Instant Pot Goat Curry Mutton Curry

My Dad’s Special Recipe

This recipe for instant pot Goat Curry, also called Mutton Curry, brings back childhood memories for me. Growing up, my mom was the head-chef of the house, but Mutton Curry was always my Dad’s speciality.

Right from buying the meat, to roasting and grinding fresh spices for it, he totally owned this dish. The result was juicy, tender and delicious meat, which had simmered in aromatics and a yogurt sauce. To me, this will always be the best goat curry recipe!

What is Mutton?

Mutton is the meat of a mature sheep, that is older than a year. However, in the Indian sub-continent, GOAT MEAT is referred to as MUTTON.
It is considered to be a lean and healthier meat as compared to beef, pork and chicken since it is low in saturated-fat and cholesterol, and high in iron and protein.

What is the Difference between Mutton, Goat & Lamb?

I get this question a lot. And not so long ago, even I used to be confused about it. So, let us understand a basic difference! We are talking about two different animals here, SHEEP and GOAT. As per the English Dictionary, LAMB refers to the meat of a young sheep (younger than a year), whereas, MUTTON refers to the meat of a mature sheep. GOAT meat on the other hand, typically comes from an adult goat and tastes milder than sheep’s meat.

Why Indians Refer to Goat Meat as Mutton?

Goat meat is the preferred red-meat in Indian cuisine. Like I mentioned earlier, in the Indian sub-continent, GOAT MEAT is referred to as MUTTON. I read a couple of articles online which explained that this goes back to the British colonization time. The British, who were more familiar with Mutton as sheep’s meat, referred to the meat shops as ‘Mutton Shop’. So, goat-meat, which is more commonly available in most parts of India, started being called ‘MUTTON’ in India and around. I am sure there are more alternate theories around this, but this is what I found in my research. Almost all Indian Mutton Curry recipes use goat meat.

Where do I find Goat Meat?

Goat meat is not that widely available here in the US. I typically find it in the middle-eastern meat shops, Halal shops, or occasionally at my local Whole Foods.

Difference in Cooking Time between Lamb and Goat

Goat: The pressure cooking time for goat or mutton depends on whether it is bone-in or not, and the size of pieces. It can range between 25-40 minutes. But if you are using roughly 1-1.5 inch pieces, a pressure cook time of 30 minutes is perfect. Lamb: Here in the US, Lamb is more widely available and consumed. Lamb takes around 15-20 minutes of pressure cooking time for 1-1.5 inch pieces. Both meats can be used interchangeably in recipes, if you adjust the cook time. If using Lamb this recipe, adjust the pressure cook time to 15 minutes.

Easy Recipe for Instant Pot Goat Curry

This Indian Goat curry recipe ends up taking a little more than hour from start to finish, but most of it is hands-off cooking time.
Since goat curry takes about 45 minutes or longer to cook on the stove, I use my Instant Pot pressure cooker for this recipe. It eliminates the need to babysit the pot during the cooking process. Watch the video to see how easy the process is! This recipe can be made in any electric pressure cooker. Just follow the settings for meat and set a 30 minute cook time. For a stovetop pressure cooker like Hawkins, after the first whistle, reduce heat to medium and cook for 15-20 minutes.

How to Make Instant Pot Goat Curry- Step by Step Instructions

Marinate the meat: I start by marinating the meat with spices and aromatics (onion, ginger, garlic) and if I have the time, I refrigerate it for 30 minutes. That tenderizes the meat and it absorbs the flavors of the marinade. Saute and Pressure Cook: I saute the meat on high setting for a few minutes. Sautéing helps seal the flavors in the meat. After that I add yogurt and pressure cook it for 30 minutes.
Natural Pressure Release (NPR): If I have the time, I let the pressure release naturally. Otherwise, I wait 15 minutes, then do a quick release of pressure. I stir in crushed cardamom to the curry and voila, Homestyle Goat Curry is done!

Stovetop Goat Curry Recipe

It is possible to make this on the stovetop too, but it would require some baby-sitting. Start with heating a wide bottom pan, like a Dutch Oven/ Casserole or a Nonstick Pasta Pot. Marinate the meat and saute it for a few minutes. Add yogurt and potatoes, stir well, cover it and simmer it on medium heat for 20-25 minutes, or till the meat is tender. You have to keep stirring every 5 minutes or so to prevent the gravy or the meat from sticking to the bottom and burning.

What to Serve with Goat Curry

This curry goes very well with Cumin Basmati Rice or Naan (Store-bought works), and a Cucumber raita (Yogurt cucumber dip) If you’re eating low-carb, you can pair this curry with Indian Cauli-rice (riced cauliflower).