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Boiled mutton
Chanasan makh: bone-in mutton boiled with salt and eaten by hand
Chanasan makh is the simplest and most loved meal of the Mongolian countryside, boiled in a big pot on the ger stove in Övörkhangai or Khentii whenever guests arrive or a holiday comes round. Large bone-in pieces of mutton are simmered with nothing but salt and a little onion, then served steaming on a platter to be cut with a knife and eaten by hand, with the rich broth drunk from bowls alongside. Potato, carrot and turnip are often cooked in the same pot. A common mistake is boiling hard, which makes the meat tough and the broth cloudy; keep it at a lazy simmer and skim. Chef's tip: mutton or older lamb with some fat on it gives the deepest flavour.
- Total time
- 135 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Put 4 ⅜ lb bone-in mutton or lamb (shoulder, ribs and neck) in a large pot with 12 ½ cups water and bring slowly to the boil. Skim off the grey foam carefully as it rises.
15 minStep 4: Lift the meat and vegetables onto a large platter. Serve the hot broth in bowls on the side and eat the meat by hand, cutting it from the bone with a knife.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 520 kcal
- Protein
- 42 g
- Carbs
- 18 g
- Fat
- 30 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does boiled mutton take?
- About 135 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 120 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of potatoes?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
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