Indian Chicken Korma Recipe (2024)

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Indian Chicken Korma Recipe is a traditional Indian / Pakistani curry, which is usually served with naan or rice. It usually has a rich and flavorful curry made from a paste of cashew nuts or almonds. It gets a vibrant flavor from a handful of a mix of spices. Learn all about Indian Chicken Korma recipe and my shortcut method to make your favorite Indian curry right at home.

I love sharing my favorite Pakistani and Indian recipes with you guys...make a complete meal by making this daal and matar pulao with this korma. Add this kachumber salad, and you're looking at a restaurant worthy meal, right in the comfort of your home! 🙂

Indian Chicken Korma Recipe (1)

Okay, so I have a confession. I don't make this Indian Chicken Korma recipe from scratch. I use a ready made spice mix, easily available at Indian stores (and in big superstores as well).

This allows me to quickly make Indian Chicken Korma right at home, without even having to make a paste of cashews or almonds! Really, that's how easy it is.

I love to make this Indian Chicken Korma recipe for dinner parties at home, because it's super easy but it tastes like you slaved for hours over it. Hehe.

Spices You Need

  • Red chilli (for a little bit of heat and color)
  • Ground coriander and cumin (for a deep earthy flavor)
  • Turmeric
  • Ginger
  • Cardamom
  • Black pepper
  • Ground cloves
  • Cinnamon powder
  • Mace powder
  • Bay Leaf

These are the aromatic spices which when combined, make a delicious Indian Chicken Korma recipe.

Indian Chicken Korma Recipe (2)

Boneless Chicken or Bone-In Chicken?

For more flavor, I recommend making this recipe with bone-in chicken. However, I totally make this korma with boneless chicken and it's definitely tasty.

In fact, when I posted this recipe for the first time, the pictured korma pictured below, was made with boneless chicken. So really, it's completely up to your preference.

Indian Chicken Korma Recipe (3)

How Do You Make It?

1.) In order to get this deep rich color and flavor for the Indian Chicken Korma recipe, we need to start with caramelizing onions.

Red onions are used here because they caramelize faster than other varieties and they have the right sweet flavor for this curry.

2.) Then these caramelized onions are blended with thick, creamy yogurt, so that it sort of becomes a flavor base.

Okay, so now let's put this carmalized onion-yogurt base on the side while we get to the other elements of the recipe.

3.) So now we add chicken to the same pot as the one in which we carmalized the onions.

Add some garlic ginger paste and fry on high until the chicken changes color.

4.) So now comes the sneaky shortcut. Look, I don't claim to be an authentic curry maker, even though I'm from South Asia and you would think curry runs through my veins and that I'm some sort of exotic spice mistress.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm no expert on making special spice mixes for curries.

So let's give a very warm welcome to our helpful, ready-made spice mix Shan Korma Masala.

This Shan spice mix is the best friend to all our curries cos ain't nobody got time to grind and make fresh spice mixes these days. Right, right?

Okay, so now with just a flick of our wrists, we add a bit of this Shan Korma Masala and cook the chicken until the spices wake up and the aroma of rich curry wafts through the kitchen.

So you can either order this online from Amazon, or visit an Indian or Asian supermarket nearby to buy this spice mix! 🙂

5.) And with a few more simple steps such as adding the caramelized-yogurt base and a bit more of cooking, you have the perfect, satisfying curry ready for a relaxing dinner at home.

Indian Chicken Korma Recipe (4)

Origins of this Mughlai Recipe

Did you know that Indian Chicken Korma recipe can be traced back to the 16th century! It's a part of mughlai cuisine which is known for its rich and spice fragrant curries.

The word mughlai comes from mughal, which quite literally means royalty. So this Indian Chicken Korma recipe, is a recipe fit for royalty! 🙂

Varitations

Instead of using chicken for this Indian korma recipe, you can even use vegetables or mutton. It would be equally delicious! 🙂

Indian Chicken Korma Recipe (5)

I know curries can be a bit daunting, but I hope the way I've explained it and the easy shortcut I mentioned will encourage you to try your hand at making this easy Indian Chicken Korma recipe at home. It's better than take out! 🙂

Indian Chicken Korma Recipe (6)

Looking for more easy curry recipes?

Daal: Indian Yellow Lentils

30 Minute Chickpea Curry

Spicy Minced Beef with Capsicum

Punjabi Karhi Pakora

Palak Chicken

Matar Paneer Recipe

Hariyali Chicken

Palak Paneer

Indian Chicken Korma Recipe (7)

Indian Chicken Korma Recipe

Indian Chicken Korma Recipe is a traditional Indian curry, which is usually served with naan or rice. It usually has a rich and flavorful curry made from a paste of cashew nuts or almonds. It gets a vibrant flavor from a handful of a mix of spices. Learn all about Indian Chicken Korma and my shortcut method to make your favorite Indian curry right at home.

4.75 from 8 votes

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Pakistani/Indian

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 405kcal

Author: Wajeeha Nadeem

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup vegetable or canola oil
  • 4 medium sized red onions thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup full fat yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon garlic paste
  • 1 tablespoon ginger paste
  • 1000 grams bone-in chicken (skinless) (you may sub with boneless chicken breasts chopped into 1 inch cubes)
  • 1-2 tablespoons Shaan Korma Masala can be reduced or increased for heat
  • Salt to taste
  • 1-2 cups water
  • Chopped coriander for garnish.

Instructions

  • In a large pot, heat the oil and add the onions. Fry the onions on a medium high heat until caramelized and golden brown. The onions should be a deep, dark brown but not burnt. Take out the caramelized onions and place on kitchen paper to drain excess oil and let cool for a few minutes.

  • Add the caramelized onions and yogurt to a blender or a food processor and blend until smooth. You may need to add 1-2 tablespoons water to get a smoother paste. Set aside.

  • In the same pot, add the chicken and ginger garlic paste and cook on high heat until the chicken changes color and is no longer pink.

  • Add the Shaan Korma Masala and salt and cook for 5-7 minutes until the oil separates and you can no longer smell the rawness of the spices.

  • Add the yogurt-caramelized onions paste and water. Cook until it comes to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and let simmer for 15 minutes until you can see the oil separating from the curry.

  • Take off lid and bring to another boil by increasing the heat then and turn off the stove.

  • Garnish with chopped coriander. Serve with naan and white rice.

Nutrition

Calories: 405kcal

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @ikneadtoeat or tag #ikneadtoeat!

Indian Chicken Korma Recipe (8)
Indian Chicken Korma Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Indian korma sauce made of? ›

North Indian Korma is made with yogurt, nuts, seeds & brown onion paste. Sometimes you will also see recipes made with boiled onion paste like this Navratan Korma. South Indian Korma (known as Kurma) is made with coconut, seeds, sometimes nuts and no brown onion paste. Optionally yogurt is used.

Is korma better with yogurt or coconut milk? ›

Again, coconut tastes out of place, and Greek yoghurt is too bland and thick. Tangy whole-milk yoghurt, with a touch of cream towards the end, gives the best flavour and texture; rich, but not so rich it smothers the delicate spicing.

What makes korma taste like korma? ›

Korma defies strict definition, but this Mughlai dish typically involves meat or vegetables braised in a relatively mild velvety yogurt sauce that's seasoned with aromatic spices. It often carries a nutty undertone from blended almonds, cashews, coconut, or poppy seeds.

What's the difference between chicken curry and Chicken Korma? ›

Hence, korma has a yoghurt/cream-based mildly spicy gravy with a simmered centre component. Shahi korma, Mughalai korma, Hyderabadi korma, and Kashmiri korma are prime examples. On the other hand, curry is usually spicier and thicker than korma.

What is the difference between korma and Tikka korma? ›

In short, both Chicken Shahi Korma and Chicken Tikka Masala are creamy and tasty. However, the chicken korma dish has fewer species and a creamier flavor, while chicken tikka is more flavorful due to the use of hot spices and varies in different tastes and flavors.

What to add to a jar of korma sauce? ›

Add more spices: Store-bought curry sauces often lack the depth of flavour that homemade sauces have. To remedy this, you can add more spices like cumin, turmeric, coriander, and garam masala. Use fresh ginger and garlic: Fresh ginger and garlic add a lot of flavour to curries.

What can I use in korma instead of coconut milk? ›

Our answer. If you don't like the taste of coconut milk (or some people also avoid coconut milk as it has a high fat content) then you could use either soy milk or almond milk as alternatives. However make sure that you use an unsweetened, unflavoured version of these milks.

How to thicken korma sauce? ›

6 ways on how to thicken your curry sauce
  1. Reduction: One of the most common methods to thicken a curry sauce is by reducing it. ...
  2. Roux: A roux is a classic French technique that works wonders in thickening curry sauces. ...
  3. Cornstarch slurry: ...
  4. Coconut milk or cream: ...
  5. Yoghurt or heavy cream: ...
  6. Pureed vegetables:
Oct 19, 2023

Can I use cream instead of yogurt in korma? ›

We use heavy cream in our Lamb Korma recipe: I don't know if yogurt will be thick enough to make a nice creamy sauce. I guess the best thing to do would be to experiment and see which you prefer. Our video above uses heavy cream, but it's only one way to make a really yummy Indian dish!

Why is chicken korma so good? ›

It features a rich, creamy gravy made with a base of yogurt or cream and aromatic spices. The Chicken is simmered in this luscious sauce, allowing the flavors to meld together and create a harmonious taste. Chicken Korma tends to have a slightly nutty essence because of ingredients like almonds, cashews, or coconut.

Why does my korma taste bitter? ›

With a meaty sauce that covers the veggies you cannot go wrong when serving this hearty meal to your family and friends. Your curry can taste bitter if the spices and garlic are burnt or if you've added too much fenugreek to the dish.

What is the difference between Shahi korma and korma? ›

While Shahi Korma is like the common Korma as they share some similarities, the Shahi Korma has some notable differences which makes it royal. Shahi Korma is creamier due to the use of a paste of almonds and cashews and cream instead of yogurt, giving it a richer and more indulgent texture.

What curry is similar to korma? ›

Similar to a Korma but with a small touch of added spice, the Pasanda was originally made from lamb leg, but today often uses chicken or prawns. The mild curry flavour is attributed to the yoghurt marinade and coconut milk, often with the addition of peppercorns, garlic, cumin, and onions.

Why is it called chicken korma? ›

Boneless chicken pieces are braised in a rich, creamy sauce made from yoghurt and nuts (almonds and cashews are favourites), with delicate, aromatic flavours, such as cardamom, rosewater and saffron. The word korma is derived from the Turkish word kavurma, which literally means 'cooked meat'.

What curry is hotter than korma? ›

Whereas in the 1970s, many restaurants simply offered a standard menu of curries that ranged from the very mild, like biryani or korma, through to the blow-the-roof-of-your-mouth-off hot, such as vindaloo (we won't talk at length here about the mercifully short-lived popularity of the legendary phaal - often also ...

How is korma different from masala? ›

In the battle of spice dynamics, Korma employs a more subdued approach, relying on fragrant notes to create a nuanced backdrop. Tikka Masala, on the other hand, marches forward with a vibrant array of spices, where cumin, coriander, and paprika join forces to conquer taste receptors with their fiery embrace.

Is korma sauce good for you? ›

Whatever the dish, tomato-based sauces are healthier than creamy ones, as they're usually lower in saturated fat and calories. Instead of a creamy korma, go for a balti or jalfrezi.

What does korma mean in Indian food? ›

The word korma is derived from Urdu qorma, korma or kormah, meaning “braise”, and referring to the cooking technique used in the dish.

Is korma sauce hot? ›

Originating in Northern India and Pakistan, the Korma is traditionally made up of yoghurt, coconut milk and almonds, making it one of the mildest curries available. The thick, creamy sauce has a sweet tang to it from the coconut and almonds, and is most commonly made with chicken and served with rice.

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