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Paya

Name: Paya
Total time: 240 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1000 g Mutton trotters (leg pieces), washed and cut into pieces (home-friendly substitute: mutton leg pieces instead of trotters); 150 g Onion, thinly sliced; 1 tbsp Ginger, paste, plus extra julienned for garnish; 1 tbsp Garlic, made into a paste; 1 tsp Turmeric; 2 tbsp Red chilli powder; 1 tbsp Coriander powder; 1 tsp Cumin seeds; 1 tsp Dried ginger powder; 1 pc Cinnamon; 3 pc Cardamom; 3 pc Cloves; 2 pc Bay leaf; 3 tbsp Clarified butter; 2 tbsp Cooking oil; to taste Salt; 2 tbsp Coriander, chopped, for garnish; 2 pc Green chilli, sliced, for garnish; 2 pc Lemon

240 min Hard 6 servings

Serves 6 · Total 240 min · Prep 20 min · Cook 220 min

Updated on 8 November 2026

AI-generated illustration (Gemini)

A rich, gelatinous breakfast curry traditionally made from trotters; this home version uses mutton leg pieces, which give a similar silky broth without needing a butcher's trotters. Slow-simmered for hours with warming whole spices until the meat is spoon-tender and the broth turns thick and glossy, it is a weekend favourite eaten hot with naan or khameeri roti.

Quick answer: 240 min in total · serves 6 · main ingredients: Mutton trotters (leg pieces), Onion, Ginger, Garlic · amounts in metric and US

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Ingredients

Metric US

1000 g 2.2 lb Mutton trotters (leg pieces), washed and cut into pieces (home-friendly substitute: mutton leg pieces instead of trotters)
150 g 5 oz Onion, thinly sliced
1 tbsp 1 tbsp Ginger, paste, plus extra julienned for garnish
1 tbsp 1 tbsp Garlic, made into a paste
1 tsp 1 tsp Turmeric
2 tbsp 2 tbsp Red chilli powder
1 tbsp 1 tbsp Coriander powder
1 tsp 1 tsp Cumin seeds
1 tsp 1 tsp Dried ginger powder
1 pc 1 pc Cinnamon
3 pc 3 pc Cardamom
3 pc 3 pc Cloves
2 pc 2 pc Bay leaf
3 tbsp 3 tbsp Clarified butter
2 tbsp 2 tbsp Cooking oil
to taste to taste Salt
2 tbsp 2 tbsp Coriander, chopped, for garnish (Optional)
2 pc 2 pc Green chilli, sliced, for garnish (Optional)
2 pc 2 pc Lemon (Optional)

Steps

Timers run only while this tab is open. The Degchi app keeps them running on a locked phone.

Blanch the trotters (paya) in boiling water for 5 minutes, drain, rinse and scrub off any hair or scum.
Heat oil and ghee in a large, heavy pot and fry the sliced onions over medium heat until golden brown.
⏱ Frying onions · 10 min
Add the trotter (paya) pieces with ginger-garlic paste and sear on high heat until the meat changes colour.
Stir in turmeric, red chilli powder, coriander powder, cumin, dried ginger powder, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, bay leaves and salt, and fry briefly.
⏱ Roasting spices · 2 min
Pour in plenty of water to fully cover the meat and bring to a rolling boil.
⏱ Bringing to a boil · 10 min
Reduce the heat to low, cover tightly, and let the meat simmer slowly for about 3 hours (a pressure cooker needs about 50 minutes) until extremely tender and the broth turns rich and slightly sticky from the natural gelatin.
⏱ Slow simmering · 180 min
Skim off any excess fat from the surface, adjust the salt, and simmer about 15 minutes longer if the broth needs to reduce further.
⏱ Reducing the broth · 15 min
Garnish with ginger strips, green chilli, fresh coriander and lemon wedges, and serve hot with naan or khameeri roti.

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Frequently asked questions

How long does Paya take?

240 minutes in total: about 20 minutes of prep and 220 minutes of cooking.

Is Paya hard to make?

Degchi rates it hard. The method has 8 steps, and 5 of them have a timer you can start on this page.

How many people does Paya serve?

This recipe serves 6. 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 Paya 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 Paya?

Everyday staples that Degchi counts as pantry basics: turmeric, red chilli powder, cooking oil, salt. Spice-box items: coriander powder, cumin seeds, dried ginger powder, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, bay leaf. Fresh items you will probably need to buy: mutton trotters (leg pieces), onion, ginger, garlic, clarified butter.

Any tips for making Paya?

A pressure cooker can cut the simmering time roughly in half if you are short on time, though the slow stovetop method gives the richest broth. The dish thickens as it cools, so add a splash of hot water when reheating leftovers.