Gushtaba

A dish which every foodie would like to taste and know about. The name itself says that a dish made out of lamb meat. Lets get to know what exactly gushtaba contains and how exactly is process behind this legend.


This dish is made out of minced lamb meat which is minced with salt and other aromatic ingredients. So, what is the big deal in making a dish made out of minced meat as most of us are cooking minced meat at out homes most of the weekends. But wait, the process of making gushtaba is a very elaborative one as it includes mincing of meat for a very long time without increasing the temperature of the meat.


How is it possible to mince a meat and controlling the temperature at the same time and what is the necessity to do this. So the necessity to control the temperature is to have a smooth ball of minced meat which looks like a normal wheat flour dough which definitely cannot be achieved by running into a food processor. Secondly the temperature is controlled by adding ice cubes while mincing.


Let me tell you this, this is a part of a legendary 36 course meal of Kashmir which is called Wazwan tradition of which gushtaba is an integral part.

This old dish is made by hammering the lamb meat with the help of wood hammer with the large base and adding salt, ice cubes and cardamom powder simultaneously. The meat is minces into very fine consistency like a dough and then balls are made out of those. Of course I cannot forget to tell you that along with salt and other ingredients some kidney fat is also added and minced along with the meat. The base used in this technique is made out of stone which helps in controlling the temperature of the meat.

After mincing the meat balls are being made out it and then cooked in meat stock. Then a flavourful gravy is made out yogurt along with the awesome masalas. Since this dish is born out of Kashmir so one has to put a lot of "Desi ghee" or "Rogan" in the dish and then it is served with rice or Naans.


Welll...I have some knowledge and interesting facts to be shared which will do soon....