Oh, la, la!! This healthy lamb curry is a heck of a dish that anyone I know absolutely LOVES it.
Oh my!! Finally, I know!! My all-time favourite lamb curry recipe has arrived! At last!
I know quite a few friends and keen fans of Ramona's Cuisine have been asking and waiting for my lamb curry recipe. I feel bad for not prioritising this but only time is to blame.
Time is unfairly flying, way too fast and I've had so many exciting recipes that I wanted to share! .... But here it is, at last, the much-awaited VIC (very important curry) recipe of this wonderful and much-awaited for - lamb curry.
It's been some time now since my love for Asian cuisine started. I would be lost without curry nowadays. Curries, in general, are so delicious and super healthy as far as I am concerned, especially when cooked the way I do, with no frying, no tampering, and no oil added. You cannot go wrong. I know, people that like it traditionally cooked might say this isn't great, just try!
I was very lucky to have an old friend with that I've learned how to cook a lot of Sri Lankan dishes from. And not long after..... I met and married my Sri Lankan hubby who is a great cook.
Asian food! Oh my!! Have I had not known about it or refused to try it, I would have been missing out big time. Thankfully, I love food and I'm always open to trying new dishes.
Sri Lankan cuisine I must say - stood and still stands out for me a great deal. The simplicity and the flavours just totally blow me away.
I do enjoy my curries a great deal as you may have guessed. I must have one almost every week in order to feel complete and totally happy with my life. Haha. I'm lucky my lovely hubby cooks a nice curry every now and again for me too. He cooks whenever that very rare occurrence that I don't fancy cooking arises, which is really nice.
I love cooking a curry which I have to admit I'm not cooking it very traditionally all the way because the only aspect that I 'suffer' from is the frying.... and.... in Asian cuisine.... frying is THE thing.
The issue with that is that whenever eat fried and/or too oily food I do feel it greatly after. My digestive system just cannot have it, so I had to adapt it and it works. It works for my husband to the extent that he never has heartburn after having it which is great.
Why is this Lamb Curry Healthy?
Well, my curries always have a twist, a healthy twist. They involve NO frying and have NO added oil which is why I am saying they are super healthy.
Additional to all that extraordinary ingredients like turmeric, ginger, garlic, and all the seeds and curry, cumin and garam masala powders which are so amazing.
Oh yes, you may think I've lost the plot but I can reassure you they come out delicious and you would not say there is a difference. My curries in general are as authentic as the traditionally cooked ones by my Sri Lankan friends or family.
Turning them healthier, truly nutritious and with fewer calories if possible is the key.
Here are some more curry recipes that you may like, try this Thai duck curry or why not try this Ox tongue curry or a seafood one like this squid curry. All delicious and super healthy made from scratch food. What about a vegan curry like this chickpeas and butternut squash delight.
I just can't wait to go to Sri Lanka, the only thing is I fear I might not want to come back. My husband is really afraid of that 😉 hence the reason why he is postponing it. I will, I will go, very, very soon and I will tell you all about it when I come back mainly with a pad filled with recipes. I actually CAN NOT wait!
I must have made this curry about 10,000 times so here is the recipe. Here is how I make it!
Delicious and super healthy Lamb Curry
Ingredients
- 800 g lamb meat (cubed) approx 2 pounds
- 1 large onion
- 3 tablespoon curry powder (for hot)
- 1 green chili (fresh- for extra hot)
- ½ teaspoon seeds (mixed)
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 8-10 curry leaves (fresh, frozen or dry)
- ⅔ tablespoon tomato puree
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- ½ tbsp garam masala
- 1 can tomato (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic
- ¼ pepper (freshly ground)
- 1 teaspoon ginger (grated)
- ½ lemon (its juice)
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Cut the washed lamb meat into chunks/pieces. I usually cut the meat into small cubes of about 1 cm sq. Add the salt, the curry powder and mix well to coat the meat. Set aside for as long as you wish but, the longer the meat marinades the better.
- Meanwhile, peel, wash and chop the onion. Wash the fresh chilli, peel, crush and chop the garlic. Set aside ready for action.
- Place a cooking pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and a little water or oil if you wish. As you know I do not fry so I would drizzle some water just enough to help the onion cook and soften slightly. You can cover to speed up the softening by using its own steam to cook the onion.
- Add to the onion the seeds and the fresh chilli(s) cut into halves lengthwise. Cook for one minute or two until the water has run out and the onion becomes nice and soft. All in all cook for about 3 mins.
- Add the meat which has marinated for a while (even overnight if you can - it's amazing), add some water (approx 100-200ml depending on how juicy you want your curry to be) and stir. Cover and cook for about 15-20 min.
- Add the chopped tomato, the tomato paste, the crushed and chopped garlic, the curry leaves, the grated ginger, the garam masala, turmeric and cumin powders and grind some black/mixed pepper. Stir and cook for another 10-12 min covered or uncovered. I prefer uncovered so that the juices reduce slightly.
- Remove from heat, allow to cool for 2 min and give the lemon a good old squeeze making sure no pips are going into the curry as those are not pleasant to bite into.
Notes
More about the seeds mix .....
In almost all my curries (with very little exceptions) use a seed mix of cumin, fennel, mustard, fenugreek, black sesame and about 10% caraway seeds which can be bought separately in any Asian or even supermarket, a good online wholefood or street specialized on spices store. I mix these in pretty much equal quantities apart from caraway ones. Of course you can mix and match them as you wish and if there is any flavor that you don’t like, just leave it out and this is the beauty of this as you create your own best liked mix. Mix them all and store in a jar. This seed combo goes very well with any meat or vegetable curry.
.... and the curry powder
I usually use is a mixture of ground red chili, turmeric, fennel, fenugreek, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, clove, curry leaves, ginger and black pepper. I buy a Sri-Lankan make which is generally hot and very flavorsome as they do a really good and balanced mix that is just perfect for my taste.
Leslie says
This is a really beautiful dish! The recipe looks like pure perfection!
Ramona says
Thank you so much dear Leslie, it is gorgeous and I can never have enough lamb curry, that's for sure 😉
Veronika says
I never had lamb curry before but it looks absolutely delicious! It's so comforting with lots of flavor!
Ramona says
I can only say that it's about time for one dear Veronika, too good to miss.
Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer says
Oh wow Ramona this looks and sounds AMAZING!!! I l'm loving all of the ingredients and spices. This looks hearty but light enough for a warm summer evening! Thank you so much for sharing such a delicious recipe!
Ramona says
Thank you so much dear Lori. It is truly delish and great for any time in the year to be perfectly honest. We have had it twice in the last week or so. Too delicious not to.
Denise says
What a delicious looking meal. The flavors sound fantastic and it looks comforting and filling!
Ramona says
Thanks Denise, I cannot agree with you more xx
Pam Greer says
Adding this to your Thai Duck Curry as my two top favorite curries! Even my husband who doesn't care that much for curries, loves this one!
Ramona says
Thank you so much dear Pam. A good lamb curry is very hard to beat. Oh, yes, the Thai duck curry is another one we absolutely love.
Amanda says
This is a must-make recipe for any lamb lover! It was so comforting and full of warm spice. This will definitely make a regular dinner appearance!
Ramona says
Thank you so much dear Amanda.
I am super happy you liked my healthy lamb curry recipe 😉
Alena says
The flavors in this curry are unbelievable! I'm not a meat-eater myself but my fiance would be THRILLED if I made this for him!
Gail Montero says
I love curry and love the spices you use here! I can imagine myself having at least two servings of this!!!
Jacqui DeBono says
Lamb curry is always so flavourful. I make my curries the same way as you, no frying! It's the way my Guyanese family taught me to do it. I absolutely must make your homemade flatbread to accompany it too!
Sondra Barker says
Wow this sounds so good! I love making dishes like this- definitely on my list to try!
Ramona says
Thank you so much Sondra 😉
Marta says
Lamb isn't consumed much here in the States and I have no idea why. The spices and flavor of this lamb curry have made it a regular dinner in my home.
Ramona says
Hi Marta, I am so happy you liked the recipe and it is now a regular dinner in your home. Lamb wasn't a meat I consumed as a child it was an Easter meat more or less and I never understood why, it is such a delicious meat. I love it now and eat it quite often here. It is definitely the best meat to make a good old curry with. Delicious!
Julie @ Running in a Skirt says
This is such a great curry recipe! So rich and flavorful. Love the spice blend. Can't wait to try.
Ramona says
Thank you dear Julie, it will not disappoint.
Jere Cassidy says
My family loves curry dishes but I never think of using lamb. Seeing your dish makes me want to cook this for supper. I love all the spices.
Ramona says
Thanks Jere, definitely a dish and a meat to try especially if you like lamb.
Fred N says
I've been a big fan of lamb the last 6 years or so but they're not easy to come by so I don't eat it as much. But your recipe sounds so delicious and reminds me of a place I used to go to when I lived in Philadelphia. Thanks for sharing Ramona!
Ramona says
You are most welcome dear Fred, lamb curry is the best dish, especially if you like spicier food.
Alissya says
Super loved this recipe, my family loves it so much! Thanks for sharing it with us.
Jacque Hastert says
I love that this is super healthy! I love lamb and curry, so this dish is right up my alley. Can't wait to make it very very soon.
Ramona says
Thanks dear Jacue, it relly is super nice and healthy too. I hope you will be making it soon and let me know how it came out.
Joyce says
I am always in search of a good curry recipe! Thanks for sharing and I will definitely be trying it out.
Ramona says
Thanks Joyce! I know you will enjoy this healthy lamb curry recipe - any curry lover would really love it. Thanks so much.
Jenni LeBaron says
Yum! I a positively drooling looking a this recipe! The spice mix that you've used to season your curry sounds delightful! I would make this recipe for dinner and be glad to eat it for several days in a row. It looks like it will work beautifully for meal prep!
Ramona says
Hi dear Jenni,
Oh, indeed, the curry will taste better and better each day. Can also be frozen and will still be as delicious. Thank you so much for stopping by!
Jacqui DeBono says
Lamb curry is one of my favourites when we eat out, but I have never made it at home. I must try this!
Ramona says
We love lamb too. I cook with lamb quite a lot - it is my favourite meat I have to say. I am so glad you liked the recipe dear Jacqui, I hope you will be making it soon. Thank you so much for stopping by, have a wonderful week ahead!
Emily says
I love the flavors of this lamb curry! So healthy, delicious and a perfect weeknight meal!
Ramona says
Thanks Emily, absolutely! Perfect for midweek meals as it is so quick and easy to make.
Alexis says
We love curry! This recipe looks amazing, I'm going to add it to our menu plan for this week.
Ramona says
Thank you dear Alexis, I am so glad you like my recipe, I know you will enjoy this when you will make it and will become such a regular 😉
Stine Mari says
Great idea on how to cook the onion with water. And how delicious does this lamb curry look, I'm sure I won't miss the oil at all in this recipe!
Ramona says
Thanks Stine Mari,
I do not like frying and I do avoid as much as possible - I never fry my onion in any dish unless I want to add some extra flavour of caramelised onion which I would do separately. No, you will definitely not miss the oil, the meat contains more than the needed fats and oils 😉
Lesli Schwartz says
Delish! I made something very similar last night, using chicken. Need to make with the flat bread next time. Love the lamb!
Ramona says
Thank you Lesli, I do hope you will try the lamb curry, in my opinion it is definitely the best!
Natalie says
I made this last week for my family. We absolutely loved it. It's so flavorful and delicious. And easy to make actually. I love this recipe. I will definitely make this again.
Ramona says
Thank you dear Natalie,
I am super happy that you have made my recipe and liked it too. I agree, easy to make and too delicious to miss indeed!
Pavani Nandula says
What an aromatic and delicious looking curry that is. Sri Lanka is on my bucket list too - I want to go there for the scenery but also for the delicious cuisine.
Ramona says
Thank you so much Pavani. I agree with you 100% - I cannot wait to make it to Sri Lanka too!
jazz says
i have tried this recipe...taste amazing,,thank u so much
Ramona says
Thank you dear Jazz, I am so glad you liked the recipe 😉
Lathiya says
My husband will be one happy soul if make him this curry. The lamb curry looks lip-smacking and paratha behind it makes me want to try this dish.
Ramona says
Thank you Lathiya, I am sure he will be a happy bunny with this tasty lamb curry. Enjoy!
Kacie says
Lamb is one of my favourite meats to eat in a curry. A Sri Lanka restaurant opened near my house recently and it was the first time I’ve tried this kind of cuisine but I loved it!
Ramona says
Thanks Kacie, it is a wonderful full of flavour cuisine, I loved it from the very first try. Now, I am addicted to Sri Lankan dishes.
Cheese Curd In Paradise says
My Dad is a big fan for anything with lamb. He also happens to love curry. I am excited to give this recipe a try and make it for him!
Ramona says
I am so glad, enjoy it guys!
Amanda says
I'm so glad you posted this recipe because lamb is my favorite kind of curry. This lived up to expectations. It's full of such wonderful flavor and spices, and it's so simple to make. I can't wait to make this again!
Ramona says
Thank you so much Amanda, I am super happy you have enjoyed making this recipe. Thank you for sharing this with us.
April says
That is super exciting that you make your curries without any frying and without any oil. I often think of converting my favorite dishes into healthier alternatives, so such a great find!
Ramona says
Thank you April,
I always try and turn my favourite dishes into healthier options but generally I am of the principle that where’s meat there should be no added oils but that is just me - many would not agree with this 😉
Jeannette (Jay Joy) says
My husband was just talking about lamb curry. His family8 came to stay with us and his cousin's wife shared her recipe with me. I think I will try these both to see which one will be the win.
Ramona says
Yayy, thanks Jeannette,
Let me know how it went 😉
Enjoy either recipes and I hope this will come out the winner! 😉
Geoffrey at Spoonabilities says
We love lamb curry - one of our all time favorites. Thanks for giving us another recipe to try out.
Ramona says
Hi Geoffrey, oh, same here - we love lamb curry so much that we make it almost weekly 😉
It really is my pleasure sharing this delicious recipe. Enjoy!
Jenni LeBaron says
I love curry and I love lamb so I'm all in for this delicious recipe! This looks hearty, savory, and healthy too!
Ramona says
Thanks Jenni,
It is super healthy indeed, definitely worth a try 😉
Kelly Anthony says
I'm loving your healthy twist on lamb curry. My curry loving husband is going to be so excited when I make this for him.
Ramona says
Thanks Kelly,
I do hope you will love it guys! Enjoy!! Let me know how it came out for you. 😉
Erika says
I love curry dishes. I’ve never had lamb though and it looks delicious.
Ramona says
Thank you Erika,
If you ask me what is the best curry you can have as a recommendation, lamb will always be my first answer. Simply delicious and you should definitely give it a try 😉
Stine Mari says
I don't eat nearly enough lamb, it is so delicious - especially in a curry! I love how you healthified this recipe, it looks delicious.
Ramona says
Thank you Stine, I know exactly what you mean. Lamb is such a delicious meat although it is not for everyone but I am definitely a lamb meat lover. Thank you so much once again.
Natalie says
This sounds wonderful. So much delicious flavors going on in this dish. I think I never tried curry lamb. But I definitely must now. I saved the recipe to give it a try.
Ramona says
Thank you Natalie,
Lamb is definitely my favourite meat for a curry, I so recommend it! Let me know if you will giving it a try, I would love to know how you find it.
Jo says
This is my Sunday favourite curry. We love a good spicy curry with rice for a relaxed Sunday afternoon brunch. This curry would be perfect for that
Ramona says
Hi Jo, and thank you for stopping by!
I never thought to have one for brunch but I would definitely like it. I should definitely try that, - a curry a day will definitely keep the doctor away. It is so healthy 😉
Danielle says
I love the twist that your curries usually have. No frying - sounds great to me. No added oil - even better! Great way to enjoy curry absolutely guilt-free. Oh, and this lamb curry looks delicious!
Ramona says
Thank you dear Danielle,
it really is a super healthy recipe - in fact I never fry anything in my cooking and it still tastes absolutely great.
Denay DeGuzman says
This lamb curry looks so flavorful, savory and delicious! Thank you so much for this fabulous recipe. I can hardly wait to try it!
Ramona says
Thank you so much Denay, I do hope you will make it soon. I am positive you will absolutely love it.
Cheese Curd In Paradise says
My Dad loves lamb curry and would just love this meal! I can't wait to make it for him! It sounds so full of flavor.
Ramona says
Thank you so much, I hope you will make this lamb curry for your dad, I am sure he will be over the moon.
Gemma says
I have made this recipe last night and wow it was great what a delicious lamb curry that was! I followed this simple recipe and I love the fact that you did not add any oil. I agree with your statement. No need to adding any oil when cooking with meat. I’ve bookmarked your website I really love your recipes and will see what’s next that I want to cook now. keep up the great work!!
Ramona says
Thank you so much Gemma - your comment made my day ! I am so happy you found this recipe a delicious one! I know what you are saying as I am in love with this recipe. Thank you so so much lovely. I really hope you will find other recipes to try and enjoy and hope to hear from you again soon xx
Patty says
Your curry looks scrumptious Ramona and I’d love to dip some of your flatbread in the sauce! I don’t make my curry mixes for lack of info about what they are made of but anyway I would also have a problem finding the curry leaves. I will try your way with my Moroccan micnext time I make a curry and serve it with your flatbread!
Ramona says
Thank you dearest Patty! I love a good old curry and your idea for submissions sound delicious too. Enjoy ?
Jere Cassidy says
I've only made chicken curry, so this is a must-try with the lamb. Your dish, looks thick and rich.
Caroline says
I am a big lamb fan and love it in curries as well. Yours looks so tasty!
Ramona says
Thank you Caroline, I am happy you like it - hopefully you will give it a go soon.
Jacqueline Debono says
Can I have some curry leaves too? Haha! Not so easy to find here in Italy either! I love the sound of your tree! Sri Lanka is top of my bucket list! I'm hoping to go soon, maybe next year! AND lamb curry is my favourite type of curry. Your recipe sounds delicious. I'd love to make it!
Ramona says
Hi Jacqui,
The curry leaves, the fresh ones are soo amazing, oh the flavours these give to a curry it is so unique. When you will be going to Sri Lanka you will taste the real stuff - they cook pretty hot curries and when you will make it to Lndon, a curry will be waiting for you over here 😉 Happy cooking lovely. 😉
Aleka Shunk says
I do not cook with curry much but these flavors sound incredible!! I will have to try this recipe soon!!
Ramona says
Indeed Aleka,
Since I have discovered curries, I can no longer live without one and make one almost weekly - curries are very healthy too of course unless cooked unheathily with loads of oil added and too much frying involved 😉
Amanda Wren-Grimwood says
I love lamb curry and I think it's great to make a curry that is not swimming in oil. Can't wait to try this!
Ramona says
Thank you Amanda, you’re so right, the super amounts of oil in curries can be so off putting- for me at least. I always say and feel that there is absolutely no point to add oil whenever cooking with meat. ??
Brian Jones says
Oh my what a wonderful sounding collection of ingredients, I envy your ability to get curry leaves... It is the only ingredient missing from my Indian store cupboard, I finished my last stock about 6 months ago and have not been able to top up since 🙁
Ramona says
Thank you Brian,
I seriously would send you some if allowed via post. I have a big bag of organic dry curry leaves that I can happily share. Now I’ve got a little curry leaves tree in house that I look after - came all the way from Sri Lanka couple of years back - nothing like fresh leaves but so hard to get nowadays even here. No longer available in supermarket big stores like tesco Sainsbury’s etc. Not quite sure why.
Let me know if you want me to send you some - will happily do that. Shame we don’t drive to Romania this summer - would have brought you some. ??
melve says
I have tried many curry dishes but never tried this Lamb Curry and it's delicious and super healthy, I'll love to try this one. Thank you for sharing.
Ramona says
Oh Melve, lamb curry is the absolute ultimate curry for me. It’s the best. You must try it. It’s delicious ?, it really is. ?