Mastawa Lamb and Rice
1. Place the meat cut into pieces, in a large pan with the onions. Add the turmeric and enough water to cover. Bring to the boil then cook gently until the meat is very tender and can easily be removed from the bones.
Imported from TheMealDB. Times and card copy were filled in for this listing, not kitchen-tested.
0 people cooked this in the public kitchen yet. Kitchen-tested by I Want Some Food. Not a purchased rating.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Spice
- No chilli
- Cost
- Weeknight budget$8–16 USD · indicative, not a store price

About
Mastawa Lamb and Rice is listed as lamb from Afghanistan. The steps below are the imported TheMealDB method, not an editorial rewrite. Times shown were read from those steps.
Ingredients
Scaling multiplies the written quantities. Baking still prefers a scale.
Steps
Step 1
Place the meat cut into pieces, in a large pan with the onions. Add the turmeric and enough water to cover. Bring to the boil then cook gently until the meat is very tender and can easily be removed from the bones.
Step 2
While the meat is cooking, cut the orange peel into thin match style pieces, removing as much pith as possible. Leave to soak in a bowl of water.
Step 3
When the meat is tender, remove from the pan and when cool enough, remove the meat from the bones and shred the meat into strips with your hands. Return the meat to the pan.
Step 4
Wash the short grain rice and then add to the pan with salt according to taste. The juices should cover the rice by about 2cm, add more water if necessary. Bring back to the boil, then reduce the heat to medium and cook with the lid off, stirring from time to time until the rice is "al dente" and the liquid is absorbed.
Step 5
Add the natural yoghurt, and stir in well but carefully. Fry the crushed cloves of garlic in the oil and add to the dish along with the dill, black pepper, the chickpeas and extra salt to taste.
Step 6
Mix in well, then cover the top of the pan with a clean thick cloth and the lid. Leave on a low heat for about half an hour to allow the flavours to absorb. Enjoy with some warm nan bread for extra comfort.
30 min
Adapt this recipe
The canonical recipe stays intact. Personal versions are labelled. Serving changes are maths, not AI.
Adaptations · 0 / 15 used. Resets 24 August.
Substitutions
onion → shallot
Shallots are sweeter. Use the same volume, or a little extra onion if that is what you have.
yoghurt (milk + lemon juice (buttermilk-style)) → milk + lemon juice (buttermilk-style)
250 ml milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice, rest 5 minutes. High suitability for baking; not a yoghurt raita.
garlic (garlic powder or a pinch of onion) → garlic powder or a pinch of onion
1 clove ≈ ¼ tsp garlic powder. The fresh bite will be missing.
Tips
- Times on this listing were inferred from the imported method, not kitchen-tested.
History & culture
Editorial cultural notes have not been written for this imported dish.
Editorial history has not been written for this imported dish.
Inspired by
Provenance: Imported. Initial recipe data sourced from TheMealDB and adapted/reviewed by I Want Some Food. Times on this listing were inferred from the imported method, not kitchen-tested.
Questions about this recipe
Answers taken from this dish's times, amounts, swaps and tips — not a chatbot.
How long does Mastawa Lamb and Rice take?
55 min all in — 25 min prep, 30 min cook. That is the time on this recipe, not a guess.
How many does it serve?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Scale the ingredient list on the page if you are cooking for a different number.
How hard is it?
Medium.
How spicy is it?
No chilli.
What allergens should I watch?
This recipe is labelled for Milk. Labels are informational — check the packets in your kitchen. This is not medical advice.
Does it fit a diet?
The published recipe is labelled Gluten-free, Nut-free.
What does it cost to cook?
Weeknight budget — about $8–16 USD, as a grocery budget for this recipe, not a restaurant price.
What equipment do I need?
Frying pan, Mixing bowl.
How much salt do I put in?
The recipe lists Salt at to taste.
What can I use instead?
onion → shallot. Shallots are sweeter. Use the same volume, or a little extra onion if that is what you have. yoghurt (milk + lemon juice (buttermilk-style)) → milk + lemon juice (buttermilk-style). 250 ml milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice, rest 5 minutes. High suitability for baking; not a yoghurt raita. garlic (garlic powder or a pinch of onion) → garlic powder or a pinch of onion. 1 clove ≈ ¼ tsp garlic powder. The fresh bite will be missing.
Any tips from this recipe?
Times on this listing were inferred from the imported method, not kitchen-tested.
Can I use an air fryer?
This method is not written for an air fryer. The core technique on the page still applies.

