Venison Keema Curry (Print version)

Bold venison curry with aromatic spices, tender ground meat, and peas. Ready in just 1 hour for a warming dinner.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meat

01 - 1.1 lb ground venison

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 inch piece ginger, grated
05 - 2 medium tomatoes, diced
06 - 1 green chili, finely chopped
07 - 3.5 oz frozen peas

→ Spices

08 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil
09 - 1 tsp cumin seeds
10 - 2 tsp ground coriander
11 - 1 tsp ground cumin
12 - 1 tsp garam masala
13 - 0.5 tsp ground turmeric
14 - 0.5 tsp chili powder
15 - 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
16 - 1 bay leaf
17 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Liquids

18 - 0.85 cup water or beef stock

→ Garnish

19 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
20 - Lemon wedges

# How to Make:

01 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add cumin seeds and bay leaf, sautéing until fragrant, approximately 1 minute.
02 - Add chopped onion, minced garlic, and grated ginger to the skillet. Cook until the onion achieves a golden brown color, approximately 8 minutes.
03 - Stir in green chili and diced tomatoes. Cook until the tomatoes soften and oil begins to separate from the mixture, approximately 5 minutes.
04 - Add ground venison to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spatula. Cook until the meat is browned throughout, approximately 7 minutes.
05 - Sprinkle ground coriander, ground cumin, turmeric, chili powder, cinnamon, and salt over the meat. Stir thoroughly to distribute spices evenly.
06 - Pour water or beef stock into the skillet. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
07 - Add peas and garam masala to the curry. Cook uncovered for 5 to 7 minutes until the curry reaches desired thickness.
08 - Taste the curry and adjust salt or spices as needed to achieve balanced flavor.
09 - Transfer the curry to serving bowls and garnish with fresh cilantro and lemon wedges. Serve immediately with basmati rice, naan, or roti.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The venison stays tender and soaks up every bit of spice without drying out.
  • It fills the house with the kind of smell that makes everyone wander into the kitchen asking when dinner will be ready.
  • You can make it as mild or as fiery as you want just by adjusting the chili.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day, rolled into warm flatbread with a squeeze of lemon.
02 -
  • Do not skip browning the onions properly, that caramelization is where the sweetness and depth come from.
  • Add the garam masala at the end, not the beginning, or its delicate flavor will cook off and taste flat.
  • If the curry looks too dry, add a splash more stock or water, it should be saucy but not soupy.
03 -
  • Toast your whole spices like cumin seeds in a dry pan before grinding them yourself, the difference in flavor is remarkable.
  • Let the curry rest off the heat for five minutes before serving, it thickens up and the flavors settle beautifully.
  • Always taste before serving and adjust, sometimes it needs just a pinch more salt or a squeeze of lemon to come alive.
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