Aloo Keema
Aloo keema is one of the most common everyday dishes in Pakistani kitchens, valued for its simplicity and low cost, using ground meat instead of more expensive whole cuts. The combination of meat and potatoes lets a larger family fill up on a smaller amount of meat, a practical consideration that shaped many traditional everyday recipes. The dish has significant regional variations — Punjab versions tend to be richer in tomatoes, while Sindh versions often add more cumin and ground coriander. It remains one of the first dishes young Pakistanis learn to cook, considered simple but satisfying, suited to busy weekday meals.
Potatoes cut into small cubes
The potatoes are cut into small, even cubes, so they cook just as quickly as the ground meat.
Fine ground meat, not chunks
The finely ground meat cooks quickly, soaking up the tomato and spice sauce in every strand.
Fresh garlic-ginger paste
A fresh garlic and ginger paste, pounded right before cooking, gives a much livelier flavor than dried powder.
A thick sauce, suited for rice
The sauce stays thick and concentrated, ideal for mixing with boiled rice or eaten with flatbread.
Ingredients 4 servings
- 500g ground beef
- 3 medium potatoes, small cubes
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 tbsp garlic-ginger paste
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 3 tbsp oil
- Fresh cilantro
How to make it
- 1Heat the oil in a pot and sauté the chopped onion for five minutes, until translucent.
- 2Add the garlic-ginger paste, cooking for a minute until fragrant.
- 3Add the chopped tomatoes, turmeric and chili powder, cooking for five minutes until a thick sauce forms.
- 4Add the ground meat, breaking up the pieces with a wooden spoon, and cook for eight minutes until browned.
- 5Add the cubed potatoes and a little water, cover the pot and simmer for fifteen minutes.
- 6Check that the potatoes are cooked through, simmering a few more minutes if needed.
- 7Sprinkle fresh chopped cilantro on top and serve hot with rice or flatbread.
Nutritional info
per serving (~350 g)
Estimated nutritional values.
Pairs perfectly with
