Aatu Kaal Paya – Mutton Paya Recipe

Raw Paya

Raw paya with shaved off meat looks like this. Roughly one leg with all parts, I guess!

Smoking process

Wash the trotters in cold water. Turn the oven setting to broil, line a baking tray with aluminum foil. Arrange the trotters, place them in the second rack (from top) and broil for 10 minutes to until the blood oozes out and bones turn light brownish.

Smoked Trotters

After smoking they look like this. Retain the juice and liquid.

Preparing to pressure cook

Transfer the smoked trotters along with the juice into a pressure cooker. Add 4 cups of water and pressure cook for 15 minutes(no whistle count) over medium high flame. It may take longer for trotters with lots of meat. Steaming time varies from 20 minutes to an hour depending on the cut of the meat.

Aatu Kaal Soup

Once cooked the fat separates and gives a sticky look. With dash of salt, pepper and coriander powder added to this, makes fresh Paya soup. Very much edible at this stage and good for sick patients. (Aatu Kaal Soup)

Masala and Paste

For the masala: Add a tsp of oil in a small pan, toast the dhania seeds along with green chilies. Add the shallots and toss for few minutes. Let cool and grind to a paste and keep aside.

For the Curry : Grind coconut and roasted gram with little water to a paste and keep aside.

Ingredients for Curry

Finely chop the onions, grind ginger and garlic to a paste, dice the tomatoes. Keep the whole masalas ready with coconut paste and ground masala.

Spicy Paya Stew

Heat oil in a pan, toast the bay leaf adding cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, fennel seeds, cumin seeds, black stone flower and curry leaves. Add the chopped onions and fry for 6 minutes over medium flame or until they turn slightly crispy. Now add the green chili dhania paste and saute for 5 minutes over low flame to get rid of the raw smell. Add ginger garlic paste and diced tomatoes to this and cook until soft. Now add the cooked trotters with the soup, add turmeric powder, red chili powder and salt. Bring to one boil and simmer until the flavour blends and gravy thickens. Again its very much edible at this point with toasted bread. Lets take it to one step forward to finish the dish the royal way.

Ultimate Aatu Kaal Paya

Add the ground coconut paste to the stew and bring it to one boil, garnish with coriander leaves and switch off. Serve a cup with steaming kal dosais.

Feel Free to help Yourself !!