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Korma Murg Curry (Korma-Style Chicken Curry)

3.9

(11)

Korma Style Chicken Curry
Photo by Nassima Rothacker

When you have a chicken korma in a restaurant, it tends to be sweet, sometimes with raisins and quite pale. I am not a big fan of that style of korma and once you have tried my version you may well prefer mine, too. The simple spices used in the sauce lend the chicken a lovely warmth, while you get a beautiful creaminess from the cashews, white poppy seeds, and onions, resulting in a deliciously delicate curry. Serve the chicken korma with chapattis or naan, or with rice.

Note: Don't substitute black poppy seeds here; they have a different flavor and would darken the color of the dish. The creamy white poppy seeds contribute a rich feeling to the dish. If you can't find them, add an additional tablespoon of cashews. 

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    30 minutes

  • Yield

    Serves 4

Ingredients

2 tablespoons sunflower oil
1 cinnamon stick, broken up into small pieces
2 onions, roughly chopped
1 green chile, roughly chopped
2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
1-inch piece of fresh root ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
50g (⅓ cup) cashew nuts (about 28 cashews)
1 tablespoon white poppy seeds (see headnote)
100ml (3 1⁄2 fl oz) water
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garam masala
1 teaspoon chile powder
200ml (7fl oz) boiling water
650g (1lb 7oz) boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 5cm (2 inch) pieces
1 tablespoon heavy cream
¾ cup fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat the oil in a pan and add the cinnamon. Once it starts to sizzle, add the onions with the green chile and cook over a medium heat for 5 minutes until they start to color.

    Step 2

    Add the garlic, ginger and cashew nuts and cook over a medium heat for 5 minutes until lightly golden. Stir in the poppy seeds and then pour in the measured water.

    Step 3

    Transfer the mixture to a blender and blitz until smooth, then return to the pan.

    Step 4

    Stir in the salt, ground spices and measured boiling water then add the chicken pieces. Cover and cook over a medium heat for about 10 to 15 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.

    Step 5

    Add the cream and cilantro, then serve.

Chetna’s 30 Minute Indian Cookbook by Chetna Makan
From Chetna’s 30 Minute Indian: Quick and Easy Everyday Meals © 2021 by Chetna Makan. Reprinted with permission by Mitchell Beazley, distributed by Hachette Book Group.Buy the full book from Mitchell Beazley, Amazon, or Bookshop.

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