In a cooking pot with lid,on high, heat up the oil till you see ripples on the surface and it smokes slightly.
Reduce the heat to medium.Temper the oil with bay leaf ,cinnamon stick and green cardamom pods.
Add the onions next.Cook the onions till they turn light brown.About 3-5 minutes.
Add the garlic & ginger next and saute for about 1 minute till you smell the aroma.
Next, add the coarsely ground spices to the pot.Toast the spices for another minute.
Add the chopped tomatoes next along with turmeric and red chilli powder.
Cook for 3-5 minutes or till you see oil separating on sides of the pan.
Add the potatoes next, mix together, reduce heat to low and cover the pot.
Let cook covered for 8-10 minutes till the potatoes are almost 70% cooked. Remove the lid.
Turn heat to high and add minced lamb to the pot.
Work it with a spoon for about 8-10 minutes on medium heat.The meat will start separating,changing color, sweating and becoming watery.
Do not worry, everything is going as per plan.
Next, add yogurt, 1/4 cup water and salt to the pot. Mix well.
Turn the heat to the lowest possible on your burner, cover the pot with lid and let simmer on low heat for about 22-28 minutes
You ll need to stir and check periodically to ensure that lamb is not sticking to the bottom. Add more water if needed
Note : The cooking time will vary if you are using beef or chicken.
Also, do not add too much water at the beginning because ground meats leave moisture as they cook.
Add water at intervals as per the consistency you want.
At the end of about 20 minutes of cooking you will see that oil separating from and change in color of the ground meat.
Check that the potatoes are cooked through at this point.
Remove the lid,check the salt and cook on high again for 5 minutes till everything comes together.
Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve warm with flatbreads & salad.
