Pasanda is an authentic Indian dish which is loved all throughout the world. The traditional herbs and spices are present within every mouthful and leaves you craving more. We have included two delicious pasanda recipes which you can make at home in 30 minutes to suit any midweek meals. Within our list we have included traditional meat options, which can be adapted to suit vegan and vegetarian diets. Discover a new family favorite dish with the help of Mindful Chef.
What is Pasanda?
Pasanda is a mild Indian curry cuisine which incorporates cooling yoghurt with rich spices and nutty almonds. It is the perfect starter curry for those who are not good with hot spices, or for children who are being introduced to new flavours. Looking back through the history of a pasanda dish, the word ‘pasande’ means ‘favourite’ in the Urdu language. It is for this reason why traditionally the dish must be prepared with the finest cuts of lamb or goat. We have evolved from this thinking, especially in western culture, which is why you can make this dish with any meat such as chicken, beef or lamb. Alternatively, the dish can now be adapted to suit a plant-based diet by swapping out the meat for vegetables or meat alternatives.
What Spices are Included in a Pasanda Curry?
The spices included in a traditional pasanda curry are:
- Cumin
- Black peppercorns
- Turmeric
- Cloves
- Green Cardamom
- Fenugreek leaves
- Red chili flakes
- Cinnamon
- Rapeseed oil
Making the spice blend from scratch is easy to do at home. Find more of your favourite flavours with the help of Mindful Chef.
What can you Make Pasanda with?
You can make pasanda with a range of meat, although traditionally this dish used the finest cuts of lamb or goat. As we have evolved since this Indian cuisine was created, you could make a pasanda curry with a vegetarian or vegan twist. Simply swap out the meat for a selection of your favourite vegetables or meat alternatives such as tofu. Discover our full range of healthy vegan recipes you can try if you are trying to reduce your meat consumption.
Lamb Pasanda
Our spin on a classic lamb pasanda incorporates all the warming flavours but only takes 30 minutes to make! Using pasture-grazed British lamb steaks, silky almond yoghurt and sweet onion. We spoon it over a base of brown rice, flecked with fresh peas and finish with chopped coriander. The perfect midweek meal everyone can enjoy!
- Cook time: 30 mins
- Allergens: Celery, Nuts
- Cuisine: Indian
- Key ingredient: Flavourful pasture-grazed British lamb
Nutritional Information
- Calories: 642
- Protein: 41g
- Carbs: 47g
- Fat: 33g
If you are inviting guests over to enjoy the start of spring, simply double up the recipe. This will ensure you have enough to feed a family of four. Enjoying your own company but want a succulent lamb dish? Either half the healthy recipe for an individual portion or keep the leftovers ready to be enjoyed for the following day! Discover more cultural dishes with the help of Mindful Chef. Some of our most popular dishes are included in our healthy Mexican recipes, our healthy Japanese recipes and our healthy British recipes.
Why We Love This Lamb Pasanda Recipe
This lamb pasanda incorporates succulent peas. Peas are part of the legume family and can be found in three varieties, including: garden or green peas, snow peas or snap peas. The health benefits of these edible seeds means your meals can be fueled with plant-based proteins, as well as a number of vitamins and minerals. These include vitamins A, B, C, E and zinc. Combined these vitamins and minerals have been found to help reduce inflammation and act as antioxidants, which help to build your immune system.
Lamb Pasanda Ingredients
To create this lamb pasanda recipe, you will need:
- 2 tbsp ground almonds (Nuts)
- 1 handful of fresh coriander
- 2 garlic clove
- 1 red onion
- 80g brown rice
- 1 vegetable stock cube (Celery)
- 2 tsp pasanda spice
- 2 lamb leg steaks
- 80g almond yoghurt (Nuts)
- 150g peas
Pasanda Instructions
Our lamb pasanda recipe takes under five steps before it can be served on your table:
- Boil a kettle. Rinse the rice, then place in a saucepan with 600ml lightly salted boiling water. Simmer for 25-30 mins, adding the peas for the final minute, then drain. Dissolve the stock cube in a jug with 100ml boiling water.
- Heat a medium frying pan with 1 tsp oil on a medium-high heat. Season the lamb steaks with sea salt and place in the pan. Cook for 3 mins on each side, until golden, then transfer to a plate.
- Finely chop the onion and garlic. Roughly chop the coriander. Reheat the frying pan with 1 tsp oil on a medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and half the coriander. Cook for 5 mins, then add the spice and cook for 2 mins. Add the stock, yoghurt and almonds to the pan; simmer for 5 mins. Return the lamb (and any juices) to the pan and simmer in the sauce for 5 mins.
- Serve the rice and peas with the lamb steaks and pasanda sauce. Garnish with the remaining coriander.
After trying our lamb pasanda recipe and deciding you want more, be sure to stay updated with our blog. This way you can find our latest recipes we want to showcase and gain all the behind the scenes action. Our recent posts include: 2 ways to use pork mince in stir frys, authentic asian salmon recipes, and 30 minute courgetti recipes. Alternatively, follow us on social channels where you can tag us in your creations!
Chicken Pasanda Curry with Toasted Almonds
Crowd-pleasing chicken pasanda curry with toasted almonds is easy to love, thanks to its rich, creaminess and nutty almond hit! Our verison stars free-range British chicken and is served over brown rice studded with vitamin K-rich spinach. Truly a dish not to miss out on.
- Cook time: 25 mins
- Allergens: Nuts
- Cuisine: Indian
- Key ingredient: Tender British free-range chicken breast
Nutritional Information
- Calories: 615
- Protein: 49g
- Carbs: 40g
- Fat: 29g
The fusion of flavours make this dish a pleasure to consume all year round, which is what makes it a family favourite. Our recommended portion size for this recipe is for a couple, but can easily be doubled for a family of four.
Why We Love This Healthy Chicken Pasanda Recipe
It contains creamy coconut milk. Coconut milk can provide your body with an alternative to traditional cow’s milk. Which can be vital to those who are lactose intolerant. The health benefits you can reap from this non dairy formula include properties of being anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-fungal. This means when the coconut milk enters the body, the lauric acid, found inside the coconut, converts to help destroy disease causing organisms. It is for this reason consuming coconuts can help to protect your body from infections and viruses.
Chicken Pasanda Ingredients
A filling chicken pasanda recipe has never been easier. For a dish the whole family will enjoy you will need:
- 10g flaked almonds (Nuts)
- 200ml coconut milk
- 1 handful of fresh coriander
- 300g diced free-range chicken breast
- 2 garlic clove
- 1 red onion
- 3 tsp pasanda spice
- 250g steamed brown basmati rice
- 80g baby spinach
- 120g baby plum tomatoes
Pasanda Instructions
In six steps you will have made this healthy chicken pasanda recipe with a Mindful Chef twist. To start, follow these simple instructions:
- Heat a large frying pan with 1/2 tbsp oil on a medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 5 mins, turning occasionally, until becoming golden.
- Meanwhile, finely chop or crush the garlic. Finely slice the onion. Halve the tomatoes. Finely chop the coriander.
- Once the chicken has been cooking for 5 mins and is turning golden, add the onion, garlic, half the coriander and the spice blend to the pan. Continue to cook for 3 mins. Place another large frying pan on a medium heat and add the almonds. Toast for 2-3 mins, until golden, then remove and set aside to cool.
- Meanwhile, heat 2 tbsp water and the spinach in a large frying pan on a medium-high heat. Cook the spinach for 1 min, until wilted, then add the rice. Season with sea salt and black pepper. Cook for a further 3-4 mins, stirring often, until piping hot. Keep warm.
- Add the coconut milk and tomatoes to the pan with the chicken. Bring to the boil, then simmer on a medium heat for 5 mins, until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency and the chicken is cooked through. Check your chicken is cooked through by cutting a large piece in half; the flesh should be white and the juices running clear. Cook for longer if necessary.
- Season the curry with sea salt and black pepper, then serve with the spinach rice. Sprinkle the almonds and remaining coriander over the top.
Stay up to date with our recent blog posts to discover more Indian dishes to excite your taste buds. The latest selection of blogs include how to make katsu curry, what is Shakshuka, and 4 spaghetti bolognese dishes to make at home. Remember to also tag us in any of your social media posts, of your pasanda recipe creations!
More from Mindful Chef
Discovered a new favourite pasanda curry recipe? Find more to tickle your tastebuds with the help of Mindful Chef. We have more than 1,000 healthy, delicious recipes available to choose from that you can make each day of the week. Whether you like healthy winter recipes, healthy autumn recipes, healthy summer recipes or healthy spring recipes, we have something delicious for the whole year!
Choosing one of our healthy recipe boxes, makes trying our delicious pasanda recipes covenant and quick. In need of feeding the whole family? Select our family recipe box, alternatively if you want an all vegan selection, our vegan recipe box is the answer. Simply choose your dishes, pick a delivery date and we take care of the rest! The convenient recipe boxes get delivered to your door and inside you will find fresh, responsibly sourced ingredients with an easy recipe card to follow! What’s more, our entire range is gluten free and dairy free. Try your first box with Mindful Chef today!