Goan Goat Curry Cooked with Passion by Binoy Nazareth

Delicious. Delectable. Delightful. 

Have you ever been on a delightful, delicious and delectable travel? Does your wanderlust look for places which are both idyllic and interesting? I travel to quench my thirst for discovery of all things great and small which covers a kaleidoscope of the facets of life. One of the most relaxing trips I have gone on was to Goa, a small but laid-back coastal region on the West Coast of India.

Goa offers an incredible array of places to see with waterfalls, caves, churches, rock art, forts and the most amazing beaches amongst other intriguing sights. The culinary expertise of Goa never fails to amaze me and my taste buds were all agog with excitement for a repertoire of delicious entertainment. With any amount of eateries spread all over the place, Goan cuisine displays a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes which evolve over pork, chicken, mutton and seafood. I went on a never-ending journey of delight and explored every nuance of this delectable travel. With the strains of an experienced chef and a gourmet running through every pore, I have tried my hand at re-creating myriad dishes, but one of the most breathtaking, tasty and awesome dishes which I experienced at the emerald land of Goa was the Goan Mutton Curry.

Try Out a Sizzling Flavorsome Travel

I felt compelled to share this tasty and melt-in-the-mouth recipe which is made with goat meat, yogurt, rich spices and coconut milk. Are you ready to come with me on a flavorful journey to taste and relish an excellent dish?

Goan Goat Curry

What you need:

Mutton cubes – 500 grams

Big onions – 4 (thinly chopped)

Tomatoes – 4 (pureed)

Garlic paste – 1 tablespoon

Green chilies – 4 (ground to a paste)

Yogurt – 2 tablespoons

Ginger – 1 inch (chopped and ground)

Red chili powder – 1 teaspoon

Coriander powder – 2 teaspoons

Turmeric powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Garam masala powder – 1 teaspoon

Coconut milk – 2 cups

Bay leaf – 1

Cumin seeds – 1/2 teaspoon

Vinegar – 1 teaspoon

Vegetable oil – 2 tablespoons

Salt to taste

What to do:

Wash the mutton under running water and clean thoroughly.

Blend red chili powder, yogurt, garlic paste and turmeric and keep aside.

Marinate the mutton cubes with the red chili powder, yogurt, garlic paste and turmeric. Set aside for a period of 2-3 hours.

Take a pan and heat two tablespoons of vegetable oil.

Add half a teaspoon of cumin seeds and the bay leaf and sauté for a couple of seconds.

Add the ginger and green chili paste. Sauté for a few more seconds.

Stir fry the chopped onions till it is glassy brown and add pureed tomatoes.

Add the garam masala and the coriander powder with one teaspoon of vinegar and salt to taste to the sautéed mixture.

Add the marinated mutton and mix well with the mixture which is already simmering.

Cover the pan and cook for 10 minutes on a low flame.

After the mutton is cooked, add two cups of coconut milk and cook for 10 more minutes on a low flame.

Add salt and red chili power as needed.

Keep stirring till the entire mixture along with the mutton turns a reddish brown color.

Cover the pan and let it boil on a low flame until the mutton is tender and succulent.

Your Goan Mutton Curry is now ready. Serve hot with Roti or steamed rice.

Travel with Binoy Nazareth Through a Goan Sojourn

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Binoy Nazareth Journeys Through the City of Nazareth

Discover the Holy Aura of the Sacred City of Nazareth

Fascination for the spiritual, historic places, adventurous trails besides discovering the wild and wonderful aspects of Nature have always been close to my heart. This time, I decided to take off in to a journey of peace, tranquility and to discover the holy aura of the sacred city of Nazareth. I have always been intrigued with Nazareth, the little town where Jesus grew up. As I explored the ancient town of Nazareth which is the capital city of the northern district of Israel, I was inspired by the interesting sights, archeology, the Middle Eastern charm combined with the modern culture.

An old and revered historic city, Nazareth is located in Lower Galilee and is the largest Arab city. Being the hub of Christian pilgrimage, Nazareth has been associated as the boyhood home of Jesus. It was here that Jesus preached in the synagogue and was rejected by the people. I walked around the Nazareth Village where excavations had taken place and noticed with awe the 2000-year old winepress carved in to the bedrock. The ruins of terraces, watchtowers and a vineyard stretched silently having witnessed the greatest phenomenon of Jesus and His miracles. I could just imagine Jesus walking around as people gathered from far and near to hear of His wondrous parables.

Traveling Through a Kaleidoscope of Sights

As the day rolled into a balmy afternoon, I wondered about the life of people of those times as I took in the sights of the stone quarries and the spring-fed irrigation system. It was asked in that time if anything good would come out of the small and almost insignificant, Nazareth not knowing that the prophecy of ancient times would come true in the form of a Messiah.

As a must-see pilgrimage center for a believer, here I was, actually reliving the past where stupendous incidents took place causing the little town of Nazareth to take pride of place on the map. My spirit of adventure took over and I wandered through the ancient paths, alleys and the maze-like streets of the old city of Nazareth. I found myself right in the middle of Shuk or bazaar which was teeming with life, color and awash with the smell of spices with the sound of the muezzin calling people to worship. Buzzing with vibrancy, the Shuk ranged out myriad surprises with souvenirs, exotic apparel, food delicacies, Middle Eastern antiques and a kaleidoscope of everything imaginable. I found myself haggling with the local craftsman over Dead Sea cosmetics and a beautifully carved hookah.

Sampling an Exotic Array of Delicious Culinary Delights

Though the people of those days ate simple yet tasty, nourishing food, Nazareth ranges out an exotic and delicious spread. The cuisine and the culture of this old city inspired my taste buds to go on a tasteful spree at hummus eateries where you can enjoy fatayer, sharwarma, baklava, knafeh and tehina and halva. Tasting this excellent food is a privilege for a foodie and gourmet chefs with the hummus being light and creamy along with the incredible Lebanese sandwich and of course kebab in a grilled pita. I was delighted at the repertoire of culinary delights which is endless in Nazareth with the ultimate street food. I loved the Awaeh or sugared jelly doughnut, goat’s milk labaneh, shanklish cheese and sizzling lamb chops. My culinary journey evolved over the most amazing sesame cookies, ma’amoul, karkish anise cookies, barazek, sabanekh or pastry triangles with wild spinach filling and steaming, myriad delicious food.

Journeying Through Ancient Mists

As I made my through this unique Middle Eastern atmosphere the spirit of adventure had already captured and rejuvenated my soul to discover and delight in an exceptional tour of Nazareth. I walked down the narrow streets and admired the picturesque homes of the hospitable people of Nazareth. Making my way to the Church of the Annunciation decorated with beautiful paintings, I discovered a history of Byzantine and Crusader periods in its sacred history. Memorable in its rendition, the Church of Saint Joseph is structured where Joseph, Mary’s husband had his carpentry shop while the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation is near Mary’s Well. Though I was reluctant to leave this historical site, I wandered through the incredible Maronite Church, the Salesian Church and St. Gabriel’s Church to revel in the mists of time.

The interesting museum housed in the White Mosque reveals the history and the beliefs of Nazareth. Magnetic and mesmerizing, The City of Nazareth threw open its ancient secrets and I was amazed at the underground passages of the Greek Orthodox bishop’s house and the compound built by the Russians. The ancient Bath House, the Megiddo National Park, the holy caves of Nazareth, the old Roman town of Seppheris and the Nazareth Village completely occupied and boggled the mind. Of course, a trip to Nazareth is not complete till one visits the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee to relive ancient times and revel in a memorable and historical past.

Travel with Binoy Nazareth Through the Ancient and Awesome City of Nazareth

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