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Lamb karahi is a fabulous dish. It’s a curry made with lamb, tomatoes, and spices. Whilst it is relatively easy to make, it’s always a hit with spice fans. The key to making a good curry is to use fresh ingredients and to carefully balance the flavours. Look no further for a recipe that is tasty, warming and hearty!

What is it?

Karahi is an unbelievably delicious curry, yet it’s one of the simplest you’ll ever make. It requires only a handful of ingredients and just 3 mainstream spices, yet it lacks nothing in flavour. The curry is made with a tomato base and uses green chillis to add heat. While this recipe uses lamb, the dish is also commonly made with chicken, mutton or beef.

Karahi is actually named after the cooking pot which is used to make the curry. A karahi (aka a kadai) is a large pot traditionally made with wrought iron. As they are deep they are used for frying, or for simmering away a stew. The cooking utensil is widely used across in India and Pakistan, while this recipe is traced to Northern India and Pakistan. In India, you’ll typically find red peppers and onion included, whereas I’m following the more traditional Pakistani recipe which does not include them.

Of course, for authenticity, if you can get your hands on a karahi then use one. However, you can certainly use a standard pan to cook this recipe. 

Is karahi hot?

Lamb karahi is typically served with medium to high heat. Although it’s not in the leagues of a vindaloo. Of course, when you are making it at home you can control the spice as per your personal tastes. If you cook this recipe ‘as is’ then the result is medium. If you want to make it spicier then you can use hot chilli powder rather than medium. You could also use more chillis or chop the chilli rather than simply cutting a slit into it as we do for this recipe.

Conversely, if you want to make it milder then you could use a mild chilli powder, or even substitute smoked paprika. You can also use a weaker variety of chilli (larger chillis are typically milder than smaller ones).

What kind of lamb should I use?

I like to make this with bone-in cuts of lamb. Shoulder or leg pieces work well.

If you want to use bone-in pieces, then depending on where you live you may need to visit a butcher rather than your local supermarket. However, you can certainly use boneless chunks of lamb too.

You don’t need to trim any fat from the meat, as it will render down while cooking and it adds a lot of flavour to the curry.

Can I make it in a slow cooker?

As this dish requires long and slow cooking, it’s a perfect contender for slow cooker cooking. If you decide to use a slow cooker, then follow the instructions up to and including adding the spices to the pan. Then transfer everything to your slow cooker and add the remaining ingredients. Cook for 6-8 hours on low or 4 hours on high.

What can I serve it with?

As with all great curries, a side of basmati or pilau rice is always a good idea. As is a soft buttery naan or chapati.

This curry is fairly hot so whipping up some cooling cucumber and mint raita to dollop on top is a good shout. A simple side of sliced tomatoes and onion goes particularly well too. You could also add some extra side dishes for variety such as this chicken pakora or these masala chips.

Can I make it in advance?

This curry is great for batch cooking, as it can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days, or frozen for up to 3 months, without any discernible effect on the taste or texture. In fact, the flavour is slightly intensified after a day or so.

The curry can be reheated in the microwave or on the hob/stove. You can add a splash of water if it’s looking a little dry in texture. If freezing, then defrost it thoroughly before reheating.

Ingredients

For a full list of ingredients with weights and measurements jump to the printable recipe card.

• Vegetable oil
• Lamb chunks – ideally with bone-in (although boneless also works)
• Garlic, crushed or finely chopped
• Ginger paste
• Cumin
• Coriander powder
• Medium red chilli powder
• Green chillis, a slit cut into the side
• Tomatoes, diced
• Finely chopped coriander, to garnish

How to make it

For more detailed recipe steps with tips jump to the printable recipe card.

1. Heat the oil in a large pan or karahi pot.
2. Once hot add the lamb and brown on all sides.
3. Add the ginger and garlic and cook for a further minute.
4. Add the cumin, coriander and chilli powder along with the chillis and cook for a further minute.
5. Mix the tomatoes into the pan and season well. Add the water and bring to a low simmer.
6. Cover the dish with a pan and cook for 2 hours.

Looking for more great curry recipes? Try:

• Chicken pathia
• Chicken rogan josh
• Lamb bhuna
• Chicken manchurian
• Chicken tikka biryani

Products that work well for this recipe:

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