Rogan Josh is a very tasty dish and can be cooked easily by following simple steps. When I heard the name of this dish I was surprised about its name because in the common language rogan means paint. Then why this dish got its name rogan josh? this was an interesting question that appeared in my mind. I searched for the reason and now I want to share not only this information but the whole recipe of delicious spicy rogan josh.


rogan josh


Rogan Josh is a very famous recipe for Kashmiri cuisine from India. The meat of goat or lamb is commonly used in this recipe. The delicious and aromatic sauce is prepared by using different spices. Meat is cooked in that sauce to give it finishing touch. Kashmiri red chili powder is used to give the dish dark red color. These chilis are not much spicy but used to give beautiful vibrant red color to a dish.


Why is rogan josh famous in Kashmir?


As rogan josh has got origin in Kashmir valley, it is a popular part of Kashmiri cuisine. In the traditional foods of Kashmir, this dish has a vital position.  


The name ‘rogan josh” is known to be originated from the Persian word “roan” which means oil or “josh” which means passion or heat.  It is called that Mughal emperors brought this dish in the sixteenth century during their rule over this region.  The climatic conditions of Kashmir are very cold and spicy and the rich flavors of rogan josh are suitable for such a climate.


Aromatic spices and a slow cooking method are used to cook rogan josh which further enriches its flavor. I think you must try to cook and enjoy this recipe at home.


How to cook rogan josh at home?


Here are all steps to cook the flavorful and spicy rogan josh.


Ingredients for rogan josh recipe:


  • One lb lamb meat, small pieces
  • Two tablespoons of vegetable oil
  • One large chopped onion
  • Two tablespoons of garlic paste
  • Two tablespoon ginger paste
  • 2 to 3 cloves
  • 2 to 3 green pods of cardamom
  • One cinnamon stick
  • One bay leaf
  • Cumin seeds one tablespoon
  • Coriander seeds one tablespoon
  • Red chili powder one tablespoon
  • One tablespoon paprika
  • One tablespoon of turmeric powder
  • Plain yogurt one cup
  • 2 to 3 cups of water
  • Cilantro leaves for garnishing



The cooking method of rogan josh:


1.  Take a large pot and pour vegetable oil into it to heat over medium flame. 


2.  Then put the garlic paste and ginger paste for 1 to 2 minutes until they give a nice fragrance.


3.  Add the pieces of lamb and fry them to get brown-colored pieces of lamb.


4.  Then add the cinnamon sticks, cloves, green cardamom pods, cumin seeds, bay leaves, and coriander seeds. Mix them to get a fine mixture.


5.  Then you have to add red chili powder, paprika and turmeric powder. Stir all the ingredients to cover the lamb pieces with spices.

 

6.  After 2 minutes add salt and yogurt to the mixture.


7.  The time comes to add 2 to 3 cups of water and allow it to boil. Lessen the flame and cover the pot with a lid to allow it to cook thoroughly. 


8.  After 45 minutes to 1 hour the lamb pieces will get tender and the sauce will become thick. 


9.  Remove the rogan josh from the flame and do its garnishing with chopped leaves of cilantro.


10.  Now you can enjoy the spicy delicious rogan josh with naan or rice.

Comment to let us know about your rogan josh cooking experience.


Garnishing rogan josh:


To garnish rogan josh there are various options available. You can use ingredients of your choice to garnish the dish. Here are some awesome ideas for garnishing.



kashmiri rogan josh


1. Fresh cilantro: 

If you use chopped cilantro leaves for garnishing purposes, it will add fresh flavor to the recipe. It is commonly used in many Indian dishes.


2. Yogurt: 

You can add a spoonful of plain yogurt to the surface of rogan josh. It is helpful to neutralize the spicey taste and richness of the rogan josh recipe.


3. Sliced almonds: 

You can use sliced almonds after toasting them to add crunch and deliciousness to the recipe.


4. Fried onions: 

Many people use fried onions for garnishing purposes in a variety of dishes. Fried onions not only provide nice color to garnishing but hey are a source of unique taste.


5. Lemon wedges: 

You can also squeeze fresh lemon juice on the rogan josh to get a tangy and sour taste. 


6. Pomegranate seeds:

 To get a burst of sweetness and nice color in garnishing, you can use pomegranate seeds. This will also give a new look to garnishing the recipe.


Calories content:


A normal rogan josh serving  ( one cup or 240 grams) has about 300 to 400 calories. Calories content may vary according to the specificity of the ingredients used in the dish. It also depends on the method of cooking and how many calories still exist in the recipe ingredients.


If you are more conscious about the calorie content in the recipe you can use a recipe calculator or read out the nutritional information of the spices packet.


Is rogan josh healthy?


Whether the rogan josh is healthy or not relies on different aspects like the type of ingredients used in the recipe. The portion size of rogan josh you consume also affects the healthiness of this recipe. 


Lamb meat which is a basic ingredient in this dish contains proteins and significant nutrients like zinc, vitamin B12, iron, etc. It also contains high contents of saturated fat.


Other spics which are a necessary part of the recipe have a variety of health benefits. Garlic and ginger are anti-inflammatory in nature and cardamom and cumin help improve digestion.


In some types of rogan josh extra salt and sugar are also added. Their use in excess amounts will be dangerous for health. If you use large contents of oil or ghee in the Rogan josh recipe it will be unhealthy.


If someone is already suffering from obesity or any heart disease, he/she may concern with a health specialist before having rogan josh. Its excessive amount may be harmful to such persons. 


Best combinations with rogan josh:


Here are some ideas for how to combine Rogan Josh with other ingredients:


1. Vegetables:

A variety of vegetables can be added to the recipe. You can choose to add carrots potatoes, peas, green beans, bell pepper, etc. During cooking the meat and spices just add the bite-sized slices of vegetables to the recipe. This will enhance the taste and nutritional value of the dish.


2. Rice:


rice-rogan-josh


Traditionally rogan josh is paired with white rice. The tasteful gravy of roan josh makes the best combination with white rice. However brown rice or basmati rice can also be used for this.


3. Naan bread and rogan josh: 


naan-rogan-josh

In Kashmir, a most famous complement to rogan josh is naan bread. It is soft and perfect to eat with gravy of rogan josh.


4. Yogurt: 

If you think that rogan josh is too spicy then pair it with plain yogurt. This will make the texture of the dish creamy and cooler.


5. Chutney: 

For persons who like sweet complements with spicy dishes then serving rogan josh with mango chutney is the best choice. This will add complexity to the taste of the recipe.


Precautions to cook perfect Rogan Josh:


In order to get a restaurant taste in your homemade rogan josh make sure to follow these precautionary measures.


Selecting the right meat:

To cook this recipe at home, high-quality lam meat that is well patterned like shoulder or leg meat. This will ensure to make the perfect rogan josh recipe.


Using fresh ingredients:

It is necessary to use fresh ingredients to get a perfect and nice flavor. The fresh spices can be garlic, tomatoes, and ginger.


Toasted spices:

To get the best flavor and fragrance of spices it is best practice to toast them in a pan. That will result in releasing oils in the spices and their flavor will be enhanced. 


Cooking the meat slowly:

Use medium or low heat to cook rogan josh thoroughly and to get its exact taste. This will also allow the meat to become chewable. Don’t cook in a hurry, it will not give you the exact taste.


Using thick bottomed pot:

If you use a light and thin-bottomed pot, it will burn the rogan josh. Try to take a thick-bottomed pot to thoroughly cook the dish and avoid burning.



How to store rogan josh?


Rogan Josh is a delicious Kashmiri lamb curry that can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer for later consumption. Here are some tips on how to store Rogan Josh properly:


1.  Storing in Refrigerator: 

To consume rogan josh after some days, pack it in an airtight jar. Keep the jar of rogan josh in the refrigerator. Do not take off the lid of the jar in the refrigerator to avoid the entry of air in it. Make sure to consume the recipe within 3 to 4 days.


2.  Storing in the freezer:

If you have to store the dish of rogan josh for a long time, keep it in the freezer. First, allow the dish to cool down at room temperature and then put it in the jar. You can label the container with the storing date and can store this recipe for three months. Before eating the dish, first thaw it all night in the refrigerator. Then heat the rogan josh recipe again on flame or in the oven.


3.  Storing in portions:

If you want to store the rogan josh then try to make small portions and separate packs. It will not result in wastage of meals you can reheat only that portion which you need.


References:

https://www.recipetineats.com/rogan-josh/

https://www.indianhealthyrecipes.com/rogan-josh/