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Mutton Pasanday

Name: Mutton Pasanday
Total time: 350 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 600 g Mutton, boneless leg, sliced across the grain 3 mm thick; 2 tbsp Raw papaya (tenderizer), raw papaya paste; 200 g Yogurt; 1 tbsp Ginger, made into a paste; 1 tbsp Garlic, made into a paste; 1.5 tsp Red chilli powder; 0.5 tsp Turmeric; 1 tsp Coriander powder; 1 tsp Cumin seeds, roasted and ground; 1 tsp Garam masala; 0.5 tsp Black pepper; 3 pc Onion, thinly sliced; 30 g Dry fruits, almonds or cashews, soaked in warm water; 120 ml Cooking oil; to taste Salt; 3 pc Green chilli, thinly sliced; 3 tbsp Coriander, finely chopped

350 min Hard 4 servings

Serves 4 · Total 350 min · Prep 270 min · Cook 80 min

Updated on 8 November 2026

Photo: Miansari66 / CC0 (Public Domain)

Pasanday are thin, flattened slices of mutton marinated in yogurt and raw papaya, then cooked slowly in a thick onion and nut gravy until the gravy clings to the meat. It is a dish from the royal kitchens of Hyderabad and Delhi that Urdu-speaking families still make for dawats and Eid.

Quick answer: 350 min in total · serves 4 · main ingredients: Mutton, Raw papaya (tenderizer), Yogurt, Ginger · amounts in metric and US

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Ingredients

Metric US

600 g 1.3 lb Mutton, boneless leg, sliced across the grain 3 mm thick
2 tbsp 2 tbsp Raw papaya (tenderizer), raw papaya paste
200 g 0.8 cup Yogurt
1 tbsp 1 tbsp Ginger, made into a paste
1 tbsp 1 tbsp Garlic, made into a paste
1.5 tsp 1.5 tsp Red chilli powder
0.5 tsp 0.5 tsp Turmeric
1 tsp 1 tsp Coriander powder
1 tsp 1 tsp Cumin seeds, roasted and ground
1 tsp 1 tsp Garam masala
0.5 tsp 0.5 tsp Black pepper
3 pc 3 pc Onion, thinly sliced
30 g 0.25 cup Dry fruits, almonds or cashews, soaked in warm water
120 ml 0.5 cup Cooking oil
to taste to taste Salt
3 pc 3 pc Green chilli, thinly sliced (Optional)
3 tbsp 3 tbsp Coriander, finely chopped (Optional)

Steps

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Lay the mutton slices between two sheets of cling film and pound them lightly with a mallet until about half as thick. Mix with the papaya paste, yogurt, ginger, garlic, chilli powder, turmeric, coriander powder, cumin, garam masala, pepper and salt. Cover and marinate in the fridge for 4 hours.
⏱ Marinating · 240 min
Heat the oil in a wide heavy pot and fry the sliced onions for about 12 minutes until deep golden. Lift them out with a slotted spoon and leave the oil in the pot.
⏱ Browning the onions · 12 min
Blend the fried onions with the soaked nuts and 3 tablespoons of water into a smooth paste.
Return the pot to high heat, add the marinated meat with all its marinade and fry, stirring, for about 8 minutes until the liquid dries and the oil separates.
⏱ Frying the meat · 8 min
Stir in the onion and nut paste with 250 ml of hot water. Cover and cook on low heat for about 45 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the meat is soft.
⏱ Slow cooking · 45 min
Uncover, raise the heat and cook for about 8 minutes, stirring, until the gravy is thick and coats each slice. Scatter green chillies and coriander on top and serve with naan or roti.
⏱ Thickening the gravy · 8 min

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Frequently asked questions

How long does Mutton Pasanday take?

350 minutes in total: about 270 minutes of prep and 80 minutes of cooking.

Is Mutton Pasanday hard to make?

Degchi rates it hard. The method has 6 steps, and 5 of them have a timer you can start on this page.

How many people does Mutton Pasanday serve?

This recipe serves 4. Use the toggle above the ingredient list to see the amounts in metric or US measures. For more or fewer portions, scale every amount in the same proportion, or use the servings control in the Degchi app.

Is Mutton Pasanday halal, vegetarian or eggless?

It is marked halal in our recipe data. It is not vegetarian. It has no egg. It has no beef. Check the labels on any packaged ingredients for your own needs.

What will I probably need to buy for Mutton Pasanday?

Everyday staples that Degchi counts as pantry basics: red chilli powder, turmeric, cooking oil, salt. Spice-box items: coriander powder, cumin seeds, garam masala, black pepper. Fresh items you will probably need to buy: mutton, raw papaya (tenderizer), yogurt, ginger, garlic, onion. Lentils, grains and other dry goods: dry fruits.

Any tips for making Mutton Pasanday?

Thin slices cook evenly only when cut across the grain; ask the butcher for leg meat sliced thin. Do not marinate longer than about 8 hours; raw papaya keeps softening the meat and it can turn mushy.