Korma is the mildest of the major Indian curries and arguably the most technically refined. The flavour comes not from heat but from the careful blooming of aromatic spices — cardamom, cumin, coriander — in ghee, and the richness comes from the nut paste (traditionally cashew or almond) that thickens the sauce without tomato or chilli. Coconut cream makes a perfect dairy-free base.
Chicken Korma Recipe
Ingredients
- 600g boneless chicken thighs, cut into large pieces
- 2 tbsp ghee
- 1 large onion, roughly chopped
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 tsp fresh ginger
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- ½ tsp ground cardamom
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tbsp ground almonds (or cashew butter)
- 400ml full-fat coconut cream
- Sea salt
- Toasted flaked almonds and rose petals to serve
Method
- Blend the onion, garlic, and ginger into a smooth paste using a small food processor or blender.
- Heat the ghee in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion paste. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until it turns golden and loses its raw smell.
- Add the ground cumin, coriander, cardamom, turmeric, and ground almonds. Cook for 2 minutes.
- Add the chicken pieces. Stir to coat in the spice paste. Cook for 5 minutes.
- Pour in the coconut cream. Stir well. Bring to a gentle simmer.
- Cover and cook for 25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Season with salt. Serve over basmati rice, garnished with toasted almonds and rose petals.
Is korma supposed to be mild?
Yes. Authentic korma contains no chilli or very little. The flavour comes from aromatic spices, not heat. If you want heat, add chilli incrementally.
Can I use dairy cream?
Yes — single cream or double cream are traditional. Reduce to 300ml if using double cream.
Is this seed oil free?
Yes. Ghee and coconut cream are the only fats.
Follow Savannah: @theefoodiekitchen · All Links
African, Hawaiian, Indian, Mediterranean, Asian, Exotic, Chicken, Rice, Cookies, Coffee, Spices, Plants, World Cuisine, 30-Minute Dinners and more.
View All 23 Books on Amazon →