Gosht
Meat used across South Asian and Iranian cuisines.
Gosht, also spelled ghosht, simply means "meat" in Persian, Urdu, and Hindi—it does not inherently refer to a specific cooking method or tenderness. It is a key ingredient in the cuisines of South Asia, Central Asia, and Iran. In India, gosht dishes are most commonly made with goat or mutton. There, the word "mutton" usually means goat meat, not the meat of an adult sheep as it does in most other English-speaking regions. When Indian recipes are adjusted for Western tastes, lamb is often used instead, which has created the widespread but mistaken idea that gosht itself means "lamb."
Gosht is a primary component of the popular Indian subcontinental dish Biryani, as well as the Afghan dish Biryan. Several specific dishes feature gosht, including: Bhuna gosht, a curry with a thick, reduced sauce; Karahi (or Kadhai) gosht, cooked in a traditional round-sided pot; Raan gosht, a roasted leg of mutton; Dal gosht, made with lentils or peas; Nihari gosht, a meat stew; Rara gosht, a roasted mutton curry; Namkeen gosht, which is predominantly goat or mutton; and Saag gosht, cooked with spinach leaves or mustard greens. (Note: "Biryani gosht" is not a standard dish name; biryani is a dish that can include gosht, but it is not a recognized separate dish.) Another dish sometimes mentioned is Chelo Gosht, but this is not a widely known canonical Iranian dish—the common Iranian dish is Chelo Kebab (rice with kebab), as "gosht" simply means meat in Persian.
See also: Rogan josh, a Kashmiri curried meat, sometimes romanized as roghan ghosht.
Quick Facts
- Region
- Middle East, Central Asia, Indian subcontinent
- Main Ingredient
- Goat meat
- Variations
- Mutton, beef
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Gosht is a versatile meat ingredient that appears in numerous dishes across several culinary traditions. In India, it is most commonly goat or mutton, with mutton referring to goat meat rather than sheep. This has led to a common misconception that gosht means 'lamb,' especially when Indian dishes are adapted for Western diners, who often use lamb instead.
Reader's Guide
Gosht holds significance as a foundational ingredient in many iconic dishes of South Asia, Central Asia, and Iran. It is the primary meat in the popular Indian subcontinental dish Biryani and the Afghan dish Biryan. The variety of preparations—from bhuna gosht with a thick reduced sauce to nihari gosht as a meat stew—demonstrates its adaptability. Dishes like raan gosht (roasted leg of mutton), dal gosht (with lentils), and saag gosht (with spinach) show how gosht integrates with different cooking methods and accompaniments. The Iranian dish Chelo Gosht pairs tender lamb or goat meat with saffron-infused rice. The term's meaning can cause confusion: while gosht generally means meat, in Indian contexts it specifically denotes goat or mutton, and Western adaptations often substitute lamb, reinforcing the misconception that gosht equals lamb. This ingredient's legacy lies in its central role in diverse regional cuisines, from hearty stews to festive rice dishes.
Did You Know?
- In India, most gosht dishes include goat or mutton, where mutton refers to goat meat rather than adult sheep.
- The popular Indian subcontinental dish Biryani uses gosht as a primary ingredient.
- The term 'gosht' simply means 'meat' in Persian, Urdu, and Hindi, and does not imply a specific cooking method or tenderness.
- Bhuna gosht is a curry with a thick, reduced sauce.
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