Butter Keema
This version takes everything people love about butter chicken but swaps in ground wild boar for a deeper, gamey flavor that holds up beautifully against the sauce. If you've got ground game meat in the freezer, this is one of the best ways to turn it into something familiar but just different enough to make it yours.
You’ve probably heard of butter chicken, the iconic North Indian dish known for its rich, creamy sauce and tender pieces of chicken swimming in buttery, spiced gravy. It's a modern classic for a reason: comforting, bold, and impossible to stop eating once you start.
This version takes everything people love about butter chicken but swaps in ground wild boar for a deeper, gamey flavor that holds up beautifully against the sauce. If you've got ground game meat in the freezer, this is one of the best ways to turn it into something familiar but just different enough to make it yours.
We’ll start by building a butter masala sauce from scratch: simple, layered, and full of soul. Then we fold in the cooked ground boar to finish. Serve it hot over rice or with roti to scoop up every last drop.
Method
In a heavy pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once bubbling, add the mustard seeds and cumin seeds, letting them pop and release their aroma. Stir in the onion, salt, and garlic. Cook until the onions soften and begin to caramelize, about 8 to 10 minutes.
Add the tomatoes, garam masala, turmeric, and a pinch of hing. Let everything cook down until the tomatoes fully break apart and the mixture thickens into a rough paste, about 10 to 12 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of water and blend the mixture until smooth. Stir in the cream and blend once more until silky. Set the sauce aside.
Coat another large pan with oil (about 2 tablespoons) and set over medium-high heat. Once shimmering, add the curry leaves and toast until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the ground boar, season with garam masala and salt, and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the meat is brown, 10 to 15 minutes.
Once the boar is cooked through and deeply browned, pour the butter masala sauce over the meat. Stir everything together and let it simmer for a few minutes to bring the flavors together.
Top with fresh cilantro, fried onions, and a squeeze of lime. Serve hot with rice or roti.
