Mutton Polov (pronounced as po-low) is a authentic Mangalorean dish which is prepared & served on the day of the Roce ceremony before one’s wedding. This is eaten with buns/pav or with boiled rice. In the olden days when the poor could not afford to serve mutton to guests, this gravy would be made with dry shrimp. This beautiful blend of meat/shrimp with ash gourd is mildly spiced with a coconut milk base. If you are able to visit Mangalore you can buy the vegetable powder available at Don Stores/Konkan Traders near Milagres Church. I will try to post the recipe of the powder once I have tried it.
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Mutton fan? Try these recipes!
Mutton Polov
Easy mutton curry with ash gourd is a classic Mangalorean Catholic style dish that is usually served for wedding ceremonies. This is a quick recipe using readymade vegetable masala powder
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Ingredients
- 1 kg mutton on the bone
- 1.5 kgs ash gourd (winter melon)
- 1 medium-big onion
- 1 cup grated coconut
- 6 flakes of garlic
- 1 marble size ball of tamarind
- 2 tablespoons vegetable masala powder
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 ” stick of cinnamon or cassia bark
- 4 cloves
- salt to taste
- ghee for frying
Instructions
- Cook mutton with salt, cinnamon & cloves till almost done (How I make it: I cut, wash & drain the mutton pieces well and then use about 1/2 cup of water in the pressure cooker & add the mutton pieces in it. Add salt, cloves & cinnamon, cover the lid & add the weight (whistle). Keep the pressure cooker on full flame till the first whistle goes off (this takes about 10mins), after that reduce flame & cook for about 15mins (this is because we get tender & good quality meat in Mumbai). Turn off flame and let it sit for 5-10mins before the whistle is loose enough to be removed, open carefully, stir once & close without whistle. Remove after 2-3 mins and use as required.
- Remove the pith & skin of the ash gourd & cut into cubes. Add this to the mutton & let it cook in the same water
- Heat oil in a tawa & broil the coconut till a nice aroma arises, add the onion & garlic & broil some more
- Grind the coconut, onion & garlic, tamarind, vegetable masala powder & a little water. Leave the masala a little coarse
- Add the masala & salt to taste and water if required to the mutton & ash gourd and boil.
- Add the coconut milk & boil
- Season with 1 small onion fried in ghee
Notes
The alternative to preparing fresh coconut milk is to use coconut milk powder which is available in the market. I use Maggi coconut milk powder. Just take a little warm water & add the coconut powder & stir so no lumps remain. For the above recipe you can take about 200ml of water & add 6-7 tsps of coconut milk powder to get thick milk.
Disclaimer
The nutritional values are only indicative.
Tried this recipe?Please leave a comment & rate the recipe below or share a photo on Instagram and tag me @ruchikrandhap
Yummy, Yummy Shireen. This was a dish commonly associated with the Roce ceremony. I do not know whether it is still served???
Yes May, this is the dish served with buns on the Roce day 🙂 I simply love it, but not sure if all caterers know to prepare this now..authentically that is..
Hi Shireen, I am from Mangalore and I want to try this polov.. does the vegetable powder have a local name? let me know.. thanks!
Hi Joyce, the vegetable powder is available at Konkan Traders or Don Stores near Milagres Church, it is called as Vegetable Powder or you can ask for 'randhai so pito' in Konkani – it is available in all Mangalorean stores which stock up on Bafat powder
Hi Shireen, thanks for your reply. I have a large kuvalo lying in my pantry and I shall try this soon, though I don't have the vegetable powder. Can I substitute the veg powder with a mix of spices? Please let me know.
Hi Joyce, yes you can substitute the veg powder with a mix of spice powders. The veg powder is actually a blend of red chillies, coriander, cumin seeds, mustard, pepper, turmeric, bengal gram dal, green gram dal, boiled rice, gingelly (til) and fenugreek. All these ingredients of different quantities, but u pretty much get the idea. I will try the mix at home & post the recipe soon 🙂
Shireen, I tried the mix at home when I ran out of it. May I ?
hi shireen…. I tried this recipe yest and made appans to go with it…. Had my inlaws over for dinner….. it was all just wiped out…. superb… thanks for this recipe…
Thanks a ton Jovi! Feels great to receive such positive feedback! Glad u liked the polov 🙂
Sonia, yes pls, it would help all of us, thanks 🙂
I have been looking for this recipe for so long…thanks a ton for posting this…am doing this dish today…
Hi Shireen, I recently stumbled upon your website while I was searching for a recipe for Beef sukka & I was thrilled to see your Mutton polov recipe! I have'nt tasted it for years being in the US so I decided to try it out. Since I have no access to veg powder, I (with my mom's help) substituted it with 1tbsp raw rice, 2tbsp coriander seeds, 1/2 each of mustard & jeera & 6 dried red chillies. Dry roasted the above & ground them with the onion-coconut mix. Turned out pretty close to original I would say!
Thanks for posting your recipes! I intend to come back & try them out one by one!
Hi Preeti!
Thanks so much for the veg powder substitute..i will definitely try it!! Glad to see you liked the blog, please do leave your comments and feedback as and when you have tried something!
This recipe is so difficult to find. But Ruchik Randhap has made it super easy. Thanks so much
Hi Cynthia, glad to hear that! Happy cooking!
Hello Shireen, Love your recipes and appreciate all the hardwork. Will u help in searching for an authentic recipe or recreate one, of bread pudding. This tasty pudding was available at all the irani restaurants in Mumbai. I have tried the blogesphere but to no avail. Thanks and keep up the good work Gracy
Hi Gracy, thanks for your compliments!! I do have my mum's recipe for bread pudding, but I am not sure if what u are looking for (Iranian one) is the same as the one we make in Mangalore. Our method is to mix bread crumbs in milk and eggs and steam it for almost an hour. Is it the same?
I have been wanting to comment on this recipe and never made the time, I have tried this so many times now and every time it is a hit. I was always afraid to try this recipe because it comes with big banner ” wedding Palov” but now it is a piece of cake. Thank you again Shireen, so much appreciated
Thank you so much for the feedback and appreciation Lavina! So glad you liked it 🙂
Thank you Shireen for making such a complicated recipe so easy. Followed all the steps and it turned out so tasty. Same aroma same taste which I always longing for. Everyone who tasted simply loved it. I had tried many complicated recipes but nothing matches your recipe. All your Mangalorean recipes takes us back to our childhood days. Thank you for your time and hard work in taking us back to our roots. God bless.
Dear Jane,
Thank you so much for your lovely words. They filled my heart with so much joy and satisfaction that my efforts are recognized. Thank you for taking the time to give me your feedback. I am so happy that you enjoyed my recipe so much! Thanks once again. Take care!
If one does not have the vegetable powder what is the other alternative. Please help. Thank you
Hi Mabel,
You could try this recipe instead then. It is more elaborate but gives you same, if not better results
https://www.ruchikrandhap.com/traditional-wedding-style-mutton-polov/
Recipe not in details, didn’t come out good
Sorry you had this experience. I think it is detailed enough for anyone to recreate the dish