Qeema Mutter (Curried Minced Beef with Peas)

One of my favorite recipes of my mother is Qeema Mutter. Whenever she used to make it I ended up eating most of it. This usually led to a scolding session by her, but then I would praise the dish so much she wouldn’t say a word after that.

1. Heat oil in a nonstick pan and fry onion. Add salt, red chili powder, and ginger and garlic paste. Cook until the water from the onion dries.

   Now add tomatoes, cumin, allspice, turmeric and coriander powder. Again cook until the water from the tomatoes dries.

   Add the minced beef and cook, covered, for 20 minutes. If using fresh peas, add them toward the end of the cooking time.

   Uncover the lid and add the green chilies, coriander and, if using, frozen peas. If desired, season with lemon juice or garnish each plate with a wedge of lemon for squeezing.