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    Home » Recipes » Cooking Style » One Pot Meals

    Posted on: Apr 21, 2021 · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Keema Tacos (gluten-free, dairy-free option)

    8 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    Turkey Keema Tacos are prepared with ground turkey sauteed with Indian flavors. Fill them up in a taco and top with a cilantro-mint chili sauce.

    Turkey Keema goes perfectly well with naan, roti, and rice, but sometimes I like switching things up. These Keema Tacos are a spin on traditional Beef Tacos. 

    What is Keema?

    Keema is essentially minced meat. It is ground meat that can be made from beef, chicken, turkey, pork, or lamb. Keema is cooked with your basic Indian masala - ginger, garlic, green chilies, onion, and tomato, along with aromatic desi spices. 

    You'll often find keema in a gravy form, however for these tacos, I didn't add too much water for a dry consistency.

    Can I use another meat besides turkey?

    Sure! You can substitute turkey with chicken, beef, pork, or lamb. 

    Can I make these tacos vegetarian?

    Sure. Simply substitute turkey with either mushroom, tofu, or paneer. Make sure you chop the ingredient of choice well to achieve that perfect consistency. 

    How do I get a finely minced consistency?

    The way to ensure your minced meat is has a finely minced consistency rather than larger bits is by adding water to your meat. Add 1 cup of water to the meat and mix well. This technique ensures there are no lumps resulting in a smoother consistency.

    Can I make this recipe dairy-free, gluten-free?

    For dairy-free: Replace the cheese with your favorite vegan cheese. Also, in the sauce, substitute Greek yogurt with non-dairy yogurt.

    For gluten-free: Make sure you are using gluten-free tacos. You can easily find these at your local grocery store.

    Tips on making Turkey Keema Tacos:

    • Wash the turkey with water by simply rinsing the turkey and then draining it.
    • Then add 1 cup of water to the turkey and mix well. This helps ensure there are no lumps.
    • Cook your desi masala - ginger, garlic, green chilies, onion, and toamtoes.
    • Add the turkey to the masala, lots of spices, and cook down for 20 minutes.
    • Finish with green peas and some final garnish.
    • Fill your tacos with keema, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and cilantro chili sauce.

    Keema Tacos are:

    Mouthwatering
    Healthy-ish
    Versatile
    Flavorful
    Gluten-Free
    Indian Fusion

    How to make Keema Tacos recipe step by step?

    Prep

    1. I use 93% lean turkey.
    2. Rinse ground turkey with water and drain. Then add 1 cup of water to the turkey. Mix well so there are no lumps. Set aside.
    3. Chop the ginger, garlic, and green chilies. Alternatively, you can use a mini food processor for chopping.
    4. Chop onions.
    5. Chop tomatoes.

    Cook Turkey Keema

    1. Heat up a dutch castiron, once hot, add oil followed by cumin seeds and a bay leaf. Saute for 45 seconds.
    2. Add ginger, garlic, and green chilies. Saute for about 45 seconds.
    3. Now add onions and salt. Saute for 4 minutes.
    4. Add the tomatoes and season with a little salt. Stir.
    5. Cover and cook for about 6-7 minutes on low-medium heat.

    6. Add red chili powder, Kashmiri red chili powder, and coriander powder. Stir. Cook for a few seconds.
    7. Now add water. Cook for about 4 minutes until the water evaporates and you have a paste-like consistency.
    8. Add the turkey.
    9. Stir well. Season with salt to taste.
    10. This is what you'll have a couple of minutes later.
    11. Cover and cook for 20 minutes on low-medium heat.

    12. 20 minutes later, this is what you should have. Add garam masala.
    13. Add chopped cilantro and lemon juice.
    14. Add frozen peas rinsed under warm water. Cook for 5 minutes.
    15. Keema is ready. Turn off the stove.

    Prepare the Sauce & Taco Essentials

    1. While the turkey is cooking. Make the sauce. In a NutriBullet, add the yogurt, ginger, garlic, mint leaves, coriander leaves, and green chilies.
    2. Blend. Set aside.
    3. Shred lettuce, slice jalapenos, chop tomatoes, chop cilantro, slice lime wedges.

    Assemble Tacos

    1. Add turkey keema to hard shell tacos.
    2. Top with cheese.
    3. Bake in the toaster oven for about 2 minutes or until cheese has melted.
    4. Top with shredded lettuce.
    5. Top with cilantro chili sauce and chopped tomatoes.
    6. Finish off with sliced jalapenos and chopped cilantro.

     

    Enjoy!

     

    More Indian Fusion Recipes!

    • Masala Mac and Cheese
    • Vegetarian Indian Nachos
    • Tikka Masala Pasta
    • Curry Roasted Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad
    • Shredded Tandoori Chicken Tacos

    Keema Tacos

    Gluten-free, Dairy-free option
    Turkey Keema Tacos are prepared with ground turkey sauteed with Indian flavors. Fill them up in a taco and top with a cilantro-mint chili sauce.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian, Indian Fusion, Mexican
    Servings: 12 tacos
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
    Calories: 207kcal
    Author: Nisha

    Ingredients

    for turkey keema

    • 1 pound ground turkey, preferably 93% lean
    • 1 cup water
    • 2 tablespoon avocado oil
    • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 1 ½ inch ginger, chopped
    • 8 cloves garlic, chopped
    • 2 green chilies, chopped
    • 1 medium onion, chopped
    • 2 plum tomatoes, chopped
    • 1 tablespoon coriander powder
    • 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
    • ¼ teaspoon red chili powder
    • ¼ teaspoon turmeric
    • to taste salt
    • ½ cup water, to deglaze
    • 1 ½ teaspoon garam masala
    • ½ teaspoon cardamom
    • ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
    • juice of ½ lemon
    • ½ cup frozen green peas, rinsed with warm water

    for cilantro chili sauce

    • ½ cup reduced-fat Greek yogurt
    • 1-2 green chilies
    • ½ inch piece ginger
    • 1 clove garlic
    • ½ cup cilantro
    • ½ cup mint
    • salt to taste
    • little water, if need be

    to assemble tacos

    • 12 hard shell tacos
    • add cooked turkey keema
    • 1 ½ cups Mexican cheese, shredded, 2 tablespoon per taco
    • 3 cups lettuce, shredded
    • 3 tomatoes, chopped
    • 2 jalapenos, thinly sliced
    • add cilantro chili sauce

    Instructions

    Prep

    • I use 93% lean turkey.
    • Rinse ground turkey with water and drain. Then add 1 cup of water to the turkey. Mix well so there are no lumps. Set aside.
    • Chop the ginger, garlic, and green chilies. Alternatively, you can use a mini food processor for chopping.
    • Chop onions.
    • Chop tomatoes.

    Cook Turkey Keema

    • Heat up a dutch castiron, once hot, add oil followed by cumin seeds and a bay leaf. Saute for 45 seconds.
    • Add ginger, garlic, and green chilies. Saute for about 45 seconds.
    • Now add onions and salt. Saute for 4 minutes.
    • Add the tomatoes and season with a little salt. Stir.
    • Cover and cook for about 6-7 minutes on low-medium heat.
    • Add red chili powder, Kashmiri red chili powder, and coriander powder. Stir. Cook for a few seconds.
    • Now add water. Cook for about 4 minutes until the water evaporates and you have a paste-like consistency.
    • Add the turkey.
    • Stir well. Season with salt to taste.
    • This is what you'll have a couple of minutes later.
    • Cover and cook for 20 minutes on low-medium heat.
    • 20 minutes later, this is what you should have. Add garam masala.
    • Add chopped cilantro and lemon juice.
    • Add frozen peas rinsed under warm water. Cook for 5 minutes.
    • Keema is ready. Turn off the stove.

    Prepare the Sauce & Taco Essentials

    • While the turkey is cooking. Make the sauce. In a NutriBullet, add the yogurt, ginger, garlic, mint leaves, coriander leaves, and green chilies.
    • Blend. Set aside.
    • Shred lettuce, slice jalapenos, chop tomatoes, chop cilantro, slice lime wedges.

    Assemble Tacos

    • Add turkey keema to hard shell tacos.
    • Top with cheese.
    • Bake in the toaster oven for about 2 minutes or until cheese has melted.
    • Top with shredded lettuce.
    • Top with cilantro chili sauce and chopped tomatoes.
    • Finish off with sliced jalapenos and chopped cilantro.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 207kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 15gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 197mgPotassium: 329mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 757IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 140mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword Keema, Tacos, Turkey
    Tried this recipe?Mention @honeywhatscooking or tag #honeywhatscooking!

     

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Ramya says

      April 21, 2021 at 10:39 am

      will be making this soon can i use mushrooms as am a vegan i never had tacos before perfect for my after office meals will dm you if i make this and let you know how it goes Thanks Ramya

      Reply
      • honeywhatscooking says

        April 22, 2021 at 1:16 am

        Hi Ramya, Sure you can use mushrooms or tofu or even paneer. I would chop the mushrooms really small and use a good amount as they tend to disappear. 🙂

        Reply
    2. Catharine says

      April 29, 2021 at 7:39 pm

      5 stars
      This was so good! Thank you?

      Reply
      • honeywhatscooking says

        April 30, 2021 at 6:02 pm

        You're so welcome. Thank you for your comment. xoxo

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Nisha! I'm a foodie who is passionate about healthy-ish living and mindful eating. You'll find a little bit of everything here. I use mostly organic real ingredients and incorporate seasonal produce in my cooking. I believe food is medicine. Come join me on this soul-searching journey as I share my love for good food, and I hope somewhere along the way, I inspire you to eat better.

    More about me →


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