Looking for that classic curry house style rogan josh? Here you go…
This rogan josh recipe is simply delicious and exactly as I have seen it made at so many popular curry houses!
I have been making this for years and though I love more authentic Indian recipes, there is something about a UK curry house rogan josh. You can try a more traditional Kashmiri rogan josh here.
Lamb rogan josh is so good with plain Basmati rice or flavoured Basmati rice. You might also like to try it with naans or chapatis. Don’t forget the homemade dal and samosas! You might also like to serve this with homemade poppadoms and a selection of chutneys and raitas.
Just like the best curry house style rogan josh curries! You’ve got to try this one.
The difference between this and the rogan josh recipe in my cookbooks…
When I wrote my first cookbook ‘The Curry Guy’, I decided to write the curry house recipes to serve four people.
That is really the only difference between that recipe and the one you find below.
This recipe shows how to cook a rogan josh curry as it would be made at most Indian restaurants to serve 1 – 2 people.
If you would like to make this two person curry to serve 4, simply double the recipe but be careful with how much chilli powder you use. That should be added to taste.
The difference between curry house style rogan josh and authentic Kashmiri rogan josh
With more authentic Indian rogan josh cooking methods, this curry needs to slowly simmer for a few hours. It needs to in order for the meat to become tender and to flavour the sauce.
With British curry house style cooking, rogan josh can be whipped up much faster. That said, there is some forward preparation to do.
The idea behind curry house style cooking, like this rogan josh recipe, is to get the curries out to the customers in minutes while still making the curry taste like it has been slowly simmering for hours.
The secret to an amazing rogan josh using curry house methods.
To make cooking faster at curry houses, a base curry sauce is used.
The base curry sauce is great because it can be made in large batches. It freezes really well so you can quickly make your favourite curry in minutes whenever you’re getting the curry takeaway craving.
You can check out my authentic curry house style base curry sauce here.
As I explain in my base sauce recipe, the sauce can be pimped up by adding different meat or vegetable stocks to it but it is usually just made with vegetables, spices and water.
Another secret is pre-cooked meat.
If chefs at Indian restaurants didn’t pre-cook the meat, it would take much longer to get the curries out to the table and your bill would be much higher too. I have a pre-cooked meat recipe here which is perfect for this rogan josh.
What main ingredient should I use in a rogan josh?
Authentic rogan josh originated in the Kashmir region of India where mutton is the meat of choice. ‘rogan josh’ translates as red meat and this curry is famous for the use of red meat and the fact that the sauce is quite red in colour.
At curry houses, however it is all about the sauce.
A rogan josh can be ordered with lamb, chicken, vegetables, prawns, minced meat, panner for example. When you are making this rogan josh curry at home, you can add the main ingredient of your choice too.
In this recipe I use lamb as that is what I prefer but use what you like. You’re making it… make it the way you want.
Step by step photographs of the cooking process…
Wan to make an Indian restaurant style rogan josh that will impress? Go for it!
Fry the garlic and ginger paste in the oil for about 30 seconds to cook off the rawness.
Add the ground spices and stir well.
Stir in the tomato puree followed by a ladle of heated base sauce.
Here is is worth mentions how to add the base sauce.
These curry house curries are built from the bottom up. Ladle a little base sauce in and let it come to a simmer. Add more as needed.
If the pan is looking too dry, add more base. If too saucy, just cook it down. The base sauce has so many veggies in it, it cooks down and thickens very quickly.
Add the meat and ground cashew paste. This is just soaked cashews that are then blended to a paste. It’s a thickener more than anything else.
Stir in the yoghurt a little at a time. Then add the quartered tomato pieces.
To finish, season with salt to taste and garnish with the dried methi, coriander and chopped red onions.
Here are some more curry house favourites you might like to try!
Chicken Tikka Masala
Chicken Korma
Lamb Vindaloo
Chicken Dhansak
Chicken Chilli Garlic
Lamb Bhuna
Chicken Patia
Chicken Madras
International & UK Orders
How To Make Restaurant Style Lamb Rogan Josh
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons ghee or vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoons garlic and ginger paste
- 1 - 2 tablespoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon red chilli powder (or more to taste)
- 1 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1 tbsp mixed powder*
- 70ml (1/4 cup) tomato puree
- 300ml (1 1/4 cup) heated curry sauce
- 350g (12oz) tandoori lamb tikka
- 1 generous tablespoons cashew paste (Simply pound a cashews with a little water into a paste)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons plain natural yogurt
- 1/2 tsp garam masala
- 1 tomato quartered
- salt to taste
- 1 tsp dried fenugreek leaves
- 2 tablespoons chopped coriander
- Chopped red onion to garnish
Instructions
- In a large sauce pan, heat the ghee or oil until bubbling hot.
- When hot, add the garlic and ginger paste and let it come to a sizzle for about 30 seconds.
- Stir in the paprika, cumin, mixed powder and chilli powder. Stir well to combine..
- Add the tomato puree followed by a ladle of the base curry sauce. Bring to a simmer. Add more base sauce if the curry is looking dry.
- Stir in the meat and then cashew paste. Simmer for a couple of minutes adding more base as needed. Remember, if you add too much base, you can always cook it down to thicken. If too dry, just add more.
- Reduce the heat and add the yogurt one teaspoon at a time whisking as you do to combine. If you add the yoghurt all at once it could curdle. Add the tomato.
- Check for seasoning and add salt to taste along with the dried fenugreek leaves.
- Top with chopped coriander and serve with white rice and/or naans.
My base curry sauce can be used as a base for many different restaurant style curries – spicy to mild – and does a fantastic job with this lamb rogan josh curry.
* The mixed powder used in this rogan josh recipe is a curry house style curry powder. There is a link to my recipe in the above recipe. You could also use a good quality curry powder.
anthony blackman
Saturday 8th of January 2022
Just did you base curry sauce, looks great. Im going to make this Rogan Josh (chicken) and your Garlic Chilli Chicken. My question is i like to have a little sauce left over in order to pour over once done. Whats the best way to do this without diluting the curry?
Dan Toombs
Tuesday 11th of January 2022
Just add a little extra of any juicy ingredients such as tomatoes and base sauce and skim off some extra sauce at the end. Thanks Dan
Christine
Friday 1st of October 2021
In the process of precooking some shin beef for this recipe using your precooked meat recipe. Aroma alone from that is devine. Your base recipe makes making curries so much easier and are incredible.
Dan Toombs
Wednesday 6th of October 2021
Great to hear, thanks very much. Dan
Rose Taylor
Wednesday 21st of July 2021
Hi Dan Loving your recipes. Made this tonight not eaten it yet but the tasting up is good. I see you have listed Garam Masala but can't see where you add it, unless I'm being blind. I popped it in at the end... Many thanks Rose 🌹
Dan Toombs
Wednesday 4th of August 2021
You can just sprinkle it on at the end. I am glad you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks very much. Dan
Jake Rowland
Monday 12th of April 2021
In your recipes you mention tomato puree, would this be passata or tomato paste?
I'm in Australia if that helps.
Dan Toombs
Monday 12th of April 2021
I use passata but you can also use a bit of tomato puree if that is all you have. Thanks Dan
John Morrison
Saturday 13th of March 2021
looks like you have fresh tomatoes in the picture, but no mention of it in the recipe.
Cheers,
J
Dan Toombs
Monday 15th of March 2021
Thank you for noticing, I have amended the recipe. Dan