Description
Qeema Indian Curried Beef is a flavorful and aromatic Indian dish made with ground beef, infused with a blend of traditional spices like garam masala, cumin, coriander, and turmeric. Cooked in a skillet with ginger, garlic, and onions, this dish is simmered to perfection and served with refreshing mint yogurt and basmati rice or flatbreads. It’s a quick and hearty meal ideal for weeknights, offering a perfect balance of spice and creaminess.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3 tbsp vegetable or canola oil (or other neutral oil)
- 4 tsp ginger, finely minced
- 5 large garlic cloves, minced (about 4 tsp)
- 1 large onion, finely diced
- 500g / 1 lb beef mince (ground beef)
- 3/4 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper (or chili powder, omit if not spicy)
- 1 1/4 tsp garam masala
- 1 1/4 tsp cumin powder
- 1 1/4 tsp coriander powder
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 cup water
- 1 green cayenne pepper, deseeded and finely sliced
- Cilantro/coriander leaves for garnish
Mint Yogurt
- 3/4 cup plain yogurt
- 1/2 cup lightly packed mint leaves
- 1/4 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet over high heat. Add the minced ginger and garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until golden—be careful not to burn them! Then add the diced onion and cook for 1 minute until it starts turning translucent.
- Cook Beef and Spices: Add the ground beef to the skillet. Break it up as it cooks and continue until the beef changes color from pink to light brown. Add the salt, cayenne pepper, garam masala, cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, and the green cayenne pepper slices. Cook everything together for 2 minutes to allow the spices to bloom and develop flavor.
- Simmer: Pour in 1 cup of water and stir well to combine. Cover the skillet with a lid or a baking tray, reduce the heat to medium, and let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes. During this time, most of the water should evaporate, and the flavors will intensify.
- Prepare Mint Yogurt: While the beef simmers, blend or finely chop the mint leaves and mix them into the plain yogurt with 1/4 tsp salt. This will provide a cooling complement to the spicy beef dish.
- Serve: Once the beef curry is ready, serve it hot over basmati or plain white rice. Garnish with fresh cilantro/coriander leaves and extra sliced green chili if desired. Accompany the dish with the prepared mint yogurt and optionally serve with naan, flatbreads, or frozen roti for a complete meal.
Notes
- Note 1: Garam masala is a blend of ground spices common in Indian cooking, typically including cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and more. Using fresh or good-quality garam masala enhances the flavor notably.
- If you prefer a milder flavor, omit the cayenne pepper or substitute with paprika for color without the heat.
- Frozen roti or store-bought naan can be used for a quick and convenient bread option to serve alongside.
- This dish is easily adaptable to different ground meats, but beef is traditional for Qeema.
