Jump to the Methi Qeema with Matar Recipe

For the longest time my daughters would insist they don’t like qeema. I try not to take this personally but for someone who grew up on Aaloo Qeema and Daal this was hard to stomach. Then one day we were at a friends house for brunch and she had made a chicken qeema and lo and behold they were gobbling it up. Naturally I smiled and was all like “look at you,that’s great!” but inwardly I had that ugly moment that every mom has had. That “what’s wrong with my qeema” moment.

To this day I am not sure what the answer to that question is – I will stick to my guns on my making of a really good Aaloo Qeema as well as a good Chicken Karahi Qeema. However, I have discovered there is something about the quick magic of Methi Qeema that my kids really like. 

Now before you get carried away and imagine my children consuming prodigious amounts of Methi Qeema in neat little “niwalas” with perfect little phulkas let me take this opportunity to clarify something. They have yet to say “mama can you please make methi qeema”. However if I mix this into their rice, stuff it into a paratha or feed it to them with roti or sheermal they will consume decent amounts of it without complaint. And that folks is a parenting win. 

You will see that I use Kasuri Methi not fresh in this recipe. That is largely because I always have kasuri methi and partially because I find that fresh methi will occasionally have a bitter after taste. You are welcome to use either. If you are using fresh methi then I’d recommend around 1/2 cup or so. Adding spinach to this would also be yummy.

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Chicken Methi Qeema with Peas

Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken qeema (ground chicken)
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 tbsp ginger
• 1/2 tbsp garlic
• 3/4-1 tsp salt
• 3/4-1 tsp red chilli powder
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• 1/2 tsp coriander powder
• 3/4 tsp garam masala
• 1/2 cup peas
• 1/3 cup yogurt, whipped and at room temp
• 2-3 tbsp kasuri methi (can use a handful of fresh chopped)
• chopped green chillies to taste
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Instructions

1. Heat a wide bottomed pan - a karachi or wok is best - and add a lug of cooking oil

2. When it shimmers (i.e. is hot) add your onion and cook till the edges are golden brown

3. Then add the ginger and garlic pastes, saute for a quick minute

4. Now in go the salt, red chilli powder, turmeric, and coriander powder 

5. Give them a quick whirl and add the ground chicken

6. Mix energetically on medium high heat until the chicken looks cooked (keep breaking up chunks)

7. Now add the peas

8. Saute for another 5-7 minutes until it starts to take on a darker hue. This is key because it will give your qeema better flavour.

9. Now turn the heat down, add the yogurt and methi. Mix well.

10. Cook on low for about 5 minutes, then add your garam masala and green chillies

11. Mix, taste, adjust seasoning. 

12. Top with chopped cilantro and a squeeze of lemon (optional)