Worth The Hunt
The Recipe · No.1152 · Laal Maas

Laal Maas, and where to source it

Laal Maas — Worth The Hunt WORTH THE HUNT Laal Maas Indian 5best2buy.com

Soak the dried Mathania chilies and grind them to a paste — they give roaring red color and aroma with far less raw heat than the number suggests; the make-or-break finish is the dhungar, a lump of live charcoal in a bowl in the pot doused with ghee and covered to smoke the meat.

By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026

Prep30 min
Cook60 min
MakesServes 4
CuisineIndian
Cost$
Gluten-free
Contains  dairy
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for 4 servings
goat meat, bone-in
700 g
1.5 lb
Local / market
Mathania dried chilies
12
soaked
Local / market
plain yogurt
200 g
3/4 cup
Local / market
garlic
12 cloves
paste
onion
1
sliced
ghee
5 tbsp
75 ml
cloves and cardamom
4 each
whole
Local / market
piece of charcoal
1
for dhungar
Local / market
The Rundown
Greedometer ●●●●● Barely a splurge
A light hand — your arteries say thanks. · plan ahead — needs marinating, soaking, or resting time
EffortSome doing
Cook it with
Instant PotSlow cookerOne-pot
The Method
  1. Soak the Mathania chilies in warm water 20 min, then grind to a smooth paste with the garlic. Whisk into the yogurt.25 min
  2. Heat ghee, temper cloves, cardamom and bay, brown the onion, then add the goat and sear.12 min
  3. Add the chili-garlic-yogurt and salt; fry (bhuno) on medium 15–20 min till the ghee separates red and the meat is well coated.20 min
  4. Add hot water, cover and simmer 40 min till tender. Set a bowl with a live coal in the pot, pour ghee on it, cover 5 min to smoke, then serve.45 min
The Toolkit

Heavy pot or pressure cooker · Grinder · Small steel bowl and tongs

Straight Answers
Can you make Laal Maas in an air fryer? — Yes, with an insert

Not on its own — an air fryer can’t hold a pool of liquid. You can simmer it in an oven-safe dish or a silicone insert made to fit the basket, but the broth won’t reduce or brown the way it does on the stove, and that insert comes out scorching, so use oven mitts. For real depth, a pot on the stove wins.

Can you freeze Laal Maas? — Yes

Yes — it freezes well. Cool it fully, portion into airtight containers, and it keeps a few months; thaw in the fridge and reheat gently.

Can you make Laal Maas ahead of time? — Yes

Yes — it holds well and often tastes better the next day. Make it ahead and reheat gently before serving.

Is Laal Maas gluten-free? — Yes

Yes — nothing in this recipe as written contains gluten. As always, glance at the labels on any packaged items (broth, sauces, chocolate), since brands vary.

Is Laal Maas vegan? — No

No — it contains meat, so it isn’t vegetarian or vegan.

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© 2026 5best2buy · Worth The Hunt · Recipe No.1152