Keema Parathas

Keema Parathas are unsuitable for some. We had a bit of a debate over who narrated this over a train journey or two. We had our egg curies dripping out of the tiffin boxes and the parathas getting a bit cold. It’s a miracle we did make it in time for the train. And that we found our reserved berth unoccupied. There was no space left for our heavy bags which we tried to shove into a few dirty rat-infested corners. We are travelling back in time for this particular recipe post. Did we have keema parathas then? No.

We were impoverished students living off the mercies of a few who had local guardians sending us a few treats once in a while. Or surprise “baltis” and cartons coming back in between from a few concerned parents.

So where is this keema paratha idea from? Some market visit, I can tell you. Probably up north. Don’t look at me. I visited so many markets, now I don’t remember their names. A simple question- why can’t we be more hardworking and look up a few chosen paratha wali galis. Visit them instead of dawdling away and trying to recreate something which is impossible to recreate at home.

I hear you. The middle path is not liked by many. You say, its neither here, nor there- kind of namby pamby?

Keema Parathas were not purchased

Alas my friend, my bike riding days in my 20s were not very lucrative. I gave more than I took and was an easy target for storytelling team members who needed a drink or two in the evenings. That heavy oily food, the dusty roads, the numerous drinks followed by the defeated air the next day is all too familiar.

I would get cartons of noodles to cook in my solitude and weep in misery at another failed attempt to make any difference. My credit card bills ran high, and I often forgot to pay my bills leading to multiple extra charges which came as surprise additions after waking up one fine day.

Working till the last minute before meetings, dozing off right before the time to catch a flight. Then, missing a couple of flights here and there. Later finding that I had donated a few organs of my body to this madness of working to achieve something.

Does this sound familiar to anybody? Ok, maybe not. 🙂

This is a very uninspiring story from a very stupid worker. This week I managed to break one glass plate and one glass jar. Also managed to get one cupboard fixed where the wooden doors had kind of got jammed after the seasonal changes and the monsoons. Wasn’t easy to get the carpenter in this busy season, I can tell you that!

So, here’s me choosing to work quietly in my kitchen today. Choosing to make the keema paratha in memory of many lessons learnt and quite a few missed. I missed important circulars regularly- so I may have missed a few more this week. It’s dementia some say- others blame it on the black box syndrome.

Keema Paratha for friends and family

What’s in your black box someone asked me. I searched a bit more and found some mutton keema. Are you referring to this- I’m not sure. I don’t recall making this mutton keema paratha earlier. I may have- but haven’t shared it with others. That makes it less memorable somehow.

What do you need for this keema paratha? We need some good dough and the keema filling. Is it suitable for people who are susceptible to heart diseases? No. Here’s me hesitating once again. The people I wish to share it with may have partial blockages to the heart. Can we then do it in a small, controlled quantity? Pondering and wondering again….

Should I eat some healthy vegetarian food for a while just to help with the health concerns?

Somebody is going to take a hard call. Isn’t me, I can tell you that. Would I be accused of attempted murder here if I know that this keema paratha maybe injurious to health?

If I have to think soooooooooooo much before a simple planning of a meal, there’s something wrong with making it such a big deal.

Keema Paratha got the approval somehow

Yet the child in me cries- says, it is a big deal. We used to have kochuri, jilipi (jalebi) and halwa for Mahalaya. None of them are super healthy. So anyways, we are sending this recipe out in memory of a few grandparents, uncles and aunts who spoilt us rotten when we were kids. Some of them are no longer with us.

But hopefully we have many others who are hale and hearty. They may be able to make this keema paratha some day and enjoy it as well.

It’s a little tricky one for those who haven’t made parathas or stuffed parathas before. I shared the puranpoli recipe earlier. So we are following it up with a savoury meaty spicy alternative. Make it or have it at your own risk- we have put enough statutory warnings before embarking upon this little act of unhealthy treason against doctor’s orders.

Our Sunday lunch is going to be a little on the heavier side. I am putting it mildly. We have many other reasons to fight for our lives but let’s drop the arms for this gathering at least.

Traditionally the meat is reserved for later- after the navratri festivities are over- around Navami or Dashami day. I’m sharing this in advance so that you can plan ahead just in case you wish to make this in your own kitchens. 🙂

Keema Paratha or just Keema side dish

The filling is best prepared in advance. I’m doing a small quantity for a small gathering. It doesn’t take that long. But preparing it for a larger crowd will need quite a bit of prepwork, manpower and armwork. I’m all for freshly prepared food but practicality demands a few other alternatives.

So, I’m sharing it with my own thoughts on why we should probably prepare the filling a day in advance if it’s planned for lunch or dinner. It keeps well in airtight containers and can be frozen as well so that it lasts for a week or two.

If you add some potatoes and peas to it- it can be a tasty side dish to go along with plain parathas as well. We call it keema matar or bhuna keema aloo. You want to use it as a topping for pizzas or pides? Perhaps as a filling inside pies? Sure that works too.

I’m choosing to make the stuffed parathas also keeping in mind an original wish of making it suitable for lunchboxes, travel, easy to consume, non-messy. Though it can be reheated, I must confess that it tastes best when prepared and served fresh from the tava (gridle).

It’s an additional step to stuff it and then roast it- so it’s definitely something that requires a cook or a chef on standby at the serving stations. Which is probably why we find it best consumed as a street food snack in many food courts or roadside stalls.

Killjoy Mother of Keema Parathas

Ok, I am chuckling at this thought of how much you will actually love to have it with your friends outside. Have a good time to visit the various pandals and then enjoy this food with some good adda (gossip/conversation).

But maybe, you are weary of the traffic and the maddening crowd and choose to be at home. Many of your friends may not even be with you. You may have to take care of people or pets who are unable to step out this weekend or the next. Or you may choose to spend it at home with a smaller group of friends or family members. So many possibilities exist.

The older me wishes that the younger me had done this instead of ordering a carton full of noodles or eating many stale bread sandwiches. I’m not judging her- she was really drained and exhausted. And couldn’t cook very well. Lived in a house as a tenant with a family who insisted that the food cooked be strictly vegetarian. We have all lived with different people and under different circumstances in life where there have been many restrictions imposed by others.

Sometimes, this can be a little activity to pick yourself up and create a memory of a shared meal or afternoon with others.

This is what I recommend for a small gathering or a potluck party at home. It’s best served with a bit of cooling raitha. So, I’m making some pumpkin and cucumber raitha to go along with it. But you can choose your own side dish.

Rolling out the dough

I tried rolling it out with simple multigrain atta dough first- just to see if the “healthier” version works. No maida, no oil or salt- it tasted ok. So- definitely you can try this with regular leftover chapati dough. But if you are trying to do it for a special occasion, I recommend going a bit easy- adding some oil, and maida if you have it.

I’m mixing the dough with a bit of oil and one egg for extra binding. Hey, what’s life without a bit of kitchen experiments to help your case of making a few parathas. Quite suitable for those who don’t have huge concerns on managing LPA or LDL markers or cholesterol issues.

You can choose to ignore these well thought out arguments, as I don’t have a great desire to live a very long life. My mother is chewing my brains on various issues while forgetting to take her own medicines.

Footnote

Pomelo tree with a fruit for free

I went looking for a pomelo tree

I found it wasn’t really for free

It costed some to bring and buy it

And a great deal more to get my husband to help plant it

He complained of aching knees and other pains

Planting trees somewhere with no gains?

But had no problem playing table tennis with kids

I realised there wasn’t any point in explaining

That I wanted to leave behind

Something for others who were really good and kind

Alas that tree may not have survived

I doubt it bore any fruits or gave anybody any joy

I tried leaving behind more in the last city

Now, I am crying for another curry tree.

Melting Lemon Drop 11.10.2026