Kheema or minced meat can be made with any meat you prefer. It is extremely versatile and just changing the masala when you cook it can result in a great new taste each time. While individual meats taste great on their own when made into Kheema, my favorite thing to do is to combine meats and mince them. I have a meat mincer at home which allows me to buy the best (non-fatty) cuts of meat and mince them myself. This allows me to ensure good quality every time. Some meat combinations that taste really good when made into Kheema (even though they may not be traditionally Indian) are Pork and Veal, Pork and Beef, Pork and Chicken....
Here is a list of some of my tried and tested and favorite Kheema recipes. Feel free to improvise and do meat combinations. Come back and tell me how you go!
Crispy, flaky parcels of puff pastry filled with spicy minced meat! I have many a happy memory of sitting in one of Mumbai's numerous Parsi cafés with a cup of
Masala Chai (spiced tea) and a plate of Pattice! Don't let the long list of ingredients intimidate you. Take my word for it, Kheema Pattice are simple and easy to make and this recipe turns out a snack that you will love.
Made Masala Kheema (spicy minced meat) and got some left over? Make Kheema Parathas then. It's meat and bread all rolled into one! Serve Kheema Parathas with your favorite
pickle and a bowl of chilled yogurt!
Spicy Masala Kheema tastes delicious with
Chapatis (Indian flatbread) or
Parathas (pan fried Indian flatbread).
I made the Kheema Palak in this recipe, using a mixture of equal parts of pork and veal minced together. The spinach in it adds a lovely earthy flavor!
Wholesome and delicious are the two words to best describe this very easy-to-make dish. It combines the goodness of red meat, lentils, rice and vegetables all into one dish. Talk about convenient! Serve Kheema Ki Khichdi with
Raita.
I've got to say, I don't like karela (bitter melon/ gourd). This dish however, makes for an unusual combination that tastes really good! The bitterness of the karela is removed (well almost) with a 'special treatment'!
I remember the first time my Mom cooked this dish and how intrigued I was by it! I was all of 11 years old! There is also a purely vegetarian version of it if you so prefer. Both are equally delicious!
My favorite place to eat Mughlai Paratha is at Bade Mian (a roadside eatery) in Mumbai's Colaba. The last time I visited was late at night with group of friends. We made a hearty meal of this wholesome and tasty Mughlai-style (north Indian) stuffed bread! Serve Mughlai Paratha with your favorite
chutney.
