Kosha Mangsho ( Authentic Bengali Lamb Curry)

“Kosha Mangsho ” is an authentic Bengali lamb curry  which is deliciously spicy. It is a velvety gravy made by marinating the meat in hung curds/yogurt, mustard oil and cooked with a flavorful mix of spices . The authentic flavors of the spicy Bengali curry comes out  when one bites into the juicy pieces of  well cooked meat. This curry makes for a perfect weekend lunch menu when paired with Indian flat breads or pulao.

    During my first year in the United States, as a graduate student,  I shared an apartment with a Bengali from my country.The only time I had ever tasted anything Bengali until then was the famous Bengali sweets back home. I had not much exposure to authentic Bengali curries, growing up in the south of India.

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It was the day of Durga Pooja, we both missed home & wanted to be a part of the Indian festivities happening in town. My friend was invited for the Durga pooja celebrations from the Bengali Association in town. She took me along for the Durga Pooja celebrations, it was my first, seeing the Bengali version of Goddess Durga up close, she looked so beautiful & ferocious at the same time. Every lady in the ‘pandal’ was dressed in some form of bright red and white, with kajal lined eyes and looked very much like the Devi herself, which made me feel instantly at home.

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The fire dance, the laughter, the fun began and soon enough we were escorted to the elaborate lunch service.Each food item was clearly labelled and the ingredients mentioned , I was shocked to see a label that read ‘Kosha Mangsho’  and the ingredient listed was meat.Confused,I pulled my friend closer to me & whispered, “Isn’t it a pooja celebration, how are they serving non-vegetarian dishes?”My friend laughed out loud and said the Bengali Durga loves non-vegetarian food and would not have lunch without meat or fish.It was another first for me, coz up until then I was raised to believe that non vegetarian food and pooja’s don’t mix. Meat was off the table on auspicious days, in the south. How did that change from the south of India to the East of it, I wondered . My friend served me the dish on a plate, along with some yummy food .It was the most delicious curry, I  had ever tasted , perhaps Durga was alright with me becoming Bengali for a day, I thought and devoured the curry. Ever since then, it has been a favorite of mine, a go to for meat curries, prepared at home.Try out the recipe and share it with friends & family .Enjoy !