Paleo Rogan Josh
Whenever I mention the Indian dish rogan josh to my friend Stacey, I accidentally call it Josh Rogan, and she says, “Who? What?” because she knows it’s really called rogan josh.
Yesterday, we realized I was reversing the names because of Seth Rogen – and then Stacey was confusing him with Josh Groban.
They’re nothing alike. See for yourself.
Seth Rogen
Josh Groban
Rogan Josh
Anyway…
Rogan josh (also: roghan josh) is a curry dish from Kashmir and is popular in India, Pakistan, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. And now, my kitchen in Austin, Texas.
Where the devil is Kashmir? I’m glad you asked…
I’d never eaten rogan josh before I bought the seasoning at the Penzeys store last summer based solely on how incredibly enticing it smelled. Different cooks make their spice blend different ways, but generally, rogan josh includes cardamom, cinnamon, clove, ginger, cumin, aniseed, saffron, fennel, and red chillies. The resulting curry is rich and creamy with plenty of depth, but not very much heat. Delicious, dino-chow comfort food.
Also, I’m not making any promises, but… “rogan” means oil in Persian and “josh” means heat, red, or… hell, yeah… passionate. Perhaps rogan josh is an aphrodisiac? I know it makes me feel good all over and it’s so delicious it makes me want to marry me.
Traditionally, rogan josh is made with lamb and yogurt, but I replaced the yogurt with coconut milk, and it worked great. You can substitute beef for the lamb if you prefer… and if you’re feeling particularly decadent, add sliced almonds to the sauce for added richness.
Paleo Rogan Josh
This is easily doubled; make 2 lbs. of meat and enjoy leftovers.
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon coconut oil or olive oil
1 lb. lamb or beef, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/2 large onion, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup water
salt & pepper
3 tablespoons homemade Rogan Josh seasoning or 2 tablespoons of Penzeys blend
Directions:
1. Sprinkle meat generously with salt & pepper. Toss to coat.
2. Heat oil in a sauce pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add meat and brown well on all sides. Here’s a tip from me to you: respect the contact. Put the meat in there and let it be for at least 5 minutes so it gets a nice brown crust – resist the temptation to stir it around. Give it some private time and it will reward you for your generosity. (Do that with people and get the same result. Neat!)
3. When the meat is brown, add the chopped onion and cook until the onions begin to soften and get little brown spots.
4. Add the rogan josh seasoning to the pan and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. The spices really come to life in the fat so let them revel in it a bit.
5. Add the coconut milk and water to the pan. Mix well, turn the heat to high, and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to a simmer. Let the meat braise in the coconut milk for 1-2 hours.
6. When time’s up, remove the lid and let the sauce thicken a bit… maybe 2 minutes or so. Inhale deeply and enjoy the fact that you have a nose.
This is great straight out of the pan, not that I would ever eat that way. Here are some other ideas for serving:
- over a pile of cauliflower fouscous
- next to a pile of fennel, sliced and sauteed with garlic and olive oil
- in a bowl, with sliced cucumbers and red or green pepper strips on the side
- atop a next of kale (or chard or spinach or beet tops), wilted and cooked with coconut oil and garlic
- accompanied by a side of mint chutney (scroll down at that link to get the chutney recipe)
Tags: dino-chow, Indian, paleo
62 Responses to “Paleo Rogan Josh”
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nothing to do with joshes or rogans, but i was standing beside a slight and altogether unassuming woman on the subway today, and noticed she was reading a Dick Francis novel. i actually took a small step backward so i could re-assess her.
she could be spy, or a double agent, or work for the FBI, i thought… you just never know.
michele! Surely she was some kind of secret agent. How fabulous!
My mouth actually (no really!) just started watering…and, I've already eaten. I love lamb! I love coconut milk! And, this spice combination sounds incredible…I can't wait to eat this!!!
I have never visited a Penzey's, but see that there is one just 5 miles from my place of work…yeah! This could be trouble.
Thank you for sharing!
Jen, it's so good, it will make you weep with happiness. Go to Penzeys, sister!
Rock. On.
I am a fiend for Penzey's Rogan Josh seasoning. Sometimes I sub it for paprika, sprinkled on top of egg casseroles.
Rogan Josh is second only to Mural of Flavor for me. Which blend is your favorite?
I"m very, very attached to Pizza Seasoning because it really does make stuff taste like pizza, without the poison… and then I think about the mellow earthiness of rogan josh and think that might be my favorite. I pick both!
This looks mouth-wateringly delicious. I can't wait to try it out. I'll have to mix up a nightshade-free Rogan Josh blend for Weston's tendons, but hopefully it will still be a winner. Thanks for another fabulous recipe!
Hey, how did that nightshade free seasoning work out? I find that I am allergic to chilli&cayenne but not paprika and need another way to add heat to the dish. Considering white pepper but not sure how much to add.. Any tips that worked for you would help! Thanks!
If I remember right, Indian cooks used to use large quantities of black pepper before discovering cayenne. My personal experience of restaurant rogan josh is only slightly warm, not hot, so I just replaced the cayenne with black pepper and got a dish that just warms the mouth. Maybe replace and double the amount of black pepper for something hotter?
Blake, I did a quick search for rogan josh spice blend recipes; there are quite a few online. I bet you could easily just delete the nightshades from the recipe and still get a really good flavor.
Mel, I'll put Penzey's Pizza Seasoning on my "next to try" list. Thanks!
We made this dish for a small dinner party, and served it over spaghetti squash. Everyone agreed that the flavor was reminiscent of Skyline Chili (sooooyummybutsooooobad). What a great treat! Also, thanks for the turn on to Penzey's. The spices are awesome.
Hey, Jesse! Glad you liked it. And you've given me an idea: I'm going to work on a Cincinnati Chilli Recipe! Skyline totally is sooooyummybutsoooooobad. I'm on it!
Sweet! My girlfriend is a hardcore skyline fan, and I'd love to surprise her with a recipe. Looking forward to it!
Melissa – You are a godsend! My husband made this tonight with Fouscous and It.Was.Delicious! I think this is the 6th recipe we've tried from your site and we have loved every one! Thanks!
Paige –> I'm so glad you like the recipes! And I hear ya on the rogan josh… everytime I make it, I'm surprised at how totally freakin' tasty is it. I'm working on a homemade rogan josh spice blend recipe — can't wait to get that finalized and share it.
I'd love to cook this for my honey, but he has an aversion to coconut. Does the coconut milk have a presence here or do the spices mask it? Thanks, looks amazing!
What if I don’t have cast iron and want to use a slow cooker instead. Should I roast on high or low and for how long?
Lindsay –> You can definitely make this in the slower cooker. You should probably reduce the liquid by half — so skip the water and just put in the coconut milk. I’d say 3-4 hours on low should do it.
I just tried sprinkling this over chicken thighs and tossing them on the grill. Thumbs up!
That sounds like a great idea! I wondered if it would be good on poultry — thanks for letting us know it is!
i’ve made this a few times now – yum. this last go ’round i wanted a bit more heat. voila: http://goo.gl/Q2sGM. in case you needed a super hot pepper blend in your life, look no further! warning: a few grinds goes a long way!
loving the homemade rogan josh spice blend!
Pirate’s Bite looks fun. Thanks for sharing that link!
[...] work this past month!! All recipes were from The Clothes Make the Girl. On a bed of broccoli we had Rogan Josh with Mint Chutney and Coconut Chips. It was totally [...]
I made this over the weekend for my husband and myself. It was great. We used your homemade spice blend and it was fabulous! Thank you for such a great recipe.
Just made this for the first time tonight with the Homemade Rogan Josh and it was AWESOME! Saw that someone made it over spaghetti squash – one of my faves- Can’t wait to try that!
Hooray! So glad you guys like this recipe. It’s pretty fun making the spice blend from scratch, isn’t it?! I feel like an alchemist!
It really was fun! I’m learning so much more about cooking from being Paleo than I have at any other time in my life. I can’t wait for your cookbook to come out either! Your recipes are so easy to follow!
Making this for dinner tonight. SHAZAM…I’m excited!!!
Make a double so you can have some for breakfast! Seriously! A little leftover rogan josh with some cauliflower rice and a few scrambled eggs is the best breakfast EVER.
I did just that!! Can’t wait. Gonna bring a big tupperware full of it for my post workout dinner before holiday shopping. Going to make the fouscous to go with! Thanks MEL! You and your fabulous recipes are making this Whole 60 SUPER DELISH!
[...] Paleo Rogan Josh from The Clothes Make the Girl [...]
[...] Lunch: Taco Salad — haven’t had this in a while. I miss it, actually. Dinner: Rogan Josh with Lamb + Roasted Brussels Sprouts + Sauteed Red [...]
Mel, I’ve been wanting to try this recipe, but just threw a 4.5# lamb roast into the crockpot Thursday night as per this site: http://www.primal-palate.com/2012/01/slow-cooked-lamb-roast.html
Today, I mixed up the Rogan Josh seasonings, added in 2 lbs of left over lamb roast, which was pretty much shredded meat by this time, 1 T coconut oil, the coconut milk and water (less 1/2 cup), and let it simmer for an hour. I had to leave out the cardamom. I think it is an acquired taste, which I haven’t acquired yet. It was still to die for! YUMMERS!
Hey Melissa, I just made this, served on top of spaghetti squash and it was AWESOME. I’m already looking forward to leftovers tomorrow! (Just bought your cookbook too…can’t wait!)
awesome! feel like i’m at a fine indian restaurant. i made my Rogan Josh seasoning with extra cayenne (TBS+) and we loved it- even me who is not a Great spice fan. after eating this, i am OH so glad i doubled the spice recipe- filled up an old banana pepper jar with it! thank you, thank you, Mel. i love ethnic food, so you are saving my life by helping me eat delicious health foods and not spending money on take-out!
YAY! Glad to know you’re enjoying it — and making extra seasoning is definitely the way to go. I keep a big mason jar of the blend in my spice cabinet at all times… just in case I have an Indian food emergency
Looks great! This looks just like something I already make but didn’t realize it was rogan josh. I go through at least a can of coconut milk a week and oh my word, all those my spices, all my favorites!! The best part of this is the mention of Penzey’s…we don’t have one around here (Indiana) but we’re moving to Austin in a few weeks where this plethora of spices store awaits me…heaven!!
Sweet — we’ll be neighbors soon
Austin has TWO great spice shops: Penzeys and Savory Spice Shop. I like Penzeys more, but they’re both fun.
Hi Mel. This looks awesome and I want to make it (pronto) but my husband can’t have canned coconut milk because he reacts to the guar gum. Any suggestions on what I could use as a substitute? I know I could make my own coconut but I am entirely too lazy for that today. Or any day after work. Haha.
Thanks!
If you don’t want dairy and can’t use coconut milk, you might have to go the non-creamy route — which I think would still taste good, just different. Replace the coconut milk with beef broth. That way, you can still enjoy the spice blend and the slow-simmered flavor — it will just be more like a Moroccan tagine (stew) than a creamy curry. Let me know if you try it because I think it should be really tasty.
This is a belated response, but for anybody else with guar gum issues, Natural Value now makes an organic/BPA-Free/Guar Gum-free coconut milk. Buyer/chef beware: the coconut taste is much stronger with this product.
Hi Mel! I made the pork carnitas last night in the pressure cooker and it was fan-freaking-tastic! And now I’m a little obsessed with pressure cooking… do you know how I can adapt this Rogan Josh recipe for the pressure cooker?
This should work great in the pressure cooker. Brown the meat in the pressure cooker, then add the rest of the ingredients. Cook for 15-20 minutes.
[...] recipe was originally posted on one of my favorite blogs, The Clothes Make the Girl, and I made the version from the author’s new cookbook, Well Fed. If you work or live with [...]
[...] (would need to amend obv) garlic lemon chicken and one of my favorite snacks, tomato acocado salad paleo rogan josh – last week’s stew, amazing. sunshine chicken – see above re: flavorful [...]
[...] I made a paleo Rogan Josh (a Mughal lamb stew) — starting first with Melissa Joulwan’s version for the spices blend, then moving over to Nom Nom Paleo’s adaptation (because [...]
Oh My Josh this is delish! I printed this recipe several weeks ago but didn’t get around to making it till yesterday, after purchasing 2 lbs of lamb stew meat at our farmers market. This is going to be a staple in our house! So easy to make and so yummy over cali-rice (we served it with sauteed Kale too!). thanks for sharing!
“Oh, my josh” just became my new favorite phrase. That just happened.
So glad you enjoyed it. It’s a good one to put in weekly rotation because it tastes even better as it sits,and you can make it in big batches and freeze. YAY!
[...] Jul 13, 2010 Posted by Mel on Jul 13, 2010 in Curries/Stews , Meats/Eggs , Recipes | 40 comments Whenever I mention the Indian dish rogan josh to my friend Stacey, I accidentally call it Josh Rogan, and she says, “Who? What?” because she knows it’s really called rogan josh . Paleo Rogan Josh | theclothesmakethegirl [...]
[...] http://www.theclothesmakethegirl.com/2010/07/13/paleo-rogan-josh/ [...]
Oh yes please! This looks and sounds delicious.
[...] theclothesmakethegirl.com via Julie on [...]
I adapted this to slow cooker & 4 lbs of lamb. (So much leftovers! woo!) Incredible flavor, but I found that it seemed a bit grainy from all the spices. So I came back to reread… and I noticed that your RJ seasoning recipe says 1-2 tbsp/lb meat, and this recipe says 3. That’s kind of a big difference.
Is this a typo or an old version or did I misinterpret something?
There are two things going on, probably (without being in your kitchen with you, it’s impossible to know exactly where things might have gone astray.
1. It’s important that the spices come into contact with some fat before meeting liquid. If you just tossed the slices into the slow cooker with the coconut milk and water, that would account for the graininess.
2. The amounts in the recipe are correct. If you’re using my version of homemade rogan josh seasoning, it’s about 3 T for a pound of meat; if you’re using Penzeys, it’s about 2 T per pound — but that’s based on taste. If you found it overwhelming, cut down on the spices next time.
Aha! #1 explains it. (no water tho, just coconut milk for the slow cook). Okay, I’ll be less lazy and actually cook the spices first next time. I know it’s traditional, but slow cookers appeal to my laziest instincts. thanks so much for teaching me to cook!
(not overwhelming spice, awesome spice, though I did replace the cayenne with black pepper. My only objection was the graininess. Couldn’t figure out what I did wrong!)
so… dumb question… which kind of coconut milk do you use? the coconut milk in the frig section of the grocery store or the canned coconut milk?
That’s not a dumb question at all. You ALWAYS want to get coconut milk in a can, not the kind in the carton. And in canned, look for brands that don’t include any additives, with the exception of guar gum which is OK.
Thank you so much! I’m new to the whole paleo way of life. I haven’t fully taken the plunge yet because I want to make sure I know my stuff before I start. Right now I’m reading the It Starts With Food book. When I finally find a job I am going to buy your book with my first paycheck. I love your blog. Thanks for all that you do!
[...] From: p. 85 of Melissa Joulwan’s Well Fed: Paleo Recipes for People Who Love to Eat (loc. 1842 on the ebook); recipe can also be found at on her website. [...]
I love this recipe! As I mention in my Recipe Report (the link to Ede&Anna is in the “comment” above this one), I find that I need to halve the amount of spice mixture called for in Well Fed, and I also add 1-2 Tbsp of tomato paste because all the Rogan Josh recipes I can find online call for some sort of acidic ingredient, usually tomato-based. (I forgot the tomato paste the second time I made this, and the flavor profile didn’t seem as complex to me.)
When serving the dish, I usually mix in 1/4 cup of golden raisins and then sprinkle some more on top, along with Caramelized Coconut Chips.(OMG, can I take a moment to thank you for these? They are amazing.) I am not generally a raisin fan, but my favorite Middle Eastern beef biryani dish uses golden raisins, and I love the sweetness that these add. (I also love that this dish then covers all my fat, protein, and simple carb needs.)
Thank you for this dish!
Just discovered this web site, and Paleo for that matter…but let me tell ya, these indian curry reciped you have are a GOD SEND!! Indian is my favorite food and i’ve been clinging on to jarred curry simmer sauces, but they tend to have some unsavory ingredients in them, as delish as they are. Thanks so much and keep up the great work!
Glad you found me — and doubly glad that you like this recipe. I’m working on some new curries for my next cookbook, so should be sharing here soon, too!
I’m making this for dinner tonight from Well Fed (very excited!), and I just noticed that the prep time clock at the top of the page is shaded for 15 minutes instead of 30. Just thought you might want to fix it for the next printing. Rogan Josh tonight and Shepherd’s Pie tomorrow night–fall is here, and delicious food is pouring out of my kitchen!
Started a d finished the whole 30 all thanks to you and this site!! Have made quite a few of your recipes, all delicious but this is my first post. I love Seth Rogan and I LOVE this dish!! Made it 2 nights ago and it was amazing!! Only thing that surprised me about it was you had no veggies in it. So, I decided to add red peppers, broccoli, carrots and mushrooms… Devine! I served it atop a bed of cauliflower f’ous cous.
Thanks!!
[...] Rogan Josh with mashed faux potatoes [...]
[...] a bottle of fancy cab we’d acquired to celebrate our house closing on Friday! Dinner was Rogan Josh over cauliflower puree and a [...]
Oh. Wow….. Wow! My husband says “You’ve outdone yourself!” I made the spice mix and used that.
I will definitely be keeping this recipe handy! Thank you!
Sweet! Glad you both enjoyed it. I LOVE making that spice blend from scratch … so much fun and smells SO great.
[...] http://www.theclothesmakethegirl.com/2010/07/13/paleo-rogan-josh/ [...]
I made this last night and it was wonderful. I’m a huge fan of yours :3 I’m requesting a paleo gulab jamun recipe from you please. Thank you
So… I didn’t know what gulab jamun was, and I looked it up.
HA! I’d have to be a magician to make those paleo
Even my powerful dark arts can’t make that happen. But it is a fun daydream, no? I feel the same way about anything with phyllo dough.
First let me say that since I started the Whole30 on January 14 I have offically become a “clothesmakethegirl.com blog stalker”. Your recipes are fantastic, and I look forward to buying the cookbook.
In my quest for any delicious Indian-style recipe I made this one tonight, and while it was incredibly delicious, there was no sauce…it all cooked out when I was ‘braising’ it on the lowest simmer setting on my stove for 1.5 hours (I even burned it a little on the bottom because the liquid was that gone). Could it have something to do with living at high altitude (5000 ft) in Utah? Or did I do something else wrong?
I’m so glad my recipes are helping with your Whole30… yay!
Without being in your kitchen with you, it’s impossible to know what happened. When braising, you can always add more hot water to keep things from getting too dry. And I’m not sure about the altitude effects — anyone other readers live at altitude?
[...] I think I mentioned a bit ago that I am doing 30 days of Melissa Joulwan recipes from her brilliant cookbook, Well Fed, yes? Well I am happily moving right along on this goal and tonight, tonight TONIGHT! was Rogan Josh. The Spice Queen makes her own seasoning blend you can find that HERE and then when you are ready to whip some kick ass curry-ness up, you can read her recipe HERE. [...]
[...] Rogan Josh spice blend, 2 tablespoons [...]
Just made this and it was indeed delicious. Thanks!