Rogan Josh
Encyclopedia
Rogan josh is an aromatic
lamb dish hailing from Kashmir
. Rogan (روغن) means "oil
" in Persian
, while josh (جوش) means "heat, hot, boiling, or passionate". Rogan josh thus means cooked in oil at intense heat. Another interpretation of the name rogan josh is derived from the word rogan meaning color and josh meaning passion, hot or red. So this is a meat dish which is red in color. The red color is characteristic to this dish and to achieve this end kashmiri mirch, which means "pepper from Kashmir" is used. This ground pepper is red in color but not as hot as other Indian peppers. So a lot of it could be used to impart the red color and yet still keep the food mildly hot. In addition to this chilli, dried alkanet root has also been used traditionally; this root is also known as "Ratan Jot".
Rogan josh was brought to Kashmir by the Mughal
s. The unrelenting heat of the Indian plains took the Mughals frequently to Kashmir
, which is where the first Kashmir adoption of Rogan josh occurred.
of Kashmiri cuisine. Originally Rogan josh was brought to Kashmir by the Mughals. Outside Kashmir, it is usually served in its altered commercial form whereas the authentic dish is served by the classic Kashmiri Chefs (the Waza's) and is rarely cooked outside Kashmir. Characteristically, by Kashmiri interpretation, the name rogan josh is derived from the word rogan meaning color and josh meaning either passion or low-moderate heat and the dish classically involves slow cooking at moderate heat for prolonged period of time. Powdered chillies are never used but essentially an extract of grinded chillies devoid of seeds. Kashmiri chillies being mild do impart, at least partially the red color and yet still keep the food mildly hot, but the real color of the dish is attributed to the extract from dried flowers, locally known as Muawal and not the dried alkanet root "Ratan Jot" as has been claimed by some authors. Classically, garlic paste and paste of a local variety of shallots fried before grinding called Prawn" locally in Kashmir is typically as essential as is saffron, but a wide array of spices go into the making of this dish.
A modified version of the dish is yogurt based but referred to by a slightly different name "Hindi Rogan Josh".
There have been commercial modification worldwide especially a tomato based lamb-dish to imitate rogan-josh to alleviate cooking time and at the same time imparting reddish color to the dish.
Spice
A spice is a dried seed, fruit, root, bark, or vegetative substance used in nutritionally insignificant quantities as a food additive for flavor, color, or as a preservative that kills harmful bacteria or prevents their growth. It may be used to flavour a dish or to hide other flavours...
lamb dish hailing from Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
. Rogan (روغن) means "oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
" in Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
, while josh (جوش) means "heat, hot, boiling, or passionate". Rogan josh thus means cooked in oil at intense heat. Another interpretation of the name rogan josh is derived from the word rogan meaning color and josh meaning passion, hot or red. So this is a meat dish which is red in color. The red color is characteristic to this dish and to achieve this end kashmiri mirch, which means "pepper from Kashmir" is used. This ground pepper is red in color but not as hot as other Indian peppers. So a lot of it could be used to impart the red color and yet still keep the food mildly hot. In addition to this chilli, dried alkanet root has also been used traditionally; this root is also known as "Ratan Jot".
Rogan josh was brought to Kashmir by the Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
s. The unrelenting heat of the Indian plains took the Mughals frequently to Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
, which is where the first Kashmir adoption of Rogan josh occurred.
Ingredients and cultural influence
Rogan josh (or roghan josh),an aromatic lamb dish is the sine qua nonSine qua non
Sine qua non or condicio sine qua non refers to an indispensable and essential action, condition, or ingredient...
of Kashmiri cuisine. Originally Rogan josh was brought to Kashmir by the Mughals. Outside Kashmir, it is usually served in its altered commercial form whereas the authentic dish is served by the classic Kashmiri Chefs (the Waza's) and is rarely cooked outside Kashmir. Characteristically, by Kashmiri interpretation, the name rogan josh is derived from the word rogan meaning color and josh meaning either passion or low-moderate heat and the dish classically involves slow cooking at moderate heat for prolonged period of time. Powdered chillies are never used but essentially an extract of grinded chillies devoid of seeds. Kashmiri chillies being mild do impart, at least partially the red color and yet still keep the food mildly hot, but the real color of the dish is attributed to the extract from dried flowers, locally known as Muawal and not the dried alkanet root "Ratan Jot" as has been claimed by some authors. Classically, garlic paste and paste of a local variety of shallots fried before grinding called Prawn" locally in Kashmir is typically as essential as is saffron, but a wide array of spices go into the making of this dish.
A modified version of the dish is yogurt based but referred to by a slightly different name "Hindi Rogan Josh".
There have been commercial modification worldwide especially a tomato based lamb-dish to imitate rogan-josh to alleviate cooking time and at the same time imparting reddish color to the dish.