This Keralan crispy lamb stir fry is seriously one of my favourite Indian recipes.
Not only is this lamb stir fry out of this world delicious, it’s such an easy dish to prepare.
It’s a great way to use up and give new life to leftover lamb roast dinner. Of course you could use raw lamb but that would take a bit longer.
So good and ready in minutes!
About this lamb stir fry recipe…
Like many of my recipes, I found this one by chance. I was in Tooting, London, with my wife one evening and we happened upot a restaurant called Vijaya Krishna.
Among other Keralan favourites, we ordered the Alleppey lamb stir fry and loved it. Thankfully, Chef Shabaz Ali was more than happy to share his recipe with me. He invited me into the kitchen the next day to show me how it was done.
This lamb stir fry recipe is in two of my cookbooks.
If you would like this recipe in a printed cookbook, I have you covered! I was in London for the photoshoot for ‘The Curry Guy Easy’ when I learned this recipe.
I quickly omitted another recipe so I could fit this lamb stir fry in! So the recipe first appeared in The Curry Guy Easy and then later in The Curry Guy Bible. Both books are available online and at all good book shops.
What do you serve this lamb stir fry with?
If you’d like to make this curry into a feast, you’ve come to the right place. You could just go for a side of Basmati rice or mushroom fried rice.
If you’d like to make naans, why not try one of these? Instant naans, Peshwari naans, stove top naans, keema naans, garlic naans, tandoor naans (if you have a tandoor oven), or if you’re cooking outdoors, karahi naans.
You might also like to serve this lamb stir fry with easy tarka dal or slowly cooked dal makhani.
Want to start your Keralan lamb stir fry meal off with a bang? How about fried shop bought poppadoms or if you’re feeling ambitious, make your own poppadoms from scratch and serve them with coriander chutney, red onion chutney, and/or tamarind chutney.
Make this recipe your own…
Just like all good Indian food, it is important to taste as you go and not just blindly follow the recipe.
This recipe is perfect for my tastes but you could adjust it to your taste too. If you like more soy sauce, add it. More chillies? Why not?
Taste as you go and this will be the most amazing lamb dish you’ve ever tried.
Step by step photographs…
Get all your ingredients together before you start cooking. It’s easier that way.
Fry the onion in a little oil over medium high heat until turning golden brown. Then add the garlic/ginger paste, chillies and curry leaves.
Stir it all up to combine and continue frying for about a minute.
Add the cooked lamb and stir it in.
Then stir in the ground spices and coat them meat.
Pour in the soy sauce and check for seasoning. All done!
We are talking delicious here!
Really good wrapped up in a paratha or chapatti.
Dig in!
If you like this easy lamb stir fry, you might like to try some of these easy recipes too…
Chicken Tikka Masala from Scratch
Chicken Dopiaza from Scratch
Beef Madras from Scratch
Chicken Vindaloo from Scratch
Rogan Josh from Scratch
Chicken Korma from Scratch
Chicken Chilli Garlic Curry From Scratch
Keralan Stir Fried Crispy Lamb
Ingredients
- 2 - 3 tablespoons rapeseed oil
- 1 onion - finely chopped
- 2 - 3 green chillies - cut into thin rings
- 1 tablespoon garlic and ginger paste
- 10 curry leaves
- 500g (1lb) cooked lamb leg or shoulder - cut into small pieces
- 1 tablespoon curry powder, garam masala or mixed powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chilli powder
- 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- Salt to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped coriander
- Juice of one lemon
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium high heat. When visibly hot, add the onion and fry for about five minutes until lightly browned.
- Add the green chillies, garlic and ginger paste and curry leaves (optional) and fry for a further 30 seconds before adding the cooked lamb.
- Stir this well and ad the dry spices. Fry until the meat is crispy on the outside and then add the soy sauce and salt to taste. Remember, the soy sauce is already quite salty so taste before adding more salt.
- Squeeze the lemon juice over the top and garnish with fresh coriander to serve.
So good and ready in minutes!
I hope you enjoy this Keralan lamb stir fry recipe. If you do try it, please leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you.
Ian
Saturday 24th of March 2018
Hi. It seems a lot of ground black pepoer? A tablespoon?
Dan Toombs
Monday 30th of April 2018
Hi Ian
Feel free to use less. That's how I learned the recipe and I do love black pepper. :-)
Thanks, Dan
Michael Reap
Sunday 4th of March 2018
FYI, "rapeseed oil" is more commonly called "canola oil" in North America.
Dan Toombs
Tuesday 6th of March 2018
I know. I'm from California originally. :-)
Dan
David Jones
Thursday 1st of March 2018
Very interesting ,will try some of your recipes Thank you
How do I grow curry leaves and coriander ?
Dan Toombs
Tuesday 6th of March 2018
Thank you David - I'm in no way a gardener but I have had some luck with curry leaves and coriander. I just follow the tips on the plants when they come. For curry leaves, try Plants4Presents. :-)
Dan