Bakrid, also known as Eid al-Adha, is a significant Islamic festival that commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. On this auspicious day, Muslims around the world perform the ritual of Qurbani, or animal sacrifice, and prepare a variety of delectable mutton dishes to celebrate with family and friends. Here are ten mouth-watering mutton recipes that are perfect for this festive occasion, each offering a unique and flavourful experience.

1. Mutton Rogan Josh

A signature dish from Kashmir, Mutton Rogan Josh is a fragrant curry made with tender mutton pieces slow-cooked in a blend of spices, yogurt, and aromatic herbs. The deep red color comes from Kashmiri red chili powder, and the dish is typically enjoyed with steamed rice or naan.

Ingredients:

- 1 kg mutton, cut into pieces

- 2 large onions, finely sliced

- 4-5 garlic cloves

- 2-inch ginger piece

- 1 cup yogurt

- 2 tsp Kashmiri red chili powder

- 1 tsp turmeric powder

- 1 tsp garam masala

- Salt to taste

- 4 tbsp mustard oil

- 1 cup mutton stock or water

Instructions:

1. Marinate the mutton with yogurt, salt, and turmeric for 30 minutes.

2. Grind garlic and ginger into a paste.

3. Heat mustard oil in a pan, add sliced onions and cook until golden brown.

4. Add the ginger-garlic paste and sauté.

5. Add marinated mutton, chili powder, and cook until the mutton is browned.

6. Pour in mutton stock, cover, and simmer until the meat is tender.

7. Stir in garam masala and cook for another 5 minutes. Serve hot with rice or naan.

2. Mutton Biryani

A royal dish known for its rich flavors, Mutton Biryani is a layered preparation of marinated mutton, basmati rice, and a medley of spices. Slow-cooked in a sealed pot, this dish is infused with the essence of saffron and rose water, making it a feast for both the eyes and palate.

Ingredients:

- 1 kg mutton, cut into pieces

- 3 cups basmati rice

- 2 large onions, thinly sliced

- 4 tomatoes, chopped

- 1 cup yogurt

- 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste

- 1 tsp turmeric powder

- 2 tsp red chili powder

- 1 tsp garam masala

- 1 tsp cumin seeds

- 4 green cardamoms

- 4 cloves

- 2 bay leaves

- 1 cup milk with saffron strands

- Salt to taste

- 4 tbsp ghee

- Fresh coriander and mint leaves

Instructions:

1. Marinate mutton with yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, turmeric, chili powder, and salt for 1 hour.

2. Cook rice with salt and spices (cardamoms, cloves, bay leaves) until 70% done. Drain and set aside.

3. Heat ghee in a large pot, add onions and cook until golden brown.

4. Add marinated mutton, tomatoes, and cook until mutton is tender.

5. In a separate large pot, layer rice and mutton mixture, sprinkle saffron milk, and garnish with coriander and mint.

6. Seal the pot with dough and cook on low heat for 30 minutes (dum method).

7. Serve hot with raita.

3. Mutton Keema

Mutton Keema is a spicy minced mutton dish cooked with onions, tomatoes, peas, and a blend of spices. This versatile recipe can be served with parathas, pav, or even as a filling for samosas and kebabs.

Ingredients:

- 500 g minced mutton (keema)

- 2 onions, finely chopped

- 2 tomatoes, chopped

- 1 cup peas

- 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste

- 1 tsp turmeric powder

- 2 tsp red chili powder

- 1 tsp garam masala

- Salt to taste

- 4 tbsp oil

- Fresh coriander leaves

Instructions:

1. Heat oil in a pan, add chopped onions, and sauté until golden brown.

2. Add ginger-garlic paste and cook for a minute.

3. Add minced mutton, turmeric, and chili powder, and cook until the mutton is browned.

4. Add tomatoes, peas, salt, and cook until tomatoes are soft.

5. Add garam masala and cook for another 5 minutes.

6. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve with parathas or pav.

4. Mutton Korma

Originating from the Mughlai cuisine, Mutton Korma is a rich and creamy dish made with mutton, yogurt, ground nuts, and a blend of spices. The meat is slow-cooked to perfection, resulting in a luxurious and flavorful curry best enjoyed with naan or rice.

Ingredients:

- 1 kg mutton, cut into pieces

- 2 large onions, finely sliced

- 1 cup yogurt

- 1/2 cup cashew nuts, soaked and ground to a paste

- 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste

- 1 tsp turmeric powder

- 2 tsp red chili powder

- 1 tsp garam masala

- 4 green cardamoms

- 4 cloves

- 1-inch cinnamon stick

- Salt to taste

- 4 tbsp ghee

Instructions:

1. Marinate mutton with yogurt, turmeric, and salt for 30 minutes.

2. Heat ghee in a pan, add cardamoms, cloves, cinnamon, and sauté.

3. Add sliced onions and cook until golden brown.

4. Add ginger-garlic paste and sauté.

5. Add marinated mutton, chili powder, and cook until mutton is browned.

6. Add cashew nut paste, mix well, and cook on low heat until mutton is tender.

7. Stir in garam masala and cook for another 5 minutes. Serve with naan or rice.

5. Mutton Nihari

A traditional breakfast dish from Lucknow, Mutton Nihari is a slow-cooked stew made with mutton shanks, aromatic spices, and bone marrow. The dish is known for its deep, complex flavors and is typically served with naan or sheermal.

Ingredients:

- 1 kg mutton shanks

- 2 large onions, finely sliced

- 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste

- 1/2 cup wheat flour, roasted

- 1 tsp turmeric powder

- 2 tsp red chili powder

- 1 tsp garam masala

- 1/2 cup ghee

- 4 green cardamoms

- 4 cloves

- 1-inch cinnamon stick

- Salt to taste

- Fresh coriander and julienned ginger for garnish

Instructions:

1. Heat ghee in a large pot, add cardamoms, cloves, cinnamon, and sauté.

2. Add sliced onions and cook until golden brown.

3. Add ginger-garlic paste and sauté.

4. Add mutton shanks, turmeric, and chili powder, and cook until mutton is browned.

5. Add roasted wheat flour, mix well, and pour in enough water to cover the meat.

6. Cook on low heat for 4-5 hours until the meat is tender and the stew is thick.

7. Stir in garam masala, garnish with fresh coriander and ginger. Serve with naan or sheermal.

6. Mutton Chops

Marinated in a mix of yogurt and spices, Mutton Chops are grilled or pan-fried to perfection, resulting in juicy and flavorful pieces of meat. This dish is a great appetizer or main course, often accompanied by mint chutney and salad.

Ingredients:

- 1 kg mutton chops

- 1 cup yogurt

- 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste

- 1 tsp turmeric powder

- 2 tsp red chili powder

- 1 tsp garam masala

- Salt to taste

- 4 tbsp oil

- Fresh coriander for garnish

Instructions:

1. Marinate mutton chops with yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, turmeric, chili powder, and salt for 1 hour.

2. Heat oil in a grill pan, add marinated chops, and cook until browned on both sides.

3. Cover and cook on low heat until the chops are tender and cooked through.

4. Sprinkle garam masala and garnish with fresh coriander. Serve hot with mint chutney.

7. Mutton Pulao

Mutton Pulao is a mildly spiced rice dish cooked with tender mutton pieces, basmati rice, and a fragrant blend of spices. Unlike biryani, pulao is simpler and lighter, making it a comforting meal served with raita or a simple salad.

Ingredients:

- 500 g mutton, cut into pieces

- 2 cups basmati rice

- 1 large onion, finely sliced

- 2 tomatoes, chopped

- 1 cup yogurt

- 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste

- 1 tsp turmeric powder

- 2 tsp red chili powder

- 1 tsp garam masala

- 4 green cardamoms

- 4 cloves

- 2 bay leaves

- Salt to taste

- 4 tbsp ghee

- Fresh coriander and mint leaves

Instructions:

1. Marinate mutton with yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, turmeric, chili powder, and salt for 30 minutes.

2. Cook rice with salt and whole spices (cardamoms, cloves, bay leaves) until 70% done. Drain and set aside.

3. Heat ghee in a pot, add sliced onions and cook until golden brown.

4. Add marinated mutton, tomatoes, and cook until mutton is tender.

5. Layer rice and mutton mixture in a large pot, sprinkle fresh coriander and mint.

6. Cover and cook on low heat for 20-25 minutes. Serve hot with raita.

8. Mutton Rara

A Punjabi delicacy, Mutton Rara combines mutton pieces with minced mutton in a rich, spicy gravy. The combination of textures and robust flavors makes this dish a hearty and satisfying option, best enjoyed with naan or roti.

Ingredients:

- 500 g mutton pieces

- 250 g minced mutton

- 2 large onions, finely sliced

- 2 tomatoes, chopped

- 1 cup yogurt

- 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste

- 1 tsp turmeric powder

- 2 tsp red chili powder

- 1 tsp garam masala

- 4 tbsp oil

- Fresh coriander leaves

Instructions:

1. Marinate mutton pieces with yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, turmeric, chili powder, and salt for 30 minutes.

2. Heat oil in a pan, add sliced onions and cook until golden brown.

3. Add ginger-garlic paste and sauté.

4. Add minced mutton and cook until browned.

5. Add marinated mutton pieces, tomatoes, and cook until mutton is tender.

6. Stir in garam masala and cook for another 5 minutes.

7. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve hot with naan or roti.

9. Mutton Do Pyaza

This dish, meaning "mutton with double onions," features mutton cooked with a generous amount of onions, tomatoes, and spices. The slow-cooking process caramelizes the onions, adding a sweet and savory depth to the dish, which pairs well with rice or flatbreads.

Ingredients:

- 1 kg mutton, cut into pieces

- 4 large onions, thinly sliced

- 2 tomatoes, chopped

- 1 cup yogurt

- 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste

- 1 tsp turmeric powder

- 2 tsp red chili powder

- 1 tsp garam masala

- Salt to taste

- 4 tbsp oil

- Fresh coriander leaves

Instructions:

1. Marinate mutton with yogurt, turmeric, chili powder, and salt for 1 hour.

2. Heat oil in a large pot, add half the sliced onions, and sauté until golden brown.

3. Add ginger-garlic paste and cook for a minute.

4. Add the marinated mutton and cook until browned.

5. Add chopped tomatoes and cook until soft.

6. Add the remaining onions and cook until they are tender.

7. Sprinkle garam masala, mix well, and cook for another 5 minutes.

8. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve hot with rice or flatbreads.

10. Mutton Stew

A comforting and hearty dish, Mutton Stew is made with mutton, vegetables, and a blend of spices, all simmered together until tender. This dish is perfect for colder days and is often enjoyed with crusty bread or rice.

Ingredients:

- 1 kg mutton, cut into pieces

- 2 large onions, finely chopped

- 2 tomatoes, chopped

- 3-4 carrots, sliced

- 2 potatoes, cubed

- 1 cup peas

- 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste

- 1 tsp turmeric powder

- 2 tsp red chili powder

- 1 tsp garam masala

- 4 green cardamoms

- 4 cloves

- 1-inch cinnamon stick

- Salt to taste

- 4 tbsp oil

- Fresh coriander leaves

Instructions:

1. Heat oil in a large pot, add cardamoms, cloves, and cinnamon, and sauté.

2. Add onions and cook until golden brown.

3. Add ginger-garlic paste and sauté for a minute.

4. Add mutton pieces, turmeric, and chili powder, and cook until browned.

5. Add chopped tomatoes and cook until they are soft.

6. Add carrots, potatoes, peas, and enough water to cover the meat and vegetables.

7. Cover and simmer on low heat until the mutton and vegetables are tender.

9. Stir in garam masala and cook for another 5 minutes.

10. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve hot with crusty bread or rice.