“My neighbours in Mahim used to come to my home with the Anglo-Indian mutton curry,” reveals Mumbai chef Juliano Rodrigues, who recently brought an Anglo-Indian food pop-up to the city at Out Of The Blue in Khar. This memory is also what inspired Rodrigues to put the dish on the specially curated menu celebrating the cuisine. The menu has a wide variety of dishes, some of which are innovative versions of Indian favourites like rasam, pav bhaji, fried chicken, along with a smattering of dishes from Anglo-Indian cuisine like the curry and more. Ask an Anglo, as they are more fondly called, which is the one dish that quintessentially represents the cuisine, and they say, “Anglo-Indian mutton curry” and the ingredient is definitely “pepper”. Incidentally, the dish Pepper Water ranks a close second, that many others from the community, who hail from different parts of India love. Coincidentally, the curry appears on the menu owing to Rodrigues. 

For Santacruz-based Marlene Netto, the Anglo-Indian mutton curry is one that brings back fond memories of eating the dish while growing up. “I also make the Anglo-Indian mutton curry now,” reveals Netto, who is a proud member of the community in Mumbai. It is one of the many dishes she learned from her mother, along with other specials like meat ball curry, beef roast, shepherd’s pie and more. Like Rodrigues, Netto thickens the curry with a large amount of finely cut onions. The 8-hour cooked mutton is perfectly spiced and melts in the mouth when accompanied with white rice, making it irresistible. The slightly sour taste, and just the right amount of pepper packs a punch, and is certainly a reminder of why the community not only loves their meats but also their pepper.