Indian Beef Mince Curry with Peas Recipe – Kheema Mattar Masala
This beef mince curry is an Indian classic made with peas. Very similar to a chili with mincemeat and beans but here we use frozen peas instead. This simple, easy and effortless mincemeat recipe is made using popular curry powder and garam masala which means you do not need a full stocked Indian Pantry.
Beef Mince Curry with Peas – Kheema Mattar Masala.
One of my absolute favorite things as a kid was mincemeat and my mom never failed to create wonderful Indian as well as non-Indian dishes for us such as this beef mince curry.
If you love Indian food and have been to an Indian restaurant you probably saw this dish on the menu often under the name Kheema Mattar Masala. Kheem is mincemeat”, ‘mattar’ means green peas” and masala meaning spice”. So basically this is a mincemeat with peas cooked in Indian spices.
To make this recipe authentic would mean to add all spices individually. I want to make this recipe accessible to my friends who love Indian food so instead of using my Indian spice rack I chose to use what is most popularly found to everyone in most supermarkets Curry Powder and Garam Masala. Now I spoke at length about what I think is the right blend for garam masala, what you should look for when buying garam masala and I have even given you my recipe for homemade garam masala spice mix. Soon I will give you my recipe for homemade curry powder spice mix and I think you will love it.
Indian Beef Mince Curry with Peas aka Kheema Mattar Masala.
Let’s talk ingredients and substitutes for this beef mince curry with peas aka kheema mattar masala (Save/Pin for later)
- Beef mince – Ideally you can use any mincemeat. I have tried it with turkey, lamb, and chicken as well. They all taste delicious but my favorite is still the beef mince, maybe because I grew up eating beef mince curry. If you do use chicken I highly recommend using chicken thigh mincemeat or cooking it for much less time.
- Onion – I use red onion because I like the little sweetness it adds when caramelized. But you can use any onion and it will taste just fine
- Ginger/garlic – I highly recommend mincing or grating these as it really blends well in the sauce plus no one likes to bite into a piece of ginger or garlic.
- Curry Powder – In previous recipes we’ve discussed this at length. There are many good brands that have a nice blend of curry powder. Look for one that suits your level of spice. They do come in mild, spicy and hot!.
- Paprika – I love adding sweet paprika when I cannot add cayenne or hot paprika because my kids are small. It really gives the curry a nice rich color. If you love spicy food go ahead and add cayenne or chilly powder and you will love it.
- Fenugreek powder – this is a dried herb with a slightly bitter taste and is not commonly found so don’t worry too much and feel free to avoid it. It’s a lovely herb that complements meat dishes really well.
Today I have served this mince meat curry with peas (kheema mattar masala) with my Spiced Cilantro Potatoes and homemade fresh chapati. It’s one of our favorite meals.
Indian Beef Mice Curry with Peas aka Kheema Mattar Masala.
Recipe Indian Beef Mince Curry with Peas – Kheema Mattar Masala (Save/Pin)
Tools
Ingredients
- Mince beef – 500 grams (1 lbs)
- Frozen peas – 1 cups
- Cooking oil – 2 tbsp
- Red onion – 1 medium (1 cup chopped)
- Garlic – 1 tsp minced
- Ginger – 1 tsp grated
- Tomatoes – 1 large – (1 cup chopped)
- Bay leaves – 2 large
- Curry powder – 1 tbsp
- Sweet paprika – 1 tsp (sweet or hot)
- Garam masala – 1/2 tsp
- Fenugreek powder – 1/2 tsp (optional)
- Lemon juice – 1 tbsp
- Cilantro or parsley – 1 cup chopped
Method
Prepare
- Chop onions fine.
- Grate the ginger and mince the garlic.
- Add one cup water to the minced beef
Saute
- Saute onion in the oil over medium heat for two minutes until translucent.
- Add garlic, ginger and bay leave – Saute another minute or two.
- Add curry powder, paprika, fenugreek powder and tomatoes – saute well for 2 to 3 mins on low until fragrant and the oil separates from the mixture.
- Next, add the beef mince and frozen peas and stir well for 2 to 3 minutes
- Season with salt and pepper
- Add half the fresh herbs and bring to a boil.
- Lower the heat and simmer covered for 15 minutes on medium low until you see the oil separates from the mince.
- Lastly, add lemon juice.
- Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Check consistency – add water if you need more gravy or cook on medium until excess water is evaporated.
- Enjoy!
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Beef Mince Curry with Peas aka Kheema Mattar Masala.
Indian Beef Mince Curry aka Kheema Mattar Masala
Ingredients
- 500 grams Minced beef
- 1 cup Frozen peas
- 2 tbsp Cooking oil
- 1 Red onion chopped
- 1 tsp Garlic minced
- 1 tsp Ginger grated
- 1 Tomatoes large, chopped
- 2 Bay leaves large
- 1 tbsp Curry powder
- 1 tsp Sweet paprika sweet or hot
- 1/2 tsp Garam masala (my homemade recipe)
- 1/2 tsp Fenugreek powder optional
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice
- 1 cup Cilantro or parsley chopped
Instructions
Prepare
- Chop onions fine.
- Grate the ginger and mince the garlic.
- Add one cup water to the minced beef
Saute
- Saute onion in the oil over medium heat for two minutes until translucent.
- Add garlic, ginger and bay leave - Saute another minute or two.
- Add curry powder, paprika, fenugreek powder and tomatoes - saute well for 2 to 3 mins on low until fragrant and the oil separates from the mixture.
- Next, add the beef mince and frozen peas - stir well for 2 to 3 minutes
- Season with salt and pepper
- Add half the fresh herbs and bring to a boil.
- Lower the heat and simmer covered for 15 minutes on medium low until you see the oil separates from the mince.
- Lastly, add lemon juice.
- Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Check consistency - add water if you need more gravy or cook on medium until excess water is evaporated.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Do you love Indian Food?
Well then you must check out some of my other Indian recipes from slow cooked curries to quick and easy as well as Indian Biryani and desserts
A Collection of Modern Indian Recipes by Veena Azmanov
I love a keema, nicely gently spiced and warming in this weather too! Great not to need an overflowing spice shelf to make it too!
Thank you Helen. Yeah this does not need a full stacked Indian pantry – it’s really simple yet very packed with flavor.
I’d certainly like to become better acquainted with Indian recipes. We love spicy food so curries would be right up our alley. And I love making homemade spice combinations. I’m going to have to try yours. Oh!! And I’d have to have some of our homemade flatbread to go along with this.
You will love Indian Food Marisa. Everybody things Indian food is really spicy but it doesn’t have to be. My kids are 8 and 10 years old and they can eat my Indian food.
I love that this is so approachable! I have never heard of using mince meat in a curry but I’m so happy to discover that you can. I want to make your homemade garam masala recipe too!
Thanks Denise. Actually mince meat is very common in India and there are tons of good delicious mince meat recipes – I plan to share a few soon. You will love my homemade garam masala.
Oh this is great! And thank you for sharing your homemade gram masala, too! I have some that’s store bought but I love making my own spice mixtures. Will have to make it to try this dish!
You are very welcome Tracy. I have a soft spot when it comes to spice mixes. I hope you try this one you will never buy store bought again
Veena – my mouth is watering over this dish. As a yank, I can imagine it over a bed of rice or noodles, or scooping it up with some warm naan — probably none of those things are actually what you’d serve it with, but that’s immediately where my brain goes.
Thank you Lisa. I do love this with crusty baguette bread.. Nothing beats the sauce all soaked in that bread. But the others work just as well. Steamed rice is one fav and easiest to accomplish for me.
Curries are one of my favorites. The accompaniments you chose sound perfect for a satisfying meal.
Oh you can have with any bread or rice.. Indian chapati, roti or naan are my kids favorite and I love it over steamed rice.
My husband would for sure love this curry dish! Yum!
Thanks Emily! I hope you make it for him.
Loving the sound of this flavourful dish. After shovelling all the snow today…this would be the perfect dinner for sure. I love Indian food!! Delicious and so comforting.
Thanks Gloria. Oh this sure would be a wonderful bowl of comfort with some crusty bread..
I love the spices in this dish! I’ve never actually had fenugreek powder — I don’t think I’ve even seen it! Good to know it can be omitted. But now I’m curious to try it.
Fenugreek is dried leaves very similar to how we get dried mint or basil. Can be found mostly in Asian and Indian stores. It can easily be omitted too.
This looks delicious Veena! We love Indian food and though we’ve tried cooking it at home before, it’s not the same (i.e. we’re not that good at it LOL!). I think we’ll have tremendous success with your recipe though. Apart from 1 or 2 ingredients I think we have everything else. Can’t wait to try!
Thanks Jolina.. I think you will love my recipes. They are made with my friend’s limited stocked pantry (not my) in mind and I know they have limited Indian spices so this works for them. Let me know if you try it. Would love to know what you think.
Love these flavors!
Thanks Mary
This sounds so flavorful! I love Indian spices and peas are one of my fave veggies!
Thanks Jenn.. It really is packed with flavors.
I would so dive into this! It sort of reminds me of Chili, but different! I love to have a bowl of it!
Thanks Deanna. It’s so easy to make too!
I absolutely love curry and will eat it anyway I can get it. I love that you made your own spice mix and I”m sure I could use that in all kinds of curry dishes!
Thank you Karen. We love curry too – my kids really enjoy it .
This reminds me of Keema, a family favourite. But I prefer curries as they’re healthier and tastier. Pinning for later!
Thank you Diana. I do prefer curries and this is definitely much healthier than most curries. NO ghee or butter.