Mincemeat is a mixture of chopped dried fruits, distilled spirits, a combination of spices, beef suet, and sometimes meat. It is a sweet, spiced fruit mixture typically used as pie filling, and it is associated with Christmas traditions, often available in jars at grocery stores during the holiday season. While the name "mincemeat" is a carryover from 15th century England when it did indeed contain meat, in the 21st century, it often does not contain actual meat, but it can still include meat as an ingredient.
Contrary to what some people think, ground meat and minced meat are not the same things. Ground meat is an emulsion of lean meat and fat, whereas minced meat is finely chopped skeletal-muscle meat. Ground meat is consistent and smooth, while minced meat is choppy and textured. Ground meat is made from meat with additional ingredients that are put through a meat grinder, while minced meat is made from 100% meat and doesn’t contain additional ingredients. It has a coarser texture than ground meat.
In the Indian subcontinent, minced meat, also known as keema or qeema, is used in a variety of dishes such as stewed or fried curry dishes with green peas or potatoes, and it usually includes ghee/butter, onions, garlic, ginger, chilis, and spices.
