Some days, dinner feels like too much effort after a long day’s work. Ordering takeout is an easy option, but it doesn’t always feel like a justifiable treat. Pasta with keema is my answer. I created this dish because I needed a quick, nutritious dinner that takes very little effort to pull together. It’s really simple, yet it tastes awesome.
April 8, 2023 – I made a 1 minute video on YouTube. Hope you’ll check it out.
Keema, pronounced ‘Qeema’, is an Urdu word for ground meat. North Indians love chicken keema, often bulking it up with peas, green peppers, potatoes, and more. Chicken cooks faster than lamb, beef, or turkey, so it makes for a quick, healthy dish with chapati. But it also pairs well with rice, lentils, and raita—and is a perfect addition to pasta.
For keema pasta, all you need to do is cook onions, green peppers, and ground chicken. Add some of your favorite sauce—chunky or fresh tomatoes work well. Spice it up with cumin, smoked paprika, basil, and red pepper flakes. Mix it into the boiled pasta.
Hearty and flavorful keema pasta that is ready in no time
Ingredients
- 300 gm gluten free rotini pasta
- 500 gm minced chicken
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 tsp chopped ginger and garlic
- 1 large green pepper, cut into 1" pieces
- 1 cup pasta sauce (or as required)
- 1/2 cup canned chunky tomatoes or two large tomatoes, chopped
- 2 tsp roasted cumin powder
- few leaves of fresh basil
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/2 (+) tsp smoked paprika
- Freshly ground black pepper
- salt to taste
- Fresh grated Parmesan
- 2 tbsp. oil
Instructions
- Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a heavy-bottomed pot and sauté onion. When it gets translucent, add ginger and garlic. Fry for a minute.
- Add tomatoes, turmeric powder, black pepper and smoked paprika. Cook until soft.
- Add minced chicken and salt, and while doing so try to break up the mince using a spoon.
- Once its fully cooked, add green pepper. Cook until the pepper gets tender.
- When the Keema is cooked, prepare pasta according to package instructions reserving 1/4 cup starchy cooking liquid.
- Strain pasta then return to the warm cooking pot.
- Toss keema into the pasta pot along with reserved cooking liquid and pasta sauce.
- Add cumin powder, pepper flakes, and basil.
- Check for seasoning and adjust accordingly before serving top it with some cheese and basil.
Kiri W.
Mmm, that does sound like a great topper for about anything 🙂
Jennifer
Simple or not – that looks tasty, Neetu! 🙂
Medeja
Oh, it sounds like a really yummy recipe!
Liz
My standby feed everyone in a hurry but can’t be bothered thinking too much dishes are always pasta, or occasionally omelettes – they can be quick too.
anne
From what I can see from here , it looks good ! Haven’t used chicken in my pasta for quiet sometime , maybe will use it instead of pork next time 😀
mireia badia
Seems like an easy dish and really yummy too!!!
Navaneetham Krishnan
I like the twist to how you have done the pairing of kheema with pasta. Yeh to this recipe and gonna try but with lamb since my other half does not eat chicken. Perfect for our lunch meal.
Kit @ i-lostinausten
Sounds great & love the recipe! And it does looks delicious to me! YUMMY! Have a nice day! 🙂
Asmita
Hi Balvinder,
This sounds divine! I love your recipe of kheema cooked with basil, chunky tomatoes and cumin powder. It must be just bursting with flavor. What’s great is that in one bite you get the veggies, carbs and protein. My kind of a dish. A one pot dish that serves all.
BTW, just had kheema matar for lunch today. Wish I had seen your post in the morning, would have cooked it this way with pasta. Will it out for next time for sure.
Happy Easter Balvinder! Have a great weekend!
Tina
I do like one dish meals and this looks great for a week night meal. Also, I do not have many recipes using ground chicken. Both of those are the reason that I am saving this recipe. Yum!
Also, nice to hear that the bake sale your daughter is participating is already underway! Also, glad my recipe could help. Enjoy the weekend Neetu!
peachkins
Your Keema Pasta sounds really delicious!
Blackswan
Italian + Indian! What a lovely combination, dear. Enjoy your weekend, great we’re connected!
Marina@Picnic at Marina
Very nice Balvinder! Lovely meal.
Baker Street
Keema pasta sounds like a fabulous idea Neetu! 🙂
Cucina49
I had to laugh about your comment about being lazy and still wanting a nice meal–I definitely have those nights. This pasta looks delicious!
Anonymous
Hi, this looks nice and I checked your raita link. It loos yummy too me.
I love beef and love it in pasta.
Malti
Hi Neetu, I add chicken pieces to the pasta and also make keema matar. After looking at this simple dish I have a reason to add keema to my pasta. Have you tried just with vegetarian keema?
Balvinder Ubi
I have added vegetarian keema (soya granules) to the vegetable pasta but never made on its own.
Torviewtoronto
delicious combination of flavours looks wonderful
natalia20041989
Yum,I love pasta dishes like this one, so flavourful ☺