Let’s admit it: there’s something about dhaba food that keeps drawing us back. No matter how many fancy meals we’ve enjoyed at restaurants, the authentic desi flavours we get to savour at a dhaba are simply unmatched. One such popular dish you’ll often find on a dhaba’s menu is keema – a minced meat dish cooked in a pool of flavorful spices and served with naan or roti. However, it’s not always feasible to visit a dhaba whenever we crave that dhaba-style keema. So, what can we do? We can easily make it at home. Don’t worry; recreating dhaba-style keema at home is not difficult. All you need is some patience and a few easy tips that’ll help you make it perfectly every time. Check them out below:
Also Read: Indian Cooking Tips: How To Make Mutton Keema Samosa At Home
Indian Cooking Tips: Here Are 5 Easy Tips to Make Dhaba-Style Keema at Home:
1. Marinate the meat well:
Just like any non-vegetarian dish, marination plays a key role in bringing out the flavours of keema as well. Try to get your hands on fresh minced meat and spend a considerable amount of time marinating it. Use a mix of dahi, ginger-garlic paste, and spices for this purpose. Allow the marinated keema to rest for a few minutes before you cook it; this allows all the flavours to be fully absorbed into it.
2. Use fresh masalas:
Wondering what makes dhaba-style keema taste so flavorful? Well, the secret lies in the masalas they use. Dhabas are known for using high-quality, fresh masalas, which give their dishes a unique flavour. While you can still opt for readymade ones, they won’t help you recreate the authentic dhaba-style keema. So, it’s best to make them at home from scratch.
3. Don’t forget to add tomatoes:
Tomatoes are a key ingredient in several Indian recipes, including keema. They add a tangy kick of flavour to the dish and make it taste a lot better. Just like masalas, you must make fresh tomato puree at home. Sure, store-bought tomato purees are convenient, but when it comes to recreating dhaba flavours, they won’t really satisfy your taste buds.
Also Read: Mutton Ka Hara Keema Recipe: An Easy Mutton Keema For Mid-Week Indulgence
4. Add cashew paste:
If you want to add extra richness to your keema, consider adding some cashew paste to it. Trust us, this trick will instantly enhance its flavour by several notches, and it’ll become your very own secret ingredient. If you do not have access to cashews, you can simply add some cream to the keema during the cooking process.
5. Allow it to simmer:
For the flavours to come alive, you must allow the keema to simmer properly. If you rush this process, be ready to be disappointed, as your keema will lack flavour. We understand it can be quite difficult to resist the urge to indulge in this dish, but having some patience at this stage will make the result worth the wait.
Recreating dhaba-style keema at home is not as difficult as it seems. Just follow these easy tips to enjoy authentic flavours from the comfort of your home. Do let us know how they worked for you in the comments below. Meanwhile, here’s a yummy dhaba-style keema recipe for you to try.