Chettinad Vellai Korma
White coconut milk chicken korma — the pale, fragrant counterpart to the dark Chettinad curries. Chicken cooked in a cashew-and-coconut milk gravy with fennel, green cardamom, and a restrained spice hand. The classic breakfast pairing with idiyappam and appam.
Cuisines
Chettinad
Best for
Breakfast
Lunch
Build a full meal around Chettinad Vellai Korma
Get a matched combo of sides and accents
Recipe
Prep: 20 min
Cook: 40 min
Total: 60 min
2-3 servings
Ingredients
|
200 grams | Chicken , boneless, cut into small pieces |
|
1 cup | Coconut Milk , thick |
|
1 cup | Water |
|
1 large | Onion , finely chopped |
|
2 tablespoons | Oil |
|
1 teaspoon | Fennel Seed |
|
2 | Cardamom , green |
|
2 | Clove |
|
1 | Cinnamon stick |
|
1 teaspoon | Ginger-garlic paste |
|
2 medium | Tomato , finely chopped |
|
2 | Green Chili , slit |
|
1 teaspoon | Coriander powder |
|
1/2 teaspoon | Turmeric powder |
|
1 teaspoon | Salt |
|
1/4 cup | Cashew , nuts |
|
1 tablespoon | Poppy Seed |
|
1 handful | Cilantro , chopped |
Instructions
- 1 Soak the cashew nuts and poppy seeds in warm water for 15 minutes.
- 2 Grind the soaked cashew nuts and poppy seeds into a smooth paste and set aside.
- 3 Heat oil in a pan and add fennel seeds, cardamoms, cloves, and cinnamon stick.
- 4 Add the chopped onions and sauté until they turn golden brown.
- 5 Add ginger-garlic paste and sauté until the raw smell disappears.
- 6 Add chopped tomatoes and green chilies, cook until the tomatoes become soft.
- 7 Add coriander powder, turmeric powder, and salt, and mix well.
- 8 Add the chicken pieces and cook until they are no longer pink.
- 9 Pour in the coconut milk, water, and the prepared cashew-poppy seed paste.
- 10 Mix well, cover, and let it simmer on low heat until the chicken is cooked and the gravy thickens.
- 11 Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve hot.
Tips
For a richer flavor, you can add a few drops of ghee before serving.