At a glance
- Lamb colombo: lamb and vegetables simmered in colombo powder, an Antillean spice blend
- Origin: Guadeloupe and Martinique, born of indentured Indian immigration in the 19th century
- Essential ingredients: lamb, colombo powder, garlic, thyme, eggplant, potato
- A simmered dish, shared with family and served with white rice
Origins and cultural history of lamb colombo
Colombo was born in the French Antilles in the 19th century, with the arrival of indentured workers from India, most of them from the Coromandel Coast, after the abolition of slavery. These indentured workers brought their spices and their curry, adapted with locally available produce: the name “colombo” is thought to come from the Tamil kulambu, which refers to a sauce preparation, although its exact origin remains debated among several theories, including the city of Colombo in Sri Lanka.
Colombo is traditionally cooked with chicken, pork, goat or lamb, accompanied by vegetables simmered in the spiced sauce. Passed down from generation to generation in the family kitchens of Guadeloupe and Martinique, it remains a Sunday dish shared with family, also found on the tables of Creole restaurants of the Antillean diaspora in France.
What are the essential ingredients of lamb colombo
Lamb colombo is prepared with a precise blend of spices, found in most African and Caribbean grocery stores, including NKOSI.
- lamb, boneless shoulder
- colombo powder (contains mustard)
- garlic and thyme
- eggplant and potato
- zucchini
- lime
- Antillean chili pepper, optional
What to know about lamb colombo
Lamb colombo is a slow-simmered dish from the Antilles: boneless lamb shoulder cooked with aubergine, potato and courgette in a sauce made with colombo powder, a spice blend that contains mustard. Turmeric colours the colombo powder yellow, while garlic, thyme, lime and an optional Antillean chilli lift the sauce. It is a Sunday dish in Guadeloupe and Martinique, served with white rice at family meals.
Frequently asked questions about lamb colombo
Does lamb colombo contain allergens?
Yes: the colombo powder used in this recipe contains mustard, an allergen regulated in the European Union. Check the ingredient list of the spice blend you use to confirm its exact composition.
Can lamb be replaced with another meat in colombo?
Yes: colombo is traditionally prepared with chicken, pork or goat, in addition to lamb. Cooking time varies depending on the meat chosen; lamb, being firmer, needs a longer simmered cooking time to become tender.
Where to find the ingredients for lamb colombo in France?
NKOSI sells the colombo powder, thyme, lime juice and Antillean chili pepper used in this recipe and ships them from the Paris area within 24 to 72 working hours, to mainland France (2 to 3 working days) and to ten European countries. The minimum order is 39 €: in France, delivery to a pickup point is then free, and home delivery is free from 69 €.
