Navroz Feast: 7 Must-Try

Mutton Dishes

To Celebrate Parsi New Year

Parsi cuisine offers a variety of lip-smacking non-vegetarian dishes that are relished in lavish feasts during the Parsi New Year. Unlike milder meats like chicken and fish, mutton stands out for its richer and slightly more intense taste, which perfectly complements the Khaatu-Meethu-Teekho flavour that Parsi food is renowned for. From succulent Parsi kebabs to celebratory Salli Boti, here are some iconic Parsi mutton specialities that are a must-have this Navroz.

Salli Boti is a celebratory Parsi mutton curry in which salli means potato sticks and boti refers to the mutton. This dish features mutton chunks bathed in tomato-based curry along with jaggery and vinegar that give it a sweet and tangy flavour. It is topped with potato sticks, adding a crunchy texture in every bite. Typically served with steamed rice and Indian breads at Parsi New Year feasts and weddings, this recipe is perfect for meat lovers.

Mutton Berry Pulao is a royal Parsi mutton pulao recipe where marinated mutton pieces are pressure-cooked with rice and whole spices like bay leaves, star anise and cardamom, then layered with saffron-infused basmati rice. Although it is similar to the traditional way of making mutton biryani, the ingredients differ in this sweet-savoury pulao. It is a perfect addition to the joyful Parsi New Year feasts that adults and children equally love.

No Navroz feast is complete without the delicious appetiser. However, every cuisine has its own mutton cutlet recipe to enjoy, but what sets Parsi cutlets apart has got to be the lace. The good thing is that this doesn't mean dressing up your cutlet in frilly dresses; rather, it is a technique that involves creating an eggy lattice over the cutlet, which becomes wonderfully crispy upon frying. These Mutton Lacy Cutlets are a classic and are perfect to make alongside Salli Boti for the Parsi New Year.

Jardaloo Ma Gosht is a spicy, dry-fruit-based mutton curry that has deep Persian culinary roots. Jardaloo are dried apricots that provide a fragrant sweetness which complements the gosht (mutton) in this slow-cooked dish. Served atop rice or with soft rotis, this sweet and meaty curry is a low-maintenance recipe that's high on flavour, making it a great choice for the Navroz feast. Apart from the festive table, this recipe is perfect for someone who starts exploring the extended universe of Parsi food.

Not every mutton curry is red in colour; Kid Gosht is a white curry perfect for the Navroz feast. In this recipe, kid refers to a young goat cooked in a fragrant cashew nut gravy. It also includes fried potatoes in the gravy and comes together quickly without being too heavy on the spices. Serve this crowd-pleasing and delicious curry with a slice of bread or chapati to highlight the heart and soul of Parsi cuisine on the festive table.

Parsis' love for meat and poultry is unimaginable. This Kheema per Eeda recipe features spiced mutton mince topped with fried runny eggs. It is an easy recipe that lets you transform leftover kheema into a sumptuous dish you might end up making every week, apart from festivals. When serving this to your guests, transfer each egg with the mince into individual serving plates and serve hot with onions, pavs, and lemon wedges.

A Navroz feast table is where people feel connected with flavourful dishes: crisp mutton cutlets, spicy Salli Boti, and a chilled custard after a rich meal. Adding these mutton specialities to your Navroz spread feels ambitious. With correct preparation and a willingness to taste as you cook, these Parsi foods can become an endless and enjoyable part of your Parsi New Year home celebration. Try these delicious mutton recipes, and Saal Mubarak, everyone.