Beef Keema
Spiced beef mince cooked with onion, tomato, ginger and garam masala, finished with peas. Four servings in 40 minutes.
Making Beef Keema
Tap a step to highlight it, or turn on Cook Mode for large type and step-by-step focus.
-
Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook for 10 minutes, stirring, until deep golden.
-
Add the garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander and turmeric and cook for 1 minute.
-
Add the tomatoes and salt and cook for 5 minutes, until the mixture turns to a paste and the oil begins to separate.
-
Add the mince and cook for 8 minutes, breaking it up. Pour in the water, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
-
Stir in the peas and garam masala and cook uncovered for 3 minutes.
Small Things That Help
- Brown the onions slowly and stir often so they colour without burning.
- If the keema looks dry, add a splash of water a spoonful at a time.
- Garam masala goes in last because its aroma fades with long cooking.
Swaps and Variations
- A quarter-teaspoon of ground ginger per tablespoon of fresh is the standard ratio if you are working from the spice rack rather than a fresh root.
- An eighth of a teaspoon of garlic powder per clove is the usual stand-in when you are out of fresh garlic — it will not caramelise the same way, but it carries the flavour.
What Goes With Beef Keema
- Steamed rice
- Warm flatbread
- Plain yogurt
- Lime pickle
Storing & Reheating Beef Keema
Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days and the flavour deepens overnight. Freezes for up to 3 months. Reheat until steaming throughout.
Questions About Beef Keema
How long does Beef Keema take to make?
About 40 minutes in total — 10 minutes of preparation and 30 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 4.
What are the key tips for making Beef Keema?
Brown the onions slowly and stir often so they colour without burning. If the keema looks dry, add a splash of water a spoonful at a time. Garam masala goes in last because its aroma fades with long cooking.
What should I serve with Beef Keema?
Steamed rice; Warm flatbread; Plain yogurt; Lime pickle.
Can Beef Keema be made ahead or frozen?
Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days and the flavour deepens overnight. Freezes for up to 3 months. Reheat until steaming throughout.
Is Beef Keema suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is dairy-free, gluten-free, low-carb and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Beef Keema?
About 410 kcal per serving, with 28 g protein, 16 g carbohydrate and 26 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Beef Keema Nutrition
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
Cooked this? Leave a review
Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.