The Lemon Fool

Why do some Indian restaurants specify 'meat' curry on their menus alongside chicken, prawn etc ?
I assume this is actually lamb (it always has been when I've asked)

I can only think of two possible explanations;
Lamb is a rude word in Punjabi/Urdu
Not specifying lamb (which is under 1 /2 years?) means they can use mutton, which probably works better in curries and is underrated IMO

AleisterCrowley wrote:Why do some Indian restaurants specify 'meat' curry on their menus alongside chicken, prawn etc ?
I assume this is actually lamb (it always has been when I've asked)

I can only think of two possible explanations;
Lamb is a rude word in Punjabi/Urdu
Not specifying lamb (which is under 1 /2 years?) means they can use mutton, which probably works better in curries and is underrated IMO

or whatever was goiong cheap at the butchers today.

(PS Not budgerigars obviously.

That would go under chicken anyway)

didds

didds wrote:

AleisterCrowley wrote:Why do some Indian restaurants specify 'meat' curry on their menus alongside chicken, prawn etc ?
I assume this is actually lamb (it always has been when I've asked)

I can only think of two possible explanations;
Lamb is a rude word in Punjabi/Urdu
Not specifying lamb (which is under 1 /2 years?) means they can use mutton, which probably works better in curries and is underrated IMO

or whatever was going cheap at the butchers today.

(PS Not budgerigars obviously. That would go under chicken anyway)

As would dog, cat and rat.

I wonder if the "meat" thing is done to cater to both Muslims (who don't eat pork) and Hindus (who revere cows). That might also explain why the meat is usually lamb, which both eat. I recall the McDonalds in New Delhi had only "Lamburger" on the menu, presumably for the same reason.

Lootman wrote:I wonder if the "meat" thing is done to cater to both Muslims (who don't eat pork) and Hindus (who revere cows). That might also explain why the meat is usually lamb, which both eat.

That's right, but doesn't explain why they call it meat rather than lamb.

Maybe it's just a poor translation? If beef is never eaten, maybe the word "meat" literally means lamb, with other specific words for pork, chicken etc.

Scott.

Oh come on, it's obvious!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M3FrHsiSfE

Half a pound of your "special" stuff, please.

I sincerely hope it's not a curry made from the special stuff....

I think that as Allistair suggested it enables the use of mutton and not just lamb. mutton is comonly, WRONGLY sold in UK as goat, as goat is apparently hard to obtain. it is brilliant in curries
available oop north more than down south but a decent butcher can get it...but even he will warn against it possibly being mutton

Confusingly, from Wikipedia;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamb_and_mutton

"Indian subcontinent - The term "mutton" is applied to goat meat in most of these countries, and the goat population has been rising"

So I guess if restaurants specify lamb they can't use mutton, and if they specify mutton Asian clientele think they're getting goat ?!

Would a visit to the barbers next door throw any light on the matter of unspecified meat?
Perhaps any more specific description would bring them into a more-regulated area, and it helps reduce red tape?

Well, I had the 'meat' biriyani (after confirming it was lamb, or at least sheep) and it was excellent