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Keema Matar

Ground lamb simmered with green peas in a warm garam-masala gravy — a hearty Mughlai-style curry that eats like a full meal.

⏱ 15 minPrep time
🔥 35 minCook time
🍽 4Servings
🏷 DinnerCategory
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Keema matar traces its roots to the Mughal kitchens of North India, where minced meat was simmered slowly with aromatics and finished with sweet green peas. It is a beloved home-cooked curry, equally at home spooned over rice, piled onto naan, or stuffed into samosas and parathas. Ground lamb is the classic choice, though many families make it with beef or chicken.

A meaty, warming one-pot

The keema is finely textured and rich, cooked until it absorbs the onion-tomato masala completely, with green peas adding little bursts of sweetness. Warm garam masala and a spoonful of yogurt give the gravy a mellow, rounded depth, while green chilies keep things lively. It is hearty, satisfying food that comes together in under an hour. Serve it with warm naan and a simple salad, or pile it into a paratha for the best stuffed bread of your life. The leftovers are even better the next day, once the spices have settled into the meat.

Craving more? Explore all North Indian Kitchen recipes.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Heat the oil in a heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground lamb and cook, breaking it up, until browned and no longer pink, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
  2. In the same pot, cook the onion until golden, about 6 minutes. Add the ginger-garlic paste and green chilies and cook for 1 minute.
  3. Add the tomato puree, turmeric, ground coriander, cumin, and salt. Simmer for 6 minutes, until the masala thickens.
  4. Return the lamb to the pot and add the yogurt, a spoonful at a time, stirring constantly.
  5. Add 1/2 cup of warm water, cover, and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes.
  6. Stir in the peas and garam masala and cook uncovered for 5 more minutes, until the peas are tender and the gravy is thick. Finish with cilantro and serve hot with naan or rice.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Brown the meat well and let its own fat do the work before adding the aromatics. Splash in a little water if the keema looks dry before the peas are tender.

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Recipe details

Prep15 min
Cook35 min
Servings4
CategoryDinner
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →