Shall we start the new year with a spicy curry? I was actually confused whether to post something sweet or something spicy. Since the last two posts were in the sweets/dessert category I’m going with the spicy one. I hope you'll also like it.
Btw, are you still in the spirit of new year? I’m sort of… I’m still going around wishing people happy new year :) That reminds me… did I wish you? Anyways, here it is….
Wish you & your loved ones a wonderful & blessed 2012!
About the recipe… I got it from my aunt’s recipe book. Honestly, I don't know whether this is authentic/traditional Chicken Korma recipe. For all I know, it tasted yum! And that is my biggest criteria! In my perception, Korma is something which has a thick gravy. In that way, this curry fitted the bill perfectly and the taste was great too. So here goes the recipe…

If you are interested in more Chicken recipes, check out our Chicken ebooklet
Here is the recipe…
Spicy Chicken Korma
Ingredients
- 1/2 kg Chicken (cut into med size pieces)
- 3 Cardamom
- 3 Cloves
- A small piece Cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp Fennel seeds
- 3 med – big Onion (finely sliced)
- 1 tbsp Crushed Ginger & garlic (each)
- 2 – 2.5 tsp Chilli powder
- 2.5 tsp Coriander powder
- 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
- 1/2 – 1 tsp Pepper powder
- 1/2 tsp Fennel powder
- 1 big Tomato (sliced)
- 6 Cashew nuts
- 1 tsp Poppy seeds (kashakasha) (refer notes)
- 3 tbsp Grated coconut
- 1.5 – 2 cups Water
- 1/2 cup Medium thick coconut milk (optional, refer notes)
- A handful of Coriander leaves
- Curry leaves
- Salt
- Oil
Instructions
- Soak the cashews & poppy seeds (if using) in 2 tbsp hot water.
- Heat oil & add cardamom, cloves, cinnamon & fennel seeds. Add finely sliced onion & cook till it becomes brown color.
- Add crushed ginger & garlic. Cook for a few minutes. Add chili, coriander, turmeric, fennel & pepper powder. Mix well & cook till the raw smell goes, around 2-3 mins.
- Add sliced tomatoes, salt, curry leaves & give a stir.
- Add chicken pieces. Mix well. Make sure the chicken pieces are coated with the masala.
- Add water (1.5 – 2 cups), bring it to boil. Reduce flame, cover and cook till chicken is almost done (about 75 %).
- Grind the soaked cashews & poppy seeds & coconut with enough water to get a smooth paste.
- Add this paste to the curry when the chicken is almost done. Mix well. Cook for 3-4 mins.
- Add coconut milk (if using) & combine well. Cook for 2 more mins. Add chopped coriander leaves & remove from fire.
- Serve with pulao, rice, roti, appam etc;
When do we add the grated coconut?
Hi maria,
Its so nice with your recipies.I have a doubt regarding the process which you were not mentioned here.don’t you recommend to marinate chicken before cooking
Hi,
For this particular recipe, I didnt marinate the chicken, I added it directly to the gravy. You can always customise the recipe to suit your requirements :)
Cheers
Maria
Hi maria..I followed your recipe to the t. It came out really delicious. M now hooked to your blogs. Gotta try out other recipes too. Thank you for sharing such easy to make, tasty recipes
Thank you so much Arunima :) Great to know that it came out well. Hope you will like the other recipes too..
Happy cooking and all the best!
Cheers
Maria
Hi Maria, I love all your recipes. Just a quick question. Isn’t it better to use cream for this recipe than coconut milk..
Cashew nut, Cream and poppy seeds go together better than coconut I think, If you think otherwise i will try with coconut milk::
Best regards
Rachel George
Hi Rachel,
If you ask my opinion I choose coconut milk for this recipe :)
But you can always customise the recipe to suit your requirements and taste preferences :)
Cheers
Maria
A friendly suggestion from a Swedish houseman (my wife “liberated” me from my office work, as sweden is very forward thinking about gender roles)
If you write the ingredients in the same order as they appear in the recipe, this will probably help out a lot of your readers. :)
Love and peace/
Anders
Thanks Anders for the suggestion :) I’ll try to write the recipe accordingly.
Happy cooking :)
Cheers
Maria
Anders, I love the term houseman. Hooray for Swedish progressive thinking!
Thanks
Thanks
Hi I tried your malabar chicken recipe when one of my friends came for dinner…it was amazing….you had written it so well I could follow it without any video….I just adjusted the spice level at all stages (added less red chilli and less chilli powder), I did not find the link to malabar chicken so leaving the comment here!! Will try out few more recipes soon!
Thanks Arpita :) Good to know that this recipe worked out well for you.
Cheers
Maria
Thanks Arpita :) Good to know that this recipe worked out well for you.
Cheers
Maria
Thanks Arpita :) Good to know that this recipe worked out well for you.
Cheers
Maria
Hi I tried your malabar chicken recipe when one of my friends came for dinner…it was amazing….you had written it so well I could follow it without any video….I just adjusted the spice level at all stages (added less red chilli and less chilli powder), I did not find the link to malabar chicken so leaving the comment here!! Will try out few more recipes soon!
Thanks for sharing your wonderful recipes with us.i have a question- If we do not like the coconut flavor, can we use anything else apart from coconut milk and grated coconut (such as plain milk or cream)?
You are welcome! I havent personally tried any substitute for coconut milk, but some of my readers have said that they use plain milk instead of coconut milk. So I think, you can try plain milk or cream :)
You are welcome! I havent personally tried any substitute for coconut milk, but some of my readers have said that they use plain milk instead of coconut milk. So I think, you can try plain milk or cream :)
I recommend plain yogurt over milk or cream.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful recipes with us.i have a question- If we do not like the coconut flavor, can we use anything else apart from coconut milk and grated coconut (such as plain milk or cream)?
fab food maria.. wonderful presentation .. every recip looks awesome …!!!
Thanks a bunch Sindhu for your kind words :)
Cheers
Maria
Thanks a bunch Sindhu for your kind words :)
Cheers
Maria
Maria , your dishes very good , thanks for the good post .
bestflavours cakes , ireland .
You are welcome Binu! Thanks for sharing your feedback here!
Cheers
Maria
Maria…I feel like I know you so well now! : )) Maybe its your blog effect! :D I tried this and it came out so well…really yummmo with Appams!
:) Thanks dear Annet!
Take care,
Maria
Tried for the first time….I have to say it is awesome…Really tasty with Appams!! thanks a lot Maria
you are welcome Arun! Great to know that you enjoyed this dish.
Thanks for the comment!
Cheers
Maria
very nice, cooked 4-5 times
Thank you Radha :)
Hi Maria Thanks lot for the wonderful recipes..they are awesome :) Keep up the good work .I needed a suggestion regarding this recipe..Can I add gobi instead of chicken in this recipe??
Hi Treasa,
Thanks a bunch dear :) I havent tried it with gobi, but I think you can… If you happen to try, please do let me know how it turns out. If it comes out great, I can also try :)
Cheers
Maria
You are welcome Sree!
Hi Maria ,
Tried your spicy chicken korma.it was nice and yummy.i had tried a lot of recepies from your collection.always it has become a hit in my family and among friends….thank you so much …for such lovely recepies.
Cheers
Babita
Hi Babita,
I’m really happy to know that you try recipes from here regularly and liked them too… Thanks a bunch dear :)
Cheers
Maria
hi maria..lovely recipes….tell me, where did you find poppy seeds in Bahrain?
Thanks Rashmi! I’ve emailed you, please check..
Cheers
Maria
Thank u Maria. I prepared it thrice now. Its yummy.
Hi Suma,
You are welcome :) Really good to know that you’ve tried many times. Thanks a lot for the comment.
Cheers
Maria
i tried this it was nice and tasty
thank u
You are welcome!
Tried out the recipe….hubby & i loved it absolutely….. yummylicious :)
Thanks a lot for the feedback Lakshmi :)
i tryed it it is amazing ur great
Thank you Ruby :)
Yummy……
rosesandgifts.com
Thank you!
Maria kutts..On friday having a guest coming for lunch..do u think this will be good with pulao /rice? Or only with chapathi/ naan?
Gayathri dear, it goes well with rice/pulao also. Hope you like this. Happy cooking & entertaining!
Cheers
Maria
Hi Maria, i liked the recipe and want to try it…but i didnt get poppy seeds from Abudhabi…and people are telling that we cant bring it from India also as it is the seed of opium poppy plant..don’t know what to do…:(
Hi Sree,
I’ve mentioned in the notes section of the recipe, that you can substitute poppy seeds with cashew. Please read the notes section.
Hope you like the korma. Happy cooking :)
Cheers
Maria
Hi Maria,
I love your blog , seriously its just awesome. So many recipes, all my favorite. :-)
I have Liked your facebook page.
Do check out my space which I have started just recently. Will be checking out ur space more frequently from now.
Regards,
Manju
http://manjuseatingdelights.blogspot.com
Happy new year Maria. Today I tried this receipe and came out very tasty. Thanks a lot for this tasty receipe. Keep up the good work.
Love always
shaila
Nice
site of Recipes, definitively would like to refer .
giftwithlove.com
Thank you!
drool over it! awesome chicken recipe!
yummy…tasty one..Bookmarked
Aarthi
http://yummytummy-aarthi.blogspot.com/
Super super delicious,drooling here.
Thanks Finla :)
very tasty dish ,,May I add that poppy seeds may not be needed if coconut is used,,,,,,Thanks for all the wonderful dishes,,,,,,
Hey Maria, A very happy new year to you too. The dish looks perfect. Would love it with some hot garlic naan. :)
Thank you Ancy :)
Dear Maria,
Thank you. Bcoz before one month i am so lazy in cooking. But now i likes alot..thanks dear
You are welcome Thomas :)
Dear Maria,
My name is Renju. Before month I am very lazy in cooking. But now I am trying different dishes of You. thank you dear
Hi Renju,
I’m really happy to know that the recipes here help you with cooking :) Thanks for trying them.
Happy cooking :)
Cheers
Maria
Happy New Year Maria! Love this thick korma curry. Masalas are too good. I make a similar version at home without coconut milk. I add water instead. :)
Thanks Rinku dear :) Yeah you can add water also instead, that will be more healthy too ;)