Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Mutton Keema

Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Mutton Keema

Mutton Keema

Nothing was sponsored, we visited as regular paying customers. Photos in this post were taken between 2000 and 2025 (across 25 years!), as such, the quality of photos varies drastically due to advances in camera technology. Mobile smartphones were in their infancy and had yet to become widespread.

Also Known As:
Mutton Keema, Keema Curry, Keema Matar, Matar Qeema

Average Price Per Serving:
SGD $7 - $18

List in alphabetical order - click the links to jump to entry

1. Al-Azhar Restaurant
2. Azmi Restaurant
3. Bhai's Chapati & Biryani
4. Jamal Chappathi Stall
5. Mr Teh Tarik Eating House
~~Al-Ameen Eating House~~

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Description:
The Mutton Keema is a Singaporean Indian dish, featuring a curry of spiced minced mutton and peas. Also known as Keema Curry, Keema Matar, or Matar Qeema, the Mutton Keema dish is usually priced around SGD $7 to $18 per serving. Considered a light meal, it's often served alongside a variety of flatbread, usually chapati, naan, or roti prata. Mutton Keema may also be used as a filling for other dishes, such as samosas or spring rolls. It's commonly eaten throughout the day, for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or supper.

The spice blend for Mutton Keema typically comprises cardamom, bay leaf, cloves, cinnamon, garlic paste, ginger paste, cumin, turmeric, red chili, green chili, salt, black pepper, and coriander. This is fried with diced red onions, diced tomatoes, and ghee / clarified butter, until it forms a paste and the oil separates.

To get Mutton Keema, the resulting paste is then fried with the main ingredients, including green peas, minced mutton, and simmered with water. Once completely cooked, the finished dish is optionally garnished with plain yoghurt, garam masala, lemon juice, or fresh coriander. The Mutton Keema curry has a chunky thin tender chewy texture, with meaty savoury salty spice vegetal earthy grassy flavour.

Variations of Mutton Keema may replace the minced mutton with minced beef, minced goat, or diced potatoes; while some variations omit the use of green peas. The Mutton Keema originated as a Northern Indian royal Mughlai dish.

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1. Al-Azhar Restaurant
@ 201D Tampines Street 21 #01-1155
Opening Hours: Daily 8am – 11:30pm