Paya ( Trotters ) Masala
As the weather begins to improve, with pleasant breezy mornings and evenings, it’s the perfect time for some comforting non-vegetarian dishes like Paya Masala. Paya, or trotters, is the ultimate comfort food for a meat lover like me. It offers two main benefits: first, I can enjoy the delicious soup that forms as the Paya cooks slowly, and second, the richness of the dish after it has been infused with spices and roasted beautifully in a fragrant onion-based gravy.
My recipe is a simple four-step guide to cooking the perfect Paya. I have sampled Paya from various restaurants across India and have incorporated their techniques and flavours to create a comforting dish that bursts with aroma and balances flavour on the palate. So, this coming weekend, take some time to cook this delightful dish and don’t forget to sip on some chilled beer while your fragrant and aromatic Paya is simmering away.
Prep Time – 60 minutes
Cook Time – 30 minutes
Total Time – 90 minutes
Serves – 2
Paya ( Trotters ) Masala
Ingredients:
Paya – 4 pcs
Tomato – 1
Onions – 150 gm
Ginger-Garlic paste – 1 tbsp
Cinnamon – a stick
Bay leaf – 1
Cardamom – 2 to 3 pcs
Clove powder – 1/2 tsp
Curry Powder – 1 tbsp
Red Chilli Powder – 1 tbsp
Turmeric Powder – 1/2 tbsp
Fresh Crushed Peppercorns – 1 tbsp
Coriander – 1/2 bunch
Bone Broth – 200 ml ( use the leftover broth after you steam the Paya )
Salt – to taste
Oil – 50 ml
Method:
1 ) Clean the Paya by rubbing salt generously and later in water.
2 ) Slow cook the Paya over a stovetop or in a pressure cooker for 1 hour. Let it cool.
3 ) Slice the Tomato and one onion ( out of the 150 gms ) and set aside.
4 ) Chop the coriander finely.
5 ) Heat half the oil in a pan or kadhai. Fry the onions, tomato and coriander till oil oozes out. Remove from the pan and set aside.
6 ) Add the remaining oil to the Pan and saute all the spices with ginger garlic paste for 5 to 7 minutes on a slow flame.
7 ) Add the powdered spices and peppercorns and fry further for 2 minutes.
8 ) Add the Paya and mix well. Add salt.
9 ) Pour in the bone broth. Cover the pan and let it simmer for 20 minutes. Add fresh coriander and serve.
Pro Tip: Any leftover broth can be used to make soup. Just add- in a few chopped shallots, peppercorns, and salt, and heat the broth for five minutes.
