Kashmiri Wazwan classic · Deep red

Rogan Josh Recipe (Kashmiri Lamb Curry)

Kashmiri chilli. Fennel and dry ginger. Yogurt, no tomato.

Farwa ZeeshanRecipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchen

Rogan josh is Kashmir's deep red lamb curry, coloured by Kashmiri chilli and flavoured with fennel, dry ginger and asafoetida, with no onion or tomato in the traditional Pandit style. It goes wrong when the yogurt curdles or the colour turns brown. The fix is whisking yogurt with the spices and adding it off the heat, and keeping the chilli from burning.

Prep15m
Cook1h 15m
Servings5
kcal / serving470
LevelMedium
Jump to the method

The 3 laws of rogan josh

Why this recipe works

Kashmiri chilli

Hot chilli

Colour without fierce heat.

Yogurt off heat

Yogurt on high

Prevents curdling.

Fennel and dry ginger

Garam masala only

The Kashmiri signature.

Shopping and prep list

Ingredients

Servings
Tap items as you gather them · 0 of 0 ready

Lamb

Kashmiri spices

The NineFoods rogan gauge

Is the rogan josh ready?

Look at the surface and press a piece of lamb.

Tap a stage to see what to do.

Method · 4 stages

Step by step

1

Whole spices and lamb

Medium-high · 10 min
  1. Heat oil, add hing and whole spices.
  2. Add lamb and sear until browned.
Look for: browned lamb.
10:00
2

Chilli paste

Low · 2 min
  1. Mix Kashmiri chilli with 0.25 cup water and add.
  2. Stir until the oil turns red.
Look for: red oil.
02:00
3

Yogurt

Off heat, then low · 10 min
  1. Take pan off heat, stir in yogurt mixed with fennel and dry ginger.
  2. Return to low and cook until oil separates.
Look for: smooth red gravy.
10:00
4

Slow cook

Low, covered · 50 min
  1. Add hot water and salt, cover and cook.
  2. Use the gauge above.
Look for: red oil floating, tender lamb.
50:00

Chef's troubleshooter

What went wrong? Pick the symptom

Why

Added on heat.

Fix next time

Add yogurt off the heat and stir constantly.

Why

Chilli burnt in oil.

Fix next time

Add chilli as a paste with water.

Why

Not Kashmiri chilli.

Fix next time

Use true Kashmiri chilli or paprika.

Why

Short cook.

Fix next time

Cook longer until a spoon cuts it.

Swap smart

Ingredient roles and substitutes

IngredientJob in the dishSwap with
Kashmiri chilliColourPaprika plus a pinch of cayenne
Mustard oilTraditionalGhee
LambMainGoat, cook longer
Dry gingerWarmthFresh ginger paste

After the meal

Serve, store, reheat

Serve with

Steamed rice, the Kashmiri way.

Store

Fridge 4 days. Freezer 3 months.

Reheat

Warm covered on low; the red oil returns as it heats.

How we tested this recipe

Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio

Farwa Zeeshan

Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.

  • Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 5 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
  • Every one of the 4 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
  • The doneness check (is the rogan josh ready) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
  • Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.

Read our full testing process

Keep cooking

Related recipes and guides

All Indian recipesHow to Make Garam Masala at HomeHow to Make Ginger Garlic PasteWeekly Meal Prep for Pakistani Cooking

Quick answers

Rogan Josh FAQ

Does rogan josh have tomato?

Traditional Kashmiri Pandit rogan josh uses no onion or tomato; restaurant versions often add them.

What makes rogan josh red?

Kashmiri chilli, which colours more than it burns.

Why did my yogurt split?

It was added on high heat. Add it off the heat.

What does rogan josh mean?

Roughly red oil or red juice, from the red oil on top.