Kerala Mutton Stew with Coconut Milk (Instant Pot)
A rich and cozy coconut milk-based mutton stew with chunky potatoes, whole spices, and black pepper — perfect with appam, idiyappam, or porotta!
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time40 minutesmins
Total Time55 minutesmins
Course: Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: Indian, Kerala, South Indian
Servings: 3People
Calories: 450kcal
Author: Famidha Ashraf
Equipment
1 Instant Pot pressure cooker
Ingredients
1tablespooncoconut oil
2cloves
1inchcinnamon stick
1star anise
3green chilliesslit
2medium-sized red onionschopped finely
1inchgingerminced
1sprigcurry leavesdivided
500gramsmutton or lambbone or boneless, see notes
1tablespoonblack pepper powderfreshly ground
salt to taste
1½cupthin coconut milk(see notes)
500gramspotatoeschopped large chunks (3 to 5)
1cupthick coconut milk(see notes)
Instructions
Turn on Sauté mode. Once Hot, add coconut oil, whole spices, green chillies, ginger, onions and a few curry leaves. Sauté until onions soften.
1 tablespoon coconut oil, 2 cloves, 1 inch cinnamon stick, 1 star anise, 3 green chillies, 2 medium-sized red onions, 1 inch ginger, ½ sprig curry leaves
Cancel Sauté. Add the mutton, freshly ground pepper, thin coconut milk and salt. Give it a mix.
500 grams mutton or lamb, 1 tablespoon black pepper powder, 1½ cup thin coconut milk, salt to taste
Close the lid and set Pressure Cook mode on High for 10 to 12 minutes. 10 mins for younger/tender cuts, 12 for tougher cuts.
Let pressure release Naturally for 10 minutes, then carefully do a Quick release.
Open and add the potato chunks, and once again, pressure cook on high for 2 to 3 mins, and then carefully do a Quick release.
500 grams potatoes
Open and mash some of the potato pieces with the back of the ladle to thicken the stew.
Turn on Sauté mode on Low and gently stir in the thick coconut milk. Simmer for 2–3 minutes until warmed through. Do not let it boil. Turn off and remove the inner pot to stop the cooking.
1 cup thick coconut milk
Stir in the remaining fresh curry leaves before serving with idiyappam, porotta or rice and enjoy!
½ sprig curry leaves
Notes
Mutton or Goat meat: Depending on the type, the cooking time will vary. Rinse and trim excess fat, then cut them into similar sizes.
You may boil the potatoes separately, then add them to the cooked mutton stew and simmer. This can work when you already have some boiled potatoes or have made a big batch of boiled potatoes for multiple recipes, etc.
For thin and thick coconut milk: If you have the means and time, make your own from fresh, grated coconut. You may also use canned coconut milk – dilute for thin and use as is for thick.
My go-to option is to use coconut milk powder. Follow the pack instructions for best results, or use my guide:
Thin coconut milk: 1 tablespoon coconut milk powder in 1½ cups of warm water.
Thick coconut milk: 2 tablespoon coconut milk powder in 1 cup of warm water