Indian Sloppy Joe Recipe (Khema Pav) » Indonesia Eats

Kulsum of Journey Kitchen is one of Indian bloggers that I have known quite some times through twitter. I admit that I like stalking her around. Her photography skill has been showing on how serious she is about food photography. About one month ago, I purposed to have her childhood memory food on Indonesia Eats. When she was agreeing, I couldn’t be happier.

For those who enjoy Sloppy Joe, you should try this Indian Sloppy Joe who made by Kulsum. Please welcome her scrumptious Khema Pav.
Hiding our smiles with little or no show of excitement, we exchanged glances – the type which only sisters understand the secret language of. Later, we would discuss feeling guilty for being happy about dad’s immediate business plan to Thailand. Dad’s travel plans meant late night movies, television soaps and parties with friends but most of all it meant dinners could be sandwiches, burgers and other quick bites. Within a week, we wanted to eat everything that dad wasn’t fond or approved of.

We sat glued to the T.V. watching the most dramatic Indian soaps whilst enjoying minced meat slathered with ketchup and hot sauce sandwiched between piping hot butter toasted dinner roll, aerated coke on the side. After midnight (when mom was off to bed) we watched the cheesiest American soaps with another round of kheema pav. Today, my husband and I take every opportunity to watch late night movies – foreign movies which he despises with all his heart or action sci-fi movies which I despise, kheema pauv is at least something we both can enjoy!

Kheema (minced meat) Pav (rolls) refers to spicy minced meat served in buttery rolls. And even though minced meat in this form is more of street food, the preparation of the meat itself is quite basic and cooked at home on regular basis. Generally served with roti, kheema is a regular entry in a non-vegetarian household. But when tucked in buns, slathered with sweet and spicy sauce, served with a side of chat masala wedges and tall glass of lassi, you have an ultimate movie night food!

Kheema Pav
Indian Sloppy Joe
Serves: 3-4

Ingredients

For Kheema
1/2 kg minced meat (mutton or beef)
1/2 cup peas, optional*
1/2 cup red onions, thinly sliced (about 2 onions)
1 cup tomatoes, finely cubed (about 3 tomatoes)
1/4 cup water**
4 tbsp ketchup***
1 tbsp ginger garlic and chilly paste****
1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2-1 tsp red chilly powder
1 tbsp coriander powder
3 tbsp chopped coriander*****
3 tbsp chopped mint*****
2-3 spring onions, chopped
2 tbsp olive oil or ghee
Salt to taste

For rolls
4 -5 dinner or burger rolls
Butter, optional

Condiments
Tabasco
Ketchup

Note
* Use par boiled peas and add them along with the meat.
** Unlike the American sloppy joe, these is not drenching in ketchup or quite as wet in texture but if you like you can increase the water upto ½ cups
** Depending on your preference of how wet and sweet you want your meat you could add or subtract a tbsp of ketchup
*** Make a paste of 2 cloves of garlic, thumb size ginger and 1 green chilly
**** I prefer to add the herbs while the meat is cooking to get most of the flavor from it. If you prefer you could use it as garnish as well.

Method

Heat oil in a wok and add the cinnamon stick and cumin seeds.

Once they start to splutter, add the ginger garlic and chilly paste.

Add the onions and let them cook till softened and lightly browned.

Add the turmeric, red chilly and coriander powder.

Tip in the tomatoes and let them cook till soft and pulpy. Add in the ketchup.

Once the paste is formed, add the meat, peas (if using), garam masala, mint and coriander leaves. Brown it for a minute and add the water. Cook till the meat is cooked through.

Add the spring onions.

To assemble
Toast the rolls with butter.

Add the kheema between the rolls and top it with few splashes of tabasco and ketchup if required.

Enjoy with chat masala wedges and sweet and salty lassi.

Variations

– You can add small cubes of potatoes along with the meat. It is then called Aloo mattar kheema
– If avocado are in season, make quick avocado ginger mash and spread it on the toast.
– Use leftovers as filling for samosas