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    Home » Recipes » Chicken

    Published: Sep 17, 2016 · Modified: May 28, 2023 by Usha Rao

    Chicken Curry with Cashew Powder

    Jump to Recipe

    Depending on the region, the base for Indian curries is usually onion, tomato and/or yogurt along with combination of poppy seeds, coconut powder and/or nuts. In parts of South and south western regions of India, yogurt is replaced with coconut milk and some mughlai curries have cream.

    Chicken Curry, Indian Curry, Indian Food, Indian Cuisine, Curry, Blogging Marathon, Cooking Carnival, Protein Rich Food, Cooking With Protein Rich Ingredients, Cooking With Chicken, No Tomato Curry, Cashew Chicken Curry, Chicken Korma,

    At my place and at husband’s place, the base for non veg curries is onion, yogurt and tomato though tomato is a new addition. In rustic style of cooking, onion and yogurt along with poppy seeds and coconut powder were the key ingredients that went into a curry.

    However, in last couple of decades, usage of poppy seeds decreased in many households in everyday cooking citing health issues and then came the substitute or an alternative in the form of tomato.

    At least at my mother’s place, nowadays poppy seeds are used only occasionally and sometimes tomato is also used to get more gravy. Nuts like almonds and cashews were never used and still not used in non veg gravies, at both my parents and il-law’s places, unless it is a must in a specific dish or a restaurant style gravy.

    Chicken Curry, Indian Curry, Indian Food, Indian Cuisine, Curry, Blogging Marathon, Cooking Carnival, Protein Rich Food, Cooking With Protein Rich Ingredients, Cooking With Chicken, No Tomato Curry, Cashew Chicken Curry, Chicken Korma,

    For this week’s cooking with chicken for this month’s Cooking Carnival, I wanted to cook one chicken curry. At home it is always chicken shorva and Mr U prefers that at home, over any chicken curry.

    Even if I make something different such as butter chicken, dum ka murgh, chicken tikka masala, he eats but doesn't relish it as much as he does chicken shorva. He does enjoy above mentioned curries at restaurants but at home, the good old shorva is always preferred and I guess it is our comfort food!

    Chicken Curry, Indian Curry, Indian Food, Indian Cuisine, Curry, Blogging Marathon, Cooking Carnival, Protein Rich Food, Cooking With Protein Rich Ingredients, Cooking With Chicken, No Tomato Curry, Cashew Chicken Curry, Chicken Korma,

    Keeping that in mind, I tweaked the chicken shorva recipe by making it tomato free, adding some cashew powder and poppy seeds. Cashew is the new ingredient in the curry. When I mentioned I was making chicken curry, he wanted me to make it spicy.

    I made it last Saturday and it wasn't as spicy as I hoped it to be. Cashew balanced the heat from chili and wasn’t as spicy hot as I had expected it to be. I took the pictures and was going to post the recipe anyway.

    Chicken Curry, Indian Curry, Indian Food, Indian Cuisine, Curry, Blogging Marathon, Cooking Carnival, Protein Rich Food, Cooking With Protein Rich Ingredients, Cooking With Chicken, No Tomato Curry, Cashew Chicken Curry, Chicken Korma,

    Last week was a bit hectic in blog cooking front as I had to cook most of the recipes for last week and also managed to cook many of this week's recipes. This week has been relaxed as I have not done much blog cooking except the pasta.

    Since it was a relaxed week, I made the curry again couple of days ago. I was glad I made this curry last week as it gave me a chance to re-cook and modify the recipe a bit.

    Top down view of chicken korma in a bowl.

    I did not mind cooking it again, as I had to make a chicken curry anyway for dinner. Instead of chicken shorva, I repeated this curry. Second, I didn't have to worry of about time of the day I cooked, as I already had pictures and didn't have to race with the sun for natural light.

    I need a break after cooking to transition from chef to a food stylist & a photographer! Anyway, I liked the modified version better and if one is looking for a variation to the regular chicken curry, this is a nice recipe to try.

    It goes well with white rice, pulao, biryani and even rotis. Since we are suckers for shorva, I kept the gravy a bit on the thinner side, which can easily be adjust to desired consistency by adjusting water.

    bowl of chicken curry with cashew paste.

    📖 Recipe

    Chicken Curry, Indian Curry, Indian Food, Indian Cuisine, Curry, Blogging Marathon, Cooking Carnival, Protein Rich Food, Cooking With Protein Rich Ingredients, Cooking With Chicken, No Tomato Curry, Cashew Chicken Curry, Chicken Korma,

    Indian Style Chicken Curry with Cashew Paste

    Creamy chicken curry with a cashew yogurt base pairs well with rice and Indian flat breads.
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    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian Cuisine
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes
    Servings: 3
    Calories: 302kcal
    Author: Usha Rao

    Ingredients

    Marinade

    • ½ Whole Chicken 3.6 lbs, skinned, cleaned and cut into small pieces (about 1.3 lbs / 600 grams after cleaning & cutting)
    • 1 ½ tsp. Chili Powder
    • 1 tsp. Salt

    Masala Powder

    • 6-8 Whole Cashews I used 7
    • ⅛ tsp. Cardamom Seeds
    • 2 Cloves
    • ⅛ - ¼ ” Cinnamon Stick
    • ⅛ tsp. Caraway Seeds
    • 1 tsp. Poppy Seeds
    • 2 tsp. Coconut Flakes opt. I liked it better without it

    Curry

    • 4 tbsp. Oil
    • 1 large Onion 200 - 230 grams / 0.4 - 0.5 lbs
    • 2 Cardamoms
    • 1-2 Cloves
    • Tiny piece of Cinnamon
    • ⅛ tsp. Caraway Seeds
    • 2 tbsp. Ginger Garlic Paste
    • 2 - 4 small Green Chilies cut in half (I used 4)
    • 1 ½ - 2 tsp. Coriander Powder
    • 1 - 1 ½ teaspoon Chili Powder adjust to taste
    • ¾ tsp. Salt adjust to taste and mind you chicken is already marinated with salt
    • ¼ tsp. Turmeric Powder
    • 1 - 1 ¼ cup Water
    • Fresh Kothmir or Cilantro Leaves chopped for garnish

    Instructions

    Marination

    • Wash and marinate chicken with salt, chili powder and yogurt for at least ½ hour.

    Masala Powder

    • Break cashews into small pieces and grind it into powder in spice grinder along with cardamom, cloves, caraway seeds, cinnamon and poppy seeds. If using coconut flakes, add that as well to make the powder. Poppy seeds are usually soaked in water and then ground to paste. I find grinding it directly works better in my grinder.

    Onion Paste

    • Cut the onion into 4 equal pieces. Chop one piece finely. This is about ¼ - ⅓ cup when chopped. Slice, the rest into ½” long slices. This is less than 1 ¼ cup.
    • Take oil in a saucepan and fry the sliced onions until golden brown. Remove fried onion from oil and let cool. Turn of the flame and keep the saucepan aside until ready to make the curry.

    Curry

    • Take the saucepan in which onions were fried and reheat the oil.
    • Add whole spices and when these change color, add onions and saute until light brown.
    • Add green chilies, ginger garlic and saute until raw smell of ginger is gone.
    • Add onion paste and saute until the paste is lightly roasted in oil.
    • Add coriander powder, chili powder , salt, turmeric and masala powder. Fry until spices blend in and lightly roasted. If the masala burns, add some water.
    • Add marinated chicken and cook until chicken is lightly fried in oil.
    • Cover and cook on medium low flame until chicken is partly cooked and oil separates from the masala / curry.
    • Add water, give a good stir, cover and bring it to a boil.
    • Taste the curry and adjust the spices.
    • Continue cooking until chicken is cooked and curry reaches desired consistency.
    • Sprinkle cilantro and turn off the flame.
    • Serve with white rice, bagara, pulao, biryani or any Indian flat bread or flavored rice.

    Notes

    I curry is on spicier side. Adjust chili powder & green chilies to taste. I would suggested adding less chili powder, taste it towards the end and add more chili powder if required.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 302kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 1305mg | Potassium: 289mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1037IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Share a photo! Mention @usha_myspicykitchen or tag #Usha_MySpicyKitchen!

    Here is a recap of Cooking Carnival. I will be back on Monday with a new ingredient.

    Week 1 - Eggs
    1st day - Spicy Bombay Toast
    2nd day - Steamed Eggs Curry
    3rd day - Baked Omelet

    Week 2 - Moong Bean/Dal
    1st day - Ram Ladoo
    2nd day - Moong Dal Laddu ~ Pesaru Pappu Muddalu
    3rd day - Moong Dal Vegetable Rice ~ Khichdi
    4th day - Homemade Sprouts & Spouts Stir Fry
    5th day - Moong Dal Dhokla
    6th day - Sprouted Moong Beans Chaat

    Week 3 - Chicken
    1st day - Chicken Kheema
    2nd day - Doro Wat ! Ethiopian Chicken Stew
    3rd day - Desi Style Chicken Soup
    4th day - Penne Pasta with Hot Italian Chicken Sausage
    5th day - Buttermilk Fried Chicken

    [inlinkz_linkup id=648411 mode=1]

    More Chicken

    • Bowl of chicken shorva.
      Chicken Shorva ~ Kodi Shorva
    • A platter of Indian flavored chicken patties.
      Indian Chicken Cutlet Recipe
    • Grilled chicken in a platter.
      Spice Rubbed Grilled Chicken Recipe
    • Bowl of baked empanadas with mini bottle of tabasco sauce on the side
      Baked Chicken Empanadas

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    1. Priya Srinivasan says

      November 23, 2016 at 8:16 am

      Nice reading about how they cook back home in your place usha!! Back home, Amma's style of gravy is always tomato and onion, maybe when we come she might use little poppy seeds, or else it is always tomato and onion, the taste of veggies there has some magic, it imparts great flavor and with mother's cooking it comes so great!!!
      Love the entire composition there, that background is so striking!!!

      Reply
    2. cookingwithsapana says

      November 02, 2016 at 1:17 pm

      Curry looks so exotic and very beautifully presented,

      Reply
    3. PRADNYA says

      November 01, 2016 at 1:31 am

      nice reading the history of its evolution in its current form...the curry looks delectable

      Reply
    4. Srivalli Jetti says

      October 14, 2016 at 4:28 am

      Beautifully clicked Usha, the entire presentation makes one want to dig in right away!

      Reply
    5. Sowmya:) says

      October 13, 2016 at 9:31 am

      Love the paneer idea....bookmarking this.

      Reply
    6. Sandhya Ramakrishnan says

      October 11, 2016 at 10:50 am

      The color of the gravy is just so tempting!

      Reply
    7. Smruti | Herbivore Cucina says

      October 06, 2016 at 7:24 pm

      Such a beautiful and tempting dish!! Great pictures too!

      Reply
    8. themadscientistskitchen says

      October 05, 2016 at 10:35 am

      Wow Usha ! such mind blowing and stunning curry! Love it!!!

      Reply
    9. Suja Ram says

      September 26, 2016 at 5:09 am

      The gravy looks fantastic Usha. Will substitute with Paneer and surely gonna try this. Can't take off the eyes from your pics, even though its Chicken. Loved them all.

      Reply
    10. Pavani says

      September 24, 2016 at 6:25 pm

      Like everyone said this curry would be great with a vegetarian protein or even just veggies. Will have to try. Amazing clicks btw.

      Reply
    11. Suma Gandlur says

      September 22, 2016 at 1:01 pm

      That base works for any vegetarian version curry.

      Reply
    12. Nalini says

      September 22, 2016 at 9:50 am

      Such a creamy and rich curry,got a lovely color and perfect with naan and simple pulao..

      Reply
    13. srividhya says

      September 20, 2016 at 11:28 pm

      OMG those clicks.. I second kalyani.. Man you should start photography class.

      Reply
    14. Kalyani says

      September 19, 2016 at 12:44 am

      Paneer or tofu would make such a great substitute here ! Loved d creamy n rich cashew gravy 🙂 bookmarked for my veg / vegan gravy substitute & loved the cute rice bowl too

      Reply
    15. Priya Suresh says

      September 18, 2016 at 3:55 am

      Omg, wat a gorgeous curry and this curry looks super rich with a pleasant colour.. Excellent curry to serve along with simple pulaos.

      Reply
    16. Vaishali Sabnani says

      September 18, 2016 at 12:41 am

      The gravy sounds rich and flavorful and the clicks are absolutely mind blowing.

      Reply
    17. Gayathri Kumar says

      September 17, 2016 at 7:32 am

      The curry sounds wonderful. I am thinking of paneer instead of chicken..

      Reply
      • MySpicyKitchen says

        September 17, 2016 at 11:24 am

        Paneer would be a nice substitute for chicken, Gayathri

        Reply

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    Hi, I am Usha! Welcome to my space. I am the content creator and photographer here. I love cooking and all the recipes on the site are tried and tested in my kitchen.

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