• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Two Cloves In A Pot
  • Recipes
  • Get To Know Us
  • Shop
  • Pakistani Arvi Gosht (Mutton, Instant Pot)
  • Pakistani-Style Butter Chicken (Better than Restaurant!)
  • Authentic Beef Nihari (Beef Shank Stew)
  • How To Make Authentic Chicken Biryani At Home
  • Achari Bhindi (The Best)
  • Authentic Pakistani Kadhi Pakora
  • How To Make Authentic Pakistani-Style Chicken Karahi
  • 20-Minute Instant Pot Moong and Masoor Dal
  • Instant Pot Whole Masoor Dal (The Best)
  • Authentic Dum Ka Keema (Smoked Ground Beef)
  • Pakistani Maash Ki Dal (Urad Dal)
  • Thai Red Chicken Curry
  • Authentic Pakistani Mutton/Goat Karahi (Karahi Gosht)
  • Goat Paya Curry/Mutton Trotters (Instant Pot)
  • Chicken Caprese Pasta
  • Aloo Matar Keema (Potatoes, Peas, and Ground Beef Curry)
  • Zinger Burger
  • Achari Aloo
  • Zucchini Curry
  • Authentic Kofta Curry (Meatball Curry)
  • Buffalo Chicken Pizza
  • Chicken Malai Tikka
  • Kung Pao Chicken
  • Chana Pulao (Chickpea Pilaf)
  • Chicken Tigania
  • Fried Chicken Tacos
  • Instant Pot Gobi Gosht (Cauliflower & Meat Curry)
  • Lauki Gosht (Bottle Gourd and Meat Curry)
  • *Shahi Paneer Makhni* (Better than any restaurant) Total time: 25 minutes!!!
  • Baked Chicken 65
  • One Pot Yogurt Chicken Curry
  • Keemay Ki Kachori (Easy and Authentic)
  • AUTHENTIC ALOO KI TIKKI
  • Classic Stuffing Recipe
  • Roasted Potatoes
  • Street Style Corn (Bhutta)
  • Garlic Knots
  • Chicken Bread
  • Lacha Paratha
  • Pakistani Golgappa Chaat (Golgappay Chaat)
  • Sweet Dahi Baray (Lentil Fritters & Creamy Yogurt)
  • Lobia Chaat (Black Eyed Bean Chaat)
  • Keemay Ki Goliyaan (Fried Meatballs)
  • Paneer Masala Kati Roll
  • Green Bean Casserole
  • Garlic Butter Mushrooms- Cooking Time 10 minutes
  • Instant Pot Shami Kababs (Easy and Authentic)
  • Vaquas's Paneer Masala Panini
  • Fried Ravioli
  • Banana Chocolate Chip Bread
  • Khageena (The Best)
  • Pumpkin Pie
  • Banana Chocolate Chip Bread
  • Cinnamon Rolls
  • Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Crunch Peshawari Ice Cream
  • Chocolate Ganache Tart
  • Madeleines
  • Blueberry and Lemon Bundt Cake
  • Creame Brûlée
  • Chocolate Soufflé
  • Sarah’s Lemon Bars
  • Sarah’s Chocolate Mousse
  • Panna Cotta (original)
  • Pakistani Limca
  • Mango Lassi (THE BEST)
  • 5-Minute Refreshing Lassi Recipe (Indian Yogurt Drink)
  • Watermelon Lemonade
  • Sarah’s Pink Smoothie
  • Almond and Saffron Milk
  • 3-Minute Pakistani Green Chutney
  • How To Make Khatti Meethi Chutney At Home
  • Sarah’s Guacamole (Total time 7 min)
  • Best Cranberry Sauce
  • Dough Recipe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Get To Know Us
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Join the community!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Get To Know Us
    • Shop
    • Contact
  • Join the community!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • ×

    Home » Main Dish

    Delicious Pakistani-Style Karela Keema

    May 20, 2023 by Sarah Mirza · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Delicious Pakistani-Style Karela Keema is a culinary treasure loved by food enthusiasts. This dish is often misunderstood and can seem intimidating due to its acquired taste. However, fear not! This blog post will demystify the process and equip you with the knowledge to create a delicious and flavorful Karela Keema that will delight your taste buds.

    TABLE OF CONTENTS

    1. What is Karela Keema?
    2. Video
    3. Steps to cook Karela Keema
    4. Ingredients
    5. How to cut the bitter melon?
    6. How to get rid of the bitterness of bitter melon?
    7. How to cook Karela Keema?
    8. Tips
    9. The Karela Keema Recipe

    WHAT IS KARELA KEEMA?

    Delicious Pakistani-Style Karela Keema, a beloved Pakistani dinner recipe originating from North Indian and Pakistani cuisine, brings together ground beef and Bitter Melon. While Bitter Melon is inherently bitter, the secret lies in mastering the technique to tame its bitterness, and I'll show you how. This exceptional recipe entails a special process that includes precise methods for cutting and cooking the bitter melon to eliminate its bitterness and create a delightful dish.

    VIDEO

    STEPS TO COOK KARELA KEEMA

    1. Cut the bitter melon properly.
    2. Massage some turmeric powder and salt on bitter melon and leave.
    3. Massage, wash and squeeze the bitter melon.
    4. Boil the bitter melon and drain the water.
    5. Dry and fry bitter melon on both sides.
    6. Make the ground beef mixture.
    7. Mix the bitter melon with the ground beef.

    INGREDIENTS

    • Bitter Melon- The most crucial ingredient in this recipe. I have shown you how to cut and how to get rid of the bitterness completely. It's a process but so worth it.
    • Ground beef- For the recipe 80/20 ground beef is required. In this recipe, ground chicken and ground mutton can easily be substituted.
    • Turmeric powder and salt- be added to the bitter melon helps gets rid of the bitterness.

    HOW TO CUT THE BITTER MELON?

    Cut off the two ends of the bitter melon like this. Discard both sides of the bitter melon.
    Next cut it like this.
    It should look like this.

    HOW TO GET RID OF THE BITTERNESS OF BITTER MELON?

    Add turmeric powder and some salt.
    Massage that in every piece of bitter melon for a while.
    It should look like this now. Let it rest for sometime.
    Rinse the bitter melon in a bowl.
    Squeeze the water out like this.
    It should look like this.
    Add to a pot and boil the bitter melon.
    In a fry pan, add oil.
    Place the bitter melon like this.
    Fry them.
    Turn over the bitter melon and fry them on the other side as well.
    Set aside.

    HOW TO COOK KARELA KEEMA?

    Brown the onion in some oil.
    5-Minute Homemade Ginger Garlic Paste
    Add whole spices.
    Add the ground beef.
    Add yogurt.
    Now add fennel seed powder, carrom seeds, salt, powdered spices.
    Add green pepper
    Let it cook.
    Add all the fried bitter melon and mix well.
    Now mix it.
    Let it cook covered for few minutes.
    Garnish with cilantro.

    TIPS

    • Fennel seeds should be crushed into powder form.
    • Just hand crush the carrot seeds.
    • It extremely crucial that you massage in the turmeric powder and salt in order to get rid of the bitterness of the Melon bitter.
    • Rinse the bitter melon with water properly and squeeze out the water.
    • Don't forget to boil and fry the bitter melon.

    Let's Make Karela Keema!!!

    karele krema in a pot.
    Print Recipe
    No ratings yet

    Savory Pakistani Karela Keema

    Savory Pakistani Karela Keema is a unique dish where ground beef is wrapped around bitter melon. This recipe reveals the secret to reducing bitterness and provides proper cooking instructions.
    Prep Time20 minutes mins
    Cook Time40 minutes mins
    Total Time1 hour hr
    Course: Main
    Cuisine: Indian, Pakistani
    Diet: Halal
    Keyword: karela, karela keema, keema
    Servings: 6 people
    Calories: 33kcal
    Author: Sarah Mirza

    Ingredients

    Bitter melons

    • 3 bitter melons sliced
    • 1 tbsp salt
    • 1 tsp turmeric powder
    • water
    • olive oil

    Keema

    • ⅓ cup olive oil
    • 1 lbs ground beef
    • 1 tbsp fennel seeds crush it until it's powder form.
    • 1 tsp carrom seeds roughly hand crush it. (ajwein)
    • 4 tbsp ginger garlic paste
    • 1 tbsp yogurt
    • 1 green pepper roughly chopped
    • 1½ tsp fresh lemon juice
    • 1 tsp Garam Masala Powder

    whole spices

    • 3 cloves
    • 3 green cardamom
    • 5 black peppercorns

    Powdered spices

    • 1 tsp red chili powder
    • 1 tsp red chili flakes
    • 1 tsp turmeric powder
    • 1 tsp salt
    • 1 tbsp coriander powder
    • 1 tsp cumin powder

    Garnish

    • 2 tbsp cilantro
    • fresh lemon juice

    Instructions

    • Grind the fennel seeds, set aside.

    Bitter Melon

    • Cut up the Bitter Melons ends and slice it in little round pieces. (see video.)
    • In a bowl, place the bitter melons pieces, add 1 tbsp salt and 1 tsp turmeric powder.
    • Massage it in then let it rest for 15 minutes.
    • Add water to a bowl, add the bitter melon pieces in.
    • Rinse it and squeeze all the water out. (see video.)
    • Now add water in a pot then let the water warm up.
    • Add bitter melon pieces to the water and let the boil come to a boil.
    • After it comes to boil let it boil for 2 minutes.
    • Add ¼ cup of oil to a fry pan on medium heat.
    • Now add the bitter melon pieces and let it fry on side for 5-7 minutes.
    • Take them out set aside.

    Keema

    • Add oil to a pot on medium heat and let it heat up.
    • Now add onion and sauté it until brown.
    • Add ginger garlic paste.
    • Now add the whole spices.
    • Add ground beef, break that down.
    • Now add yogurt and mix well.
    • Add powder spices along with fennel powder and carrom seeds.
    • Mix well and mix in the green pepper.
    • Cover the lid and let it cook on medium-low for 5-7 minutes.
    • Uncover the pot.
    • Mixed in the fried bitter melon.
    • Mix well.
    • Still the heat is on medium-low.
    • Cook it for 1-2 minutes.
    • Add some lemon juice, 1 tbsp water, and mix well.
    • Place the lid on the pot, let it cook for 5 minutes on low heat.
    • Uncover the pot.
    • Turn off the stove.
    • Sprinkle fresh cilantro on top.
    • Serve it hot. Enjoy with fresh Chapati.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1person | Calories: 33kcal | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 162mg | Potassium: 45mg | Vitamin A: 50IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 5mg
    « Tender Instant Pot Beef Pulao

    Sharing is caring!

    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Free Recipes

    We share our latest recipes, cooking tips, and more in our newsletter. We'd love to have you join!

    Please Wait

    Thank you for signing up!

    You'll receive an email to confirm your subscription shortly.

    Much Love,

    Sarah & Vaquas

    Two Cloves In A Pot

    Much Love and Be Safe!

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a comment & rate this recipe Cancel reply

    If you love this recipe, please consider giving it a star rating when you post a comment. Star ratings help people discover our recipes online. Your support means a lot!

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome

    Portrait of Sarah and Vaquas in front of mountains

    Hello friend! Our names are Sarah Mirza & Vaquas Saleem. We are a passionate, food-loving husband and wife duo working on this blog.

    We sincerely hope that when you try our recipes, you’re able to wander blissfully down a cultural memory lane and experience the authenticity and tradition that we and so many others grew up cherishing.

    More about us →

    Popular

    • holding mutton karahi in hand with stuff in the background
      Authentic Pakistani Mutton/Goat Karahi (Karahi Gosht)
    • Paya Curry (Mutton Trotters)
      Goat Paya Curry/Mutton Trotters (Instant Pot)
    • a plate with golgappa chaat.
      Pakistani Golgappa Chaat (Golgappay Chaat)
    • 2 bowls of dal and chawal
      20-Minute Instant Pot Moong and Masoor Dal

    Latest Recipes

    • beef pulao in a platter.
      Tender Instant Pot Beef Pulao
    • a hand holding beef karahi in a white bowl and 2 bowls blurred in the background.
      Tender Pakistani Beef Karahi
    • a platter of rice with a serving spoon with biryani
      Homemade Sindhi Chicken Biryani
    • a picture of half a bowl of sindhi biryani masala.
      5-Minute Homemade Sindhi Biryani Masala

    Free Recipes

    We share our latest recipes, cooking tips, and more in our newsletter. We'd love to have you join!

    Please Wait

    Thank you for signing up!

    You'll receive an email to confirm your subscription shortly.

    Much Love,

    Sarah & Vaquas

    Two Cloves In A Pot

    Much Love and Be Safe!

    Footer

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Two Cloves in a Pot | Support by Foodie Digital