in water thickens the gravy and gives the kunna its body.
Can I use beef?
Yes, but beef will need longer than 1 hour on the low flame.
More Recipes
- Mutton kunna paya: a Karachi mutton kunna and paya recipe.
- Mutton rosh: another slow-cooked mutton dish.
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