Cutlets in Tomato Gravy
Tender, fried cutlets are simmered in a vibrant, tangy tomato gravy spiced with ginger, garlic, and fresh cilantro in this traditional Parsi dish. The rich sauce, balanced with a touch of vinegar and sugar, softens the crispy exterior of the cutlets, creating a luscious texture that melts in the mouth. Best served hot with rotis or crusty bread to mop up the flavorful gravy.
Ingredients
- 5 pieces Prepared cutlets (meat or vegetable) (Pre-fried cutlets made from mutton, chicken, brain, or minced meat.)
- 1 pound Ripe tomatoes (Originally '1 seer'.)
- 2 medium Onions (Finely chopped. Originally '1/4 seer'.)
- 4 tablespoons Ghee (Originally '1/4 seer'. Reduced for modern preference.)
- 1 teaspoon Ginger paste (Originally '1/2 tola' ginger.)
- 1 teaspoon Garlic paste (Originally '5 val' garlic.)
- 1 cup Fresh cilantro (coriander leaves) (Finely chopped. Originally '3 bunches'.)
- 2 whole Green chilies (Finely chopped.)
- 2 teaspoons Vinegar (Use strong vinegar.)
- 1 teaspoon Sugar (Heaping teaspoon.)
- 1 teaspoon Salt (Level teaspoon.)
- 1/2 teaspoon Red chili powder (Originally '5 val'.)
- 1/4 cup Water (For boiling tomatoes. Originally '1/2 pasher'.)
- 2 tablespoons Sherry (Optional.)
Instructions
- 1Peel and crush the ginger and garlic into a paste. Wash the cilantro and green chilies thoroughly and chop them finely. Peel the onions and chop them very finely.
- 2Wash the tomatoes and cut them into pieces. Place them in a pot with the water. Cover and cook over medium heat until the tomatoes are completely soft. Remove from heat, mash thoroughly, and strain through a sieve to extract all the juice and pulp, discarding the skins and seeds.
- 3In a pan, heat the ghee and fry the chopped onions until they turn a golden almond-brown color. Add the ginger and garlic paste and sauté briefly. Then add the chopped cilantro and green chilies and fry until aromatic.
- 4Add the tomato juice, salt, sugar, vinegar, and red chili powder to the pan. Arrange the fried cutlets in a wide, flat pan (or the same pan if large enough) and pour the prepared gravy over them. Cover and simmer on low heat. Once it comes to a boil and the cutlets swell slightly, continue to cook gently until the gravy thickens to your desired consistency.
- 5If desired, stir in the sherry just before removing from heat. Serve hot.