Mock Keema

September 16, 2009 14 Comments

This cooking project has been really incredible. Largely, because giving away food has made me so many friends! Not just for the obvious reasons, but because I really think good food has a way of just bringing people together..people with varied interests and people with varied backgrounds.

I only started to give away food because I knew I'd have a ton to spare creating a crock pot cookbook, and I didn't want any of it to go to waste. What I've learned is that I've also been able to help feed those of you that normally are too busy to eat. Or too busy to even think about eating healthy...I've also been able to help some of you save some time as you scramble right now in this down economy. I've also been able to help a lot of us get back to our Desi roots in an easy and accessible way.

Many of you ask how I started cooking like this? (i.e. Indian in a crock pot). My mom taught me when I was a college student. I took her recipes on hand-written index cards with me to college...then to Washington D.C. as an aide on Capitol Hill...then as a graduate fellow at the East West Center in Hawaii and then to Chicago as a TV reporter/wife and mom.

I've been cooking this way for a long long time. But, this book has helped me to think beyond the original recipes. My publisher asked me to come up with 45 recipes. I was really nervous at first. Of course all he heard from me was, "Of course! That's easy!"

I actually sweated it out for days. Even Sandeep wondered how I'd come up with so many. But, I did it. By thinking outside the box and along with the traditional and tried tapping into my creative side.

That's what mock Keema is all about. I've always loved the idea of Keema. After all ground lamb cooked in grease and Indian spices is for South Asians total comfort food. But, I'm not a big meat eater and I wondered how to make it a recipe that all of us could eat. Granted, my book will have traditional Keema in it, but it will also have a recipe for mock Keema.

If you want me to send you a copy of this recipe, just comment on this post and I will. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. And I hope it helps you to also think outside the box (or masala daba) from time to time...

-Anupy




14 Responses

Shruthi
Shruthi

September 17, 2009

Oh, and your keema — loved the taste and texture of the mock vegetarian version, eventhough I am one who tends to prefer real meat (and lamb is my favorite). It's a great source of protein (which I need after a long training run) but easier on the stomach than lamb, especially when I have to eat dinner late after a run and don't have much time to digest before going to bed. I'm sure your lamb version will be just as tastey. Can't wait to try it! Shruthi

Anonymous
Anonymous

September 23, 2009

Anupy sorry it has taken me so long to post, I had one hectic weekend and spent monday and tuesday in bed not feeling well. But I have recovered!!

The mock keema was fantastic!! I still can't believe it isn't real meat. I used the mock keema to stuff mushroom caps and I treated it as an hor d'oeurve. I tore the stems out of buttom mushrooms and stuffed the cap full of keema baked it for 15 minutes (I think) on 350 degrees and they were fabulous little munchies.

With the Aloo Gobi I again ate it cold as a salad. I put it with some spinach leaves and ate it as it was. This time the Aloo Gobi was a little spicier than I previously remembered. I enjoyed it none the less. As a side to my little salad I ate the dried dal warm. Another round of fabulous dishes.

Meg E. Cox
Meg E. Cox

September 17, 2009

Warming up helping #2 of mock keema #2. More flavor; more kick. I'm sold!

Shruthi
Shruthi

September 17, 2009

I am one of those lucky enough to be one of Anupy's tasters. Am training for a marathon and want to eat healthy but have no time to cook. I had been eating out all the time and not feeling so great. The last time this happened, I started eating home cooked food (mostly Indian) and felt better. Even though I knew this is what I should do, I couldn't find the time. Anupy — thank you so much for feeding me healthy food! It will get me through the Chicago Marathon. Once that is over, I vow to start making your recipes in the crock pot.
Shruthi

Jared
Jared

September 17, 2009

Can't wait to try this dish as well.

Hallie Palladino
Hallie Palladino

September 17, 2009

We loved the Mock Keema, my husband couldn't believe it wasn't meat. This has changed our preconceptions about meat substitutes. The balance of flavors was perfection. This is something I will certainly make at home!

Indian As Apple Pie
Indian As Apple Pie

September 17, 2009

Thanks to all of you for your feedback and interest in the recipe. The anal perfectionist that I am, I want to redo the recipe to be absolutely sure I have it just right. Hallie..thank you for your feedback. You made me realize that cooking the peas for even a 1/2 hour isn't needed. I'm going to change the recipe to just add warmed peas in at the end! And Meg your comments to my email make me want to be sure to do my research on the meat substitute I used. Marilee – Janet – Saleema welcome to the site! Sofie…you mom better make this one. Tell her my halwa recipe will be in my next newspaper article. It's a big one so I don't want to give it away yet. Jared I'm so glad you have a big appetite!!:) And you guys thought you want to write a cookbook? Yeesh!

Anonymous
Anonymous

September 16, 2009

I want to try all dishes. Your Pro

Janet
Janet

September 16, 2009

I would love a copy of your mock keema. Thank you! Janet

Marilee Burks
Marilee Burks

September 17, 2009

Hi, I'd love the recipe, can't wait to try it! Marilee in Portland, Oregon

Hallie Palladino
Hallie Palladino

September 16, 2009

It was so wonderful to meet you today and thank you so much for sharing your food. I made the cucumber and onion salad you suggested and now I'm just counting down the minutes until dinner time.

Meg E. Cox
Meg E. Cox

September 16, 2009

Mock keema passes the ultimate taste test: my children scarfed it down and asked for seconds. I had to cut them off so we could leave some for my husband to have when he gets home from work.

We were just wondering the meat substitute is. It has small fibers in it that look like bits of hair before you realize they're part of the food.

I'll try the second version for lunch tomorrow, when my children will be at school so I can have seconds if I want.

(Hallie: Thanks for the salad. It was a perfect accompaniment.)

Sofia
Sofia

September 16, 2009

Anupy! Can't wait to try it, send it my way, friend! See you, Sofie

Saleema
Saleema

September 16, 2009

Yes please. I would like to try the keema recipe!

Saleema

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