-
1
Gently warm the cream only until it begins to steam. Remove from heat, stir in saffron threads, and set aside.
-
2
In a heavy-duty blender or small food processor, blend the garlic, ginger, almonds, and 7 tablespoons of the water or broth into a paste. Set aside.
-
3
Place the oil in a heavy, deep non-stick skillet and heat over medium-high. Brown the lamb in batches, placing in a single layer, taking care not to crowd the skillet. Remove lamb to a bowl as you brown it and keep warm.
-
4
Into the same pan, add the cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon to the remaining oil. As soon as the cloves expand (a matter of seconds), add the onions and stir-fry until lightly browned. Reduce heat to medium and add the garlic-ginger paste, coriander, cumin, and cayenne pepper. Continue to stir-fry until browned, another 3 to 4 minutes.
-
5
Return the lamb (including any accumulated juices) to the onions and spices in the skillet along with the salt, heavy cream, and remaining water or broth. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer lamb about 1 hour until tender, stirring frequently. Skim off any fat. Mix in the garam masala. Simmer an additional 3 minutes, remove cinnamon stick and any large spice pods. Serve with rice, if desired.
