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    Home > Curries

    Easy Chicken Korma

    Published: May 3, 2021 · Modified: May 26, 2021 by Nicky Corbishley

    Go to Recipe Go to Video Print Recipe

    This chicken korma is a rich and creamy mild chicken curry with lots of flavour, made with coconut cream, yogurt and a small amount of ground almonds. Perfect for kids and adults to enjoy.
    It's all cooked in one pan with no marinading required and it's ready in less than 30 minutes!

    Chicken korma, rice and naan in a bowl on a dark background. Further bowl of curry and naan in background.

    Jump to:
    • 📋 What do we need?
    • 🔪 How to make it
    • 🍽️ What to serve it with
    • 📺 Watch how to make it
    • 🍲 More mild Curry recipes
    • Chicken Korma
    • 💬 Reviews

    It took a little bit of experimentation to get this korma to taste exactly the way I wanted to it. Creamy, but not cloying, mild but not flavourless. I really wanted it to stand out as a curry the adults would love, as well as the kids, but also for it to be quick and simple.

    This certainly won't disappoint. No marinating needed, no removing bits from the pan and adding them back later - just adding ingredients in to build up the flavours, then letting it simmer for a few minutes before serving.

    📋 What do we need?

    Ingredients for chicken korma on a wooden table.

    🔪 How to make it

    Full recipe with detailed steps in the recipe card at the end of this post.

    • We start by softening onion in a pan in a ghee or oil, then adding chicken. It just needs to cook until it's sealed as it will continue to cook along with the rest of the ingredients.
    • Next in are the aromatics and spices - we're talking garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, garam masala, a little mild chilli powder (leave it out if you want NO heat at all), turmeric, salt and white pepper. I also add in a little tomato puree (paste if you're in the USA) to add richness and help really coat the chicken in the spices.
    • Now we add in natural yogurt - use full fat as it's less likely to split, coconut cream, a couple of tablespoons of ground almonds and a tiny bit of sugar for a little sweetness.
    • Simmer for 6-8 minutes - by which time the chicken should be cooked, the stir in 4 tbsp of double (heavy) cream and serve.
    6 image collage showing how to make chicken korma

    👩‍🍳PRO TIP You can replace the double (heavy) cream with single (half-fat) cream if you prefer, just be sure to turn off the heat before stirring it in.

    Serve topped with a little freshly torn coriander (cilantro).

    Overhead image of chicken korma in a dark bowl on a dark background. Napkin and part of a naan bread also in shot.

    🍽️ What to serve it with

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    • Wooden spoon in a pan of boiled rice
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    Let's just have a close look at that creamy curry one more time....

    Close up of Chicken Korma curry in a bowl with rice

    📺 Watch how to make it

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    Chicken korma, naan and rice in a bowl on a dark background.

    Chicken Korma

    By: Nicky Corbishley
    A rich and creamy chicken korma with lots of flavour. All cooked in one pan with no marinading required, it's ready in less than 30 minutes!
    4.80 from 15 votes
    Rate this Recipe Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine Indian
    Servings 4
    Calories 485 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 2 tbsp ghee or sunflower oil
    • 1 onion - peeled and finely chopped
    • 3 chicken breasts - (approx. 525g/1.1lbs), chopped into bite-size chunks
    • 2 cloves garlic - peeled and minced
    • 2 tsp minced ginger
    • 1 tsp ground cumin
    • 1 ½ tsp ground coriander
    • 1 ½ tsp garam masala
    • ½ tsp mild chilli powder - (this is to add a tiny bit of warmth, but you can leave it out if you prefer no heat at all).
    • ½ tsp turmeric
    • ¼ tsp salt
    • ¼ tsp white pepper
    • 2 tbsp tomato puree
    • 120 ml (½ cup) full-fat plain/natural yogurt
    • 120 ml (½ cup) coconut cream - *see note
    • 2 tbsp ground almonds
    • 1 tbsp sugar
    • 60 ml (4 tbsp) double (heavy) Cream

    To Serve:

    • 2 tbsp freshly chopped coriander - cilantro
    • Boiled rice and/or chapati

    INSTRUCTIONS
     

    • Heat the ghee in a large frying pan over a medium heat, until hot.
    • Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, until softened.
    • Add the chicken breasts and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is sealed.
    • Add the 2 cloves of minced garlic, 2 tsp of minced ginger, 1 tsp cumin, 1 ½ tsp ground coriander, 1 ½ tsp garam masala, ½ tsp chilli powder, ½ tsp turmeric, ¼ tsp salt, ¼ tsp white pepper and 2 tbsp tomato puree.
    • Cook for 2 minutes, stirring, until the chicken is coated.
    • Add the 120ml (½ cup) yogurt, 120ml (½ cup) coconut cream, 2 tbsp ground almonds and 1 tbsp sugar.
    • Stir everything together, bring to a gentle boil, then simmer for 6-8 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.
    • Stir in the 60ml (4 tbap) double (heavy) cream and turn off the heat.
    • Serve the korma topped with fresh coriander (cilantro).
    • Serve with rice and/or chapati.

    Video

    ✎ Notes

    *Coconut cream
    Coconut cream is thicker than coconut milk, with a higher fat content. You can use the little tins of coconut cream or use creamed coconut blocks mixed with a little hot water to make coconut cream. I use the coconut blocks for this recipe.
    If you only have coconut milk, you can chill the tin overnight, then open the tin and use the solid portion at the top of the tin, leaving the liquid behind.
    Can I make it ahead?
    Yes, you can make this curry ahead, then cool, cover and refrigerate for up to a day.
    Reheat in a pan over a medium heat, stirring often, until the chicken is piping hot throughout.
    You may need to add in a little water or cream to loosen when reheating, as the sauce will thicken.
    Can I freeze it?
    Yogurt can sometimes be difficult to work with when freezing as it can sometimes split or go a little grainy on defrosting. However I've frozen and reheated this curry and it was fine.
    The key here is to ensure you're using full fat cream and full fat yogurt. Lower fat dairy products are much more likely to split/curdle.
    • Also ensure you cool the korma quickly and freeze as soon as possible after cooking.
    • Ideally freeze in portions so it defrosts quicker.
    • Defrost in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat in a pan until piping hot throughout. Be sure to heat on a medium heat (rather than a high heat) and stir often while re-heating.
    How to scale up and scale down this recipe
    You can double or half this recipe, sticking to the same ingredient ratios.It will take slightly longer for the chicken to cook if you're doubling up.
    Nutritional information is per serving, not including rice or chapati.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 485kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 40gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 152mgSodium: 372mgPotassium: 887mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 439IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 83mgIron: 2mg
    Keywords Indian Takeaway, Takeaway food at home
    Tried this recipe?Mention @KitchenSanctuary or tag #KitchenSanctuary on Instagram!

    Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links – which means if you buy the product I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you). If you do buy, then thank you! That’s what helps us to keep Kitchen Sanctuary running. The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors. For more information please see our Terms & Conditions.

    Hi I’m Nicky

    I love to cook and I want to share with you my favourite, delicious family friendly recipes. I want to inspire you to create fantastic food for your family every day.

    Read More

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    Reader Interactions

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    1. Suky says

      May 05, 2023 at 4:50 pm

      5 stars
      It’s taken me a long time to find this simple recipe, my husband loves Chicken Korma made a few recipes in the past nothing matched the restaurant taste, but I made this one and he gave me 10 out of 10 so thanks Nicky for saving me quick, simple and easy my husband could eat it every day !

      Reply
    2. Tabitha Coley says

      April 24, 2023 at 4:24 am

      5 stars
      It’s so delicious! I add a little more white pepper & chili powder to give it more heat!

      Reply
    3. Christine says

      April 21, 2023 at 4:44 pm

      5 stars
      I made this recipe today and it was delicious. Thank you.

      Reply
    4. john says

      January 18, 2023 at 11:56 pm

      5 stars
      Brilliant recipe best chicken korma l have had would highly recommend it👍🏻

      Reply
    5. Marilla says

      January 18, 2023 at 9:42 pm

      Nicky can I make this in the slow cooker? would it all go in for about 4 hours? and stir in the cream at the end?
      thanks!

      Reply
    « Older Comments

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    Hi I’m Nicky

    I love to cook and I want to share with you my favourite, delicious family friendly recipes. I want to inspire you to create fantastic food for your family every day.

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      Nicky Corbishley is the recipe creator and photographer for Kitchen Sanctuary. Wife to Chris (chief techie and videographer) and mum to Lewis and Gracey. Read More…

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