Recipes for Love and Murder whips up intrigue and deliciousness, exclusive recipe

Recipes for Love and Murder, the new original mystery drama from Acorn TV, part of the AMC streaming network, serves a delicious dish in each episode. While the drama creates a hunger to devour each new clue, there is more than just mystery woven into each episode. It might be time to discover a recipe that could stir up a new perspective on food and television.

According to Acorn TV, Recipes for Love and Murder is based on the Sally Andrew novels, “A Tannie Maria Mystery.” For those familiar with the books, food is woven into the plot. From familiar dishes to a taste of culinary creativity, the food is integral to ever story.

Bringing together food and stories can create a hunger for people to turn the page. While those family recipes might be an archive, fictional tales can create an excitement over bringing something new to the table. Just like the written word can transport readers to a new world, the flavors on the plate can encourage people to explore flavor possibilities.

What can viewers expect from Recipes for Love and Murder?

In the new Acorn TV series, Tannie Maria is a newspaper recipe writer turned advice columnist. Along the way, a mystery ensues, and that advice column is more than just a positive word to change perspective. While the who-done-it offers twist and turns, it is the food that satisfies when the unknowns swirl.

Beyond the mystery, Maria’s advice column finds a way to share a recipe with that positive mantra. Just like in real life, food is the common language that unites people. Even when people cannot agree, are from different backgrounds or have difficulty communicating, food on the table can be that commonality.

The first episode of Recipes for Love and Murder, Bereft Woman, airing on September 5, sets the stage for the season. While Maria learns that her recipe column is going away and agrees to become an advice writer, the column takes a turn as the first letter writer meets her demise. But, there is more to this tale.

The first Recipes for Love and Murder episode recipe, an exclusive reprint for Foodsided, is Mutton Curry. While this dish might not be part of some people’s rotation, the robust, layered flavors offer the nuanced dish is a celebration of flavors coming together.

Like any great curry, the dish takes time to develop. Just unlike unraveling the details to a mystery, each layer must build on itself. It is the sum of the parts which make that first bite perfect satisfaction. If one part is missing, the curry is not complete.

Here’s how to make Mutton Curry from Recipes for Love and Murder.

Mutton Curry

Ingredients

• 2.2 lbs mutton shanks for necks sliced into rounds
• 1 cup flour mixed with 2 tsp. Salt and 2 tsp. fine black pepper
• 1⁄2 cup olive oil
• 2 large onions, chopped
• 5 cloves grated garlic
• 3 tbsp. grated fresh ginger
• 1 tbsp. ground turmeric
• 5 tsp. paprika
• 3 chilies, chopped
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 2 medium-sized brinjals chopped in cubes. Salt for 5 minutes, rinse, and pat dry.
• 4 tsp. cumin seeds
• 1 tbsp. yellow mustard seeds
• 6 cardamom pods, cracked
• 1/2 a cinnamon stick
• 2 cans of chopped whole peeled tomatoes
• 1⁄4 cup tomato paste
• 2 cups prepared strong chicken stock
• 4 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 tbsp. garam masala
• 1 cup chopped fresh coriander

Method:

• Begin by tossing the meat in the flour, salt, and pepper mixture until it is well coated.
• Heat up a large saucepan and brown the meat on all sides—do not crowd the pan. This will give the curry an intense deep color, add loads of meaty flavor, and help to thicken the sauce. Set the meat aside to rest.
• Into the hot oil, add the chopped onions and stir vigorously to loosen all the brown meaty bits. Fry until golden brown, add the garlic and ginger right at the end, and cook for about another 3 to 4 minutes. Remove and set aside.
• Add to the pan next the turmeric, paprika, chilies, and olive oil and fry vigorously until all the flavors are released. Add the brinjals in next and fry until translucent and brown.
• Place the cooked onions and meat back into the pot and stir through well, then add the cumin seeds, mustard seeds, cracked cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, 2 cans of tomatoes, tomato paste, and 2 cups of chicken stock. Heat and stir until it starts to bubble.
• Place in the 320°F oven and cook for 2 hours. Turn the oven off and let it cool. Leave the curry overnight in the fridge.
• An hour before serving, boil the potatoes in salty water, drain, and add to the curry with the garam masala.
• Stick the pot in the hot oven at 360°F for about 5 minutes or until the liquid has thickened.
• Season to taste and stir in the chopped coriander
• Serve with a tomato, onion, and cucumber sambal, chutney, and thick minted yogurt.
• Recipe note: Prepare 24 hours in advance—this is vital as the meat needs to slow cook, be really soft and tender, and give time for the spices’ flavor to develop.

While some people have never cooked mutton, the sheep dish deserves a moment to ponder. The slow cooked recipe is about developing flavor. As the curry sits, the flavors meld and build. Never too spicy, it is a robust flavor that will have people longing to take another bite.

If mutton is not a favorite protein, consider a swap. Even though other proteins will need for the recipe to be adapted, the premise of this curry is one that could have people coming back to the stove to discover more. In some ways, learning how to cook might be the mystery that keeps people returning to the kitchen.

Recipes for Love and Murder airs on Acorn TV. Two new episodes debut every Monday through October 3.