Easy Keema Macaroni Recipe (Pakistani-Style)
A comforting family dinner with seasoned minced meat, tender elbow macaroni and simple pantry spices.
This easy Pakistani-style keema macaroni, also spelled qeema macaroni, combines seasoned minced meat with tender elbow pasta for a comforting family dinner.
Why You’ll Love This Keema Macaroni
It uses familiar pantry spices and simple ingredients to turn macaroni and keema into a filling one-pan family meal. A little ketchup adds gentle tang and brings the sauce together without making the pasta overly sweet.
Easy Keema Macaroni
Ingredients
- 500 g keema (minced meat)
- 500 g elbow macaroni
- ½ cup oil, or as needed
- 1 onion, sliced
- ½ tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
- 1 tbsp coriander powder
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp turmeric
- Red chili powder, to taste
- Salt, to taste
- 1 chicken cube
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- Water, as needed
Instructions
- Brown the onion: Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the sliced onion and sauté briefly. Add the cumin seeds and continue cooking until the onion turns golden brown.
- Fry the aromatics: Add the ginger-garlic paste and fry for 30–60 seconds. Add 1 tablespoon water to prevent sticking.
- Cook the keema: Add the keema and cook thoroughly, breaking it apart as it cooks.
- Add the spices: Add the coriander powder, cumin powder, black pepper, turmeric, red chili powder, salt and chicken cube. Mix well.
- Finish the keema mixture: Stir in the ketchup. Continue cooking until the keema is completely cooked. Add small amounts of water only when needed so it does not stick or become too dry.
- Cook the macaroni: Bring a separate pot of water to a boil. Cook the macaroni according to the package directions, then drain it well.
- Combine and serve: Add the drained macaroni to the cooked keema. Mix until everything is evenly combined and serve warm.
Recipe Tips
- Add water to the keema only a little at a time so the finished macaroni does not become watery.
- Break up the keema as it cooks so it mixes evenly through the pasta.
- Drain the macaroni well before combining it with the keema.
- Taste before adding extra salt because the chicken cube already contains seasoning.
Serving Suggestion
Serve the keema macaroni warm on its own or with a simple cucumber salad for an easy family dinner.
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