Balti Gosht

Balti Gosht

Balti gosht is a meaty recipe which is associated with the Baltistan area of Pakistan. It is named after a type of cooking pot that is used to make the food in that region known as the “balti bowl”.  It is a type of wok with handles on both sides which is mostly made of cast iron.

Balti recipes are often quick fry recipes which at times resemble Chinese recipes of Szechuan, as china borders Baltistan. But in addition to having a resemblance to Chinese wok-fried food, the dishes are heavily influenced by Mughal culture. The spices and masalas used in balti food are commonly those that were used in cooking Mughal food at the time.

Balti dishes are now quite famous throughout Pakistan as well as in some parts of India. It has also become famous in Birmingham in the United Kingdom. This delicious food is usually made up of some sort of meat as meat is a staple in the mountainous region of Baltistan.

Balti gosht is an aromatic and delicious recipe that is usually prepared using beef. But as its making its way to the rest of Pakistan and also the rest of the world, the recipe is changing as per the tastes of different people and different ethnicities. Chicken has also become a common meat used to cook balti food.

 

Ingredients:

• Beef undercut/boneless chicken                               250 grams
• Oil                                                                                           3 tablespoon
• Onion                                                                                    1 medium-sized
• Ginger paste                                                                      1 Teaspoon
• Garlic paste                                                                        1 Teaspoon
• Tomato                                                                                1 large
• Green chillies                                                                     4
• Curry leaves                                                                       1 teaspoon
• Red chilli flakes                                                                 2 teaspoon
• Dried pomegranate seeds                                            1 teaspoon
• Fennel seeds                                                                     1 teaspoon
• Mustard seeds                                                                  1 teaspoon
• Cumin seeds                                                                      1 teaspoon
• Fenugreek seeds                                                              1 teaspoon
• Coriander seeds                                                                1 teaspoon

Directions

Step 1:

To start with the recipe, first lightly crush the dried pomegranate seeds and coriander seeds separately.

Step 2:

Chop the onion, tomato and green chillies finely. Set these aside. Now cut up the beef undercut or boneless chicken into medium-sized strips. Set these aside.

Step 3:

Heat some oil in a pan. Add the red chilli flakes, salt, fennel seeds, mustard seeds, crushed coriander seeds and pomegranate seeds. Sauté these ingredients until they get roasted.

Step 4:

Once the spices start giving off their aroma, add in the cut-up beef or chicken. Sauté the meat in the pan until it changes colour to a light brown. Now add in the chopped onions and fry for two minutes. Afterwards, add in the tomatoes and cover the pan with its lid. Turn down the flame and let this cook for eight to ten minutes. After ten minutes remove the lid and check if the meat has turned tender.

Step 5:

Once the meat has turned tender, add in the green chillies and then cover the pan with the lid again and let cook on the lightest flame for about five minutes. Turn the flame off and dish out the balti gosht. Garnish it and serve.

Preparation time	Cooking time	Serves
15 mins	30 mins	3