Skip to content

Meat, Maghreb and Middle East

Timman w qeema (Iraqi saffron rice with meat and chickpea stew)

Timman w qeema is an Iraqi dish made of saffron basmati rice served with a ground beef stew with chickpeas, tomatoes, and cardamom. It takes 70 minutes to make for 4 people, at an easy level, for €2.50 per serving. The key to success is cooking the spices in the oil before the meat and keeping the qeema thick.

Tonight, let's taste Iraq with timman w qeema, saffron rice served with a ground beef stew with chickpeas and cardamom.

Timman w qeema (Iraqi saffron rice with meat and chickpea stew)
Total time
1 h 10
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€2.50
Calories per person
690 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Fall, Winter, Spring
The kids
They generally like it

Timman w qeema pairs fragrant, saffron gilded rice with a rich ground beef sauce seasoned with cardamom and cumin, thickened with tomatoes and chickpeas. The qeema stays thick, almost jammy, quite different from a bolognese, thanks to slow cooking and very little added water.

It's a generous weeknight dish that kids enjoy thanks to the rice and ground beef, while the warm spices give adults something new to discover. Mon Chou suggests it for evenings when you want a full, comforting meal with a flavor that breaks from the everyday.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Basmati riceoften in the pantry 320 g
  • Saffron 1 pinch
  • Canned chickpeasoften in the pantry 400 g
  • Crushed tomatoesoften in the pantry 400 g
  • Tomato pasteoften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Cardamomoften in the pantry 4 pods
  • Cuminoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Turmericoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Dairy

  • Butter 30 g

Butcher

  • Ground beef 500 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onion 2

Allergens Lactose

The step by step recipe

  1. Cook the sliced onions in the oil with the spices. 8 min

    Crush the cardamom pods with the back of a knife to release their seeds.

  2. Add the ground beef and let it brown well, breaking it apart. 10 min

    Don't stir too often, the meat needs to brown properly.

  3. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, drained chickpeas, salt, pepper, and 150ml of water, then let it simmer. 25 min

    The qeema should be thick, not watery.

  4. Rinse the rice and cook it in double the amount of salted water. 15 min

    Cover and don't lift the lid.

  5. Mix the rice with the steeped saffron and butter, then serve with the qeema.

    Steep the saffron in hot water for golden rice.

Our tips to get it right

  • Drain the chickpeas well before adding them, otherwise the qeema turns too watery.
  • Soak the basmati rice for ten minutes before cooking so the grains stay separate and fluffy.
  • Taste the sauce before serving, cardamom can take over if the pods are very fresh, add a splash of water if needed.

The variations

  • Swap the ground beef for ground lamb for a stronger flavor, closer to some traditional Iraqi versions.
  • For a vegetarian version, double the chickpeas and replace the meat with finely chopped mushrooms.
  • For kids in a hurry, serve just the saffron rice with a bit of qeema blended smooth.

What to serve it with

  • A cold plain yogurt
  • A cucumber and tomato salad
  • Flatbread for scooping

Storage

The qeema keeps for 3 days in the refrigerator in a sealed container and freezes well for up to 3 months. Reheat it gently in a pot with a splash of water. The rice keeps for 2 days in the refrigerator but loses its fluffiness, so it's best reheated with steam or in the microwave with a little water.

Questions about this dish

Can you replace the saffron with turmeric?

Turmeric gives a similar yellow color but not the same aroma. You can use it in a pinch, but saffron is what gives the rice its signature flavor.

Can the qeema be made ahead?

Yes, it's even recommended, the qeema tastes even better reheated the next day. Cook the rice at the last minute so it stays fluffy.

Can canned chickpeas be replaced with dried ones?

Yes, as long as you soak and cook them ahead until tender. About 150g of dried chickpeas will give you the equivalent of the 400g canned.

How do you know the qeema has the right texture?

It should coat a spoon without running, similar to a well reduced bolognese sauce. If it's too thin, let it simmer uncovered for a few more minutes.

How long does it take to make a timman w qeema?

Count 1 h 10 in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a timman w qeema?

About 690 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a timman w qeema cost?

About €2.50 per serving, or €10.00 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains lactose. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

Maghreb and Middle Eastern cuisine

See all

Beef recipes

See all