Lamb or Beef With Whole Spices and Onions

Ingredients

• 2 lbs lamb or beef stew meat
• 4 onions
• 1 1/2 inches fresh ginger
• 9 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 10 whole green cardamom pods
• 4 whole large black cardamom pods (if available)
• 6-7 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon cumin seed
• 1-4 whole dried hot red chili pepper (optional)
• 5 black peppercorns
• salt

Directions

1. 1

   Cut meat into 1-1.5 inch cubes and pat dry. Slice onions into thin slices. Peel and grate ginger.

2. 2

   Heat oil in large pot. Saute onions, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes. Remove onions and set aside.

3. 3

   Add the cardomoms, bay leaves, cumin, red peppers, peppercorns, and ginger to the pot. Stir for 1 minute until bay leaves darken and ginger is sizzling.

4. 4

   Add the meat and 1 t salt. Cook, stirring, for about 5 minutes until the liquid comes to a full boil. Cover, lower heat, and simmer for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until the meat is tender.

5. 5

   Add onions and cook, uncovered, over medium heat for another 3-5 minutes.