Saoji Mutton: Nagpur Classic Shaped by Migration and Reinvention

Saoji mutton is a very spicy dish linked to Nagpur.

Cooks roast whole spices until they smell strong and fragrant.

They also use dry coconut to make the curry thick and rich.

The mutton cooks slowly so the spices stick to the meat.

The finished curry is dark in colour and full of earthy flavours.

Its heat is one of its most recognizable features.

The dish also tells a story about people moving, facing hardship and starting businesses.

Through cooking, a community preserved and reshaped its food identity.