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Vegan Keema Naan with Keema Lentils, onion, carrots and walnuts. This lentil mix with the herbs and spices make a vegan version of keema. Serve over Naan bread or Pizza or fill tacos or wraps. Vegan Recipe, Can be gluten-free and soy free. Jump to Recipe
Keema means mince, usually used to refer to meat. Keema as an Indian dish is well spiced, sometimes cooked with a bit of onion tomato or onion sauce, is served as a main with a side of veggies/some curry and some flatbread or rice, or served as a snack. To make a vegan version I use lentils, carrots and walnuts to add the earthy flavor, texture, and spices and sage for flavor. If you add bit of broth and tomatoes to it, the mix would be like thick chili with amazing flavor from the spices/herbse
It doesnt really matter whether this has to stand in for a non vegan keema, because the mix of the ingredients and flavors is so amazingly tasty. Call it whatever you like – Some Fabulous Lentil walnut Mix!. Use the filling as you like, in tacos, wraps, bowls, or just serve with Naan/flatbread and some curry, or as in this post, baked over Naan or Pizza with some vegan mozz. So Good!
These Keema Lentils are Delicious,
full of flavor, protein (22 Gms!( some of it is from the flour, so the base used will change the number),
come together quickly,
and flexible to additions and use.
The combination of baharat and garam masala adds amazing flavor. If you can find baharat, so use it, else make your own from my Book! it takes 5 mins.. If you make these, do let me know how you served them!
More Indian Vegan Mains to try –
- Palak Tofu GF 20 Mins
- Vegan Butter Chikin. GF Instant Pot
- Mushroom Matar Masala GF 1 Pot
- Bombay Potato and Peas GF 1 pot
- Butter Tofu Masala GF Restaurant Style
- Veggie Korma GF no onion garlic version
Vegan Keema Naan with Keema Lentils, Carrots, Walnuts
Ingredients
Keema:
- 1 tsp oil
- 1/2 medium onion , , chopped see step 1
- 5 cloves of garlic , chopped
- 3/4 cup walnuts , chopped
- 1/2 cup carrots, roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup peas
- 3/4 to 1 tsp sage
- 3/4 tsp garam masala , , (or 1/2 tsp garam masala and 1/4 tsp baharat (from Everyday Kitchen Book) for even more flavor)
- a generous dash each of cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg and black pepper
- 1/4 tsp cayenne
- 1.5 cups cooked lentils, , I use brown lentils
- 1/2 tsp salt or to taste divided
- 1 tsp soy sauce, use coconut aminos to make without soy
- 1 to 2 tsp ketchup
- 3 tbsp chopped cilantro
- water
For the Pizza:
- 3 Premade Naan or shaped Naan dough
- Or 2 shaped pizza dough
- vegan mozzarella, I used Miyoko's in the pictures (optional, use just sliced veggies)
- cilantro, onion and pepper flakes for garnish
Instructions
- Process the onion and garlic in a food processor until finely chopped. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and garlic , a good pinch of salt, and cook for 4 minutes or until golden.
- Process walnuts and carrots in the same food processor until a coarse meal. Add to the skillet and cook for 3 mins
- Add peas, cooked lentils, spices, sauces, and mix well and cook for 2 minutes. Add cilantro and a good splash of water and mix in. Cook for another minute if using over pizza (keep the mix wet-ish), and another 2-3 minutes to dry out to used as taco filling. Taste and adjust salt, flavor.
- Spread the lentil mixture over shaped Naan dough or pizza dough or premade naan. Add some thinly sliced veggies like tomato, onion, peppers or jalapeno. If you bake them on a dough (i.e longer time), then do top the the mix with additional veggies as the lentils can tend to dry out.
- Add dollops of vegan mozzarella or other cheese and bake to melt the cheese. 8 to 15 minutes depending on if are using premade naan or unbaked dough.
- Garnish with chopped tomato, onion cilantro and serve. If mozz was omitted, use chutneys or creamy dressing of choice and serve. The lentil keema mix can be made ahead and used in various ways.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hi Richa. What can I substitute for walnuts? I’m allergic to nuts. Any suggestions would be appreciated. It looks delicious. I’d love to try it! Thanks.
sure – just try Pumpkin or Sunflower Seeds
I made this into tacos tonight. So delicious!! Wonderful texture and a nice flavor that was a great compliment to different sauces and toppings. I love how quickly everything came together and the ingredients are such easy staples.
This is bang bang. Awesome in wraps as a side dish really good topped with cilantro and mango
That sounds delicious! Thank you for the great review!
This was absolutely delicious !! Way better than ‘regular ‘keema’ !
Thank you for the delicious recipes -My daughter made these and the Cream cheese pound cake for dessert and both were outstanding !
Awesome
I have made this twice now, and my husband, kids and I all love it. Lentils are so underrated, aren’t they? I used a box of prepared lentils (which was more like 2.5c probably), and one prepared pizza dough (both from Trader Joe’s) and that made a big batch of keema and enough dough to make big portions for my 4 person family. It’s very filling, so you really don’t need anything more with it. Give this recipe a try – it’s really very satisfying and tasty!
Awesome Thansk!!
I think I’ll try making this with dried split peas instead of normal green peas. I’m feeling lucky. 😜
cook them before adding. split peas can take upto 50 mins to cook, so you want them almost done when you add them
I could always have my keema extra crunchy. 😜
hey richa! this looks delicious! unfortunately i don’t have baharat spice though, would it be okay to omit it? Thank you!
yes should be fine. Add some black pepper and a pinch of ground cardamom and clove as a sub
thank you!
This was absolutely delicious and used the left over keema to make little bite sized pies using vegan shortcrust pastry. Took some in to work and no-one knew they were eating vegan.
thats so awesome!!
How do you cook the brown lentils?
from dried. use 1/2 up dried and cook them in saucepan over medium heat with 2.5 cups of water. they will take abt 35 mins. or pressure cook with 2 cups water for 10 mins
Can you make this ahead and freeze it?
Yes, you can make the lentil mixture ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze.