Padma's Indian Ground Beef and Veal comfort food.

if you're up early like me (5 am !),  you should really try and catch "The Melting Pot" on the new Cooking Channel.  it's quite raw because most of the shows are dated 2000.  i like it because there's no showmanship...it's all about the food and the recipes.  sometimes it's Rocco and Cat Cora, but i've seen Padma on a few times.  i happened upon it a few weeks ago and caught the beautiful Padma Lakshimi cooking some of her childhood favorites.  her mother used to throw this recipe together for an easy kid friendly comfort meal. Padma referred to it as...

INDIAN SLOPPY JOEs.

i knew i had to give it a try.  i've made it 3 times since then...DELICIOUS !!! and it IS pure comfort food.  the kind you can't stop eating right out of the pan.  the recipe makes a good amount and reheats really well.  right now i have some in the freezer and i'll test that out next week to see how well it takes to freezer storage...not that you WILL have any left to freeze.

this is a great recipe to introduce kids or "simple eaters" to new flavors.  some people shy away from Indian food due to the major spices going on, but this one is quite tame.  as you'll see in my notes i added quite a bit more Garam Masala.  i find all Garam Masalas to be different, so use your own discretion.

KEEMA...INDIAN SPICED GROUND VEAL AND BEEF WITH PEAS

from Padma Lakshimi's Mom

2 Tbsp vegetable oil

1 onion minced

8 oz ground veal

8 oz. ground lean beef

salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

2 large cloves garlic, minced

2 firm ripe tomatoes, diced

1 Tbsp minced ginger root...or more if you like it

1 tsp Garam Masala

1 tsp minced fresh green chilis, or to taste

3 cups frozen peas

1 lemon, juiced, or to taste

2-3 Tbsp minced fresh cilantro, or more to taste

Indian flatbreads or tortillas, as an accompaniment

NOTES...i used about 1 full Tbsp Garam Masala

more ginger root

jalapeno pepper...about 1/2 diced

3 cups of peas is ALOT !...i used 1 full cup

Directions

In a nonstick skillet set over moderately high heat, warm the oil until hot. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Add the veal, beef, and salt and pepper to taste, and cook, stirring, until no longer pink. Add the garlic, tomatoes, ginger root, Garam Masala, and chilies, and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Add the peas and continue to cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes more, or until flavors blend. Stir in the lemon juice and cilantro and correct seasoning, adding more salt if necessary. Either transfer to a bowl and serve with warm rotis or tortillas or spoon Keema down center of bread and roll up like a burrito