Hi! I've been missing homestyle mutton in US. Restaurants have it, but I find the smell a bit too strong (and repulsive ) I once tried buying it from the local supermarket to cook at home, and it was a total disaster (smell again). I haven't been able to go near it hence. Maybe I am missing something. Is there a less smelly form of mutton that is available in US? Google throws up so many details about goat vs lamb vs what not, I am perplexed
@Bubbles- try to wash the meat in buttermilk/ soak in buttermilk. My grandpa used this trick on fish. I haven't tried on mutton, though.
First, the nomenclature. In India, all goat meat is called mutton. Here, old lamb is mutton, young lamb is lamb. Old goat is chevon, young goat is cabrito/capretto/kid. Buy cabrito if you can get it. If you can't get it, then go for lamb. Ask your butcher to trim the fat for you. I buy kid from my local Greek butcher. To minimize the odor, first trim off any remaining fat. Then marinate the meat in wine or vinegar or lime juice or milk or buttermilk or yogurt for several hours in the refrigerator. I use cheap white vino as a marinade. Then rinse it and cook as usual. Adding whole spices like cinnamon sticks and bay leaves helps with the odor. Cook slow on low heat. Do not pressure cook as that traps the odor in. If you don't have time to marinate the meat, boil it for a few minutes in water with vinegar, ginger, garlic and cinnamon powder. Drain, rinse and cook as usual. Some people boil the meat with radish or green beans or cucumber — I don't know the science behind this. Cooking fancy meals with a baby in tow is no easy task. If your DH is under-appreciative, freeze his share. .
@jramesh @MalStrom @blindpup10 Thank you for the advice... Will try. And the microwave wont smell afterward / leave the smell on other stuff ? I tried boiling with turmeric, after soaking for couple of hours. That didn't really help. But I suppose it depends a lot on what you buy in the first place - I had unwittingly bought goat with a piece of bone in. Aaaaahhhhh! Thank you!!!! You're right. I'm preparing myself with the info, should an opportunity (read: H. sits with baby on a holiday) present..
@Amica Thanks for excellent suggestions. This one particularly worked for me. I don't mind the lamb smell.. during cooking even after its cooked. But my DH is very particular about the smell. I slow cooked the lamb for 2 hours with bay leaves, onion, garlic and vinegar and pressure cooked after I was content with it being slow cooked. It came out perfect! My DH enjoyed it and it was very tender too. Thanks a lot for the suggestion. I really appreciate it.
@jramesh @blindpup10 wow, you cooked mutton lamb! hmmm that's an idea..maybe I should use my slow cooker for this.. would the whole house smell then, though???
@Bubbles- I cooked in cooker without closing the lid... In medium heat for 2 1/2 hours and then pressure cooked! Yea.. House smells of masala not if the lamb.. Burn an inscense stick during cooking and try to keep window or door open.. If possible
