Indian Chicken Korma Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

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

Print Pin Rate

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? ›

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.

How to improve korma sauce? ›

Here are a few suggestions:
  1. Add more spices: Store-bought curry sauces often lack the depth of flavour that homemade sauces have. ...
  2. Use fresh ginger and garlic: Fresh ginger and garlic add a lot of flavour to curries. ...
  3. Add a touch of sweetness: Some store-bought curry sauces can be quite sour.
Mar 19, 2016

What's the difference between curry and korma? ›

Korma is a dish that is rich and creamy and is made with yogurt, cream, and ground nuts. It tends to be milder in flavor and is often served with rice. Curry, on the other hand, is a more robust dish made with a variety of spices, herbs, and vegetables.

What are the different types of Chicken Korma? ›

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 chicken masala and chicken korma? ›

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.

What is the difference between masala and korma? ›

Cooking type, Color, Gravy consistency (khorma is thin to med thick- where tikka masala is semi gravy or very less coating ) , Flavor, texture of meat are the core difference.

Why does my korma taste bitter? ›

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 special about korma? ›

A korma can be mildly spiced or fiery and may use lamb, goat meat, chicken, beef or game; some kormas combine meat and vegetables such as spinach and turnip. The term shahi (English: royal), used for some kormas, indicates its status as a prestige dish, rather than an everyday meal, and its association with the court.

Which Indian 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.

Is chicken korma better than chicken tikka masala? ›

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.

Is chicken korma better than butter chicken? ›

When it comes to the choice between Butter Chicken and Chicken Korma, it ultimately boils down to personal preference. Butter Chicken is the choice if you enjoy a creamy, tomato-based sauce with a sweet touch. Chicken Shahi Korma is the dish for you if you prefer a milder and nuttier savor with a rich, aromatic gravy.

What dish is similar to chicken korma? ›

Pasanda. Like their cousin the Korma a Pasanda is a rich, creamy curry made from ground almonds and coconut. It is a sweet dish without too much heat and has it's origins in Moghul cooking using lamb. It can also have cream in it as well, so it is very mild and children generally like it.

Is Indian korma healthy? ›

Is chicken korma healthy? Unfortunately, like many other Indian curries, Chicken Korma is generally perceived as an unhealthy food as its calorie-count amounts to around 300-330 calories per serving. You can always opt for healthier options by tweaking a few ingredients here and there.

What is the difference between chicken korma and Shahi 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 does Indian korma taste like? ›

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.

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. With pasta, choose arrabbiata or bolognese instead of carbonara or cheese-based sauces.

What does korma masala taste like? ›

The sauce, a defining element of Korma, is crafted by blending cashews, almonds, poppy seeds, and occasionally a touch of cream. This blend creates a creamy, nutty base that forms the heart of the dish. Aromatic spices like cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon are added to the sauce, infusing it with their nuanced flavors.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Velia Krajcik

Last Updated:

Views: 6808

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Velia Krajcik

Birthday: 1996-07-27

Address: 520 Balistreri Mount, South Armand, OR 60528

Phone: +466880739437

Job: Future Retail Associate

Hobby: Polo, Scouting, Worldbuilding, Cosplaying, Photography, Rowing, Nordic skating

Introduction: My name is Velia Krajcik, I am a handsome, clean, lucky, gleaming, magnificent, proud, glorious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.