Lamb karahi, Ikhlas Halal Butcher, Bradford

Which lamb cut is best for karahi?

September 18, 2026 Ikhlas Halal Butcher

Lamb shoulder, curry cut on the bone in medium pieces, is the best cut for karahi, £12 per kilo at Ikhlas Halal Butcher in Bradford. Shoulder has enough fat to stay moist over the fast, high heat a karahi takes, and the bone gives the masala body. Leg is leaner and better boneless for a quick karahi; ribs are the cheapest and the tastiest if you do not mind bones at the table. For four people buy a kilo on the bone.

£12/kglamb shoulder

1kgfeeds four, on the bone

45–60 mincooking time for lamb

Lamb cuts for karahi, compared

Cut	Per 500g	Bone	Verdict
Shoulder, curry cut	£6.00	On	First choice, fat and bone carry the masala
Lamb mix, on the bone	£6.50	On	Shoulder, neck and rib together; the family pot
Ribs	£4.50	On	Cheapest, and the sweetest meat, bones at the table
Leg, boneless	£8.50	Off	For a quick karahi or a table full of guests
Neck	£5.00	On	Great flavour but needs longer than a karahi usually gets
Chops	£8.50	On	Chop karahi is its own dish, good, but dearer

Halal lamb curry cut pieces on the butcher’s block, Ikhlas Halal Butcher, Bradford — Medium curry cut, about 40g a piece, is the size for karahi.

Halal lamb cutlets cut fresh to order, Ikhlas Halal Butcher, Bradford — Chop karahi uses cutlets like these; a different dish, a different price.

Why shoulder and not leg

A karahi is cooked fast, in an open pan, on high heat, with the lid off for most of it. That punishes lean meat: leg on the bone can go tight before the tomatoes have broken down. Shoulder has fat running through it and more connective tissue, so it stays tender through the reduction, and the bones, small, plenty of them, give the masala the body that makes it cling to the meat. If you want defined, bone-free pieces for guests, boneless leg is the answer, but cook it shorter.

Size of piece

Medium, about 40g, 25 pieces to the kilo. Small pieces cook faster but disappear into the masala; large pieces are for slow cooks, not a karahi. Online, choose the pieces option (6–20) or write "medium" in the note.