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Chicken Korma With Cauliflower Rice

Chicken

Dinner

Lunch

This Indian dish tastes way more complicated than it actually is. Serve it with low-carb cauli-rice. You'll never crave a take out again.

Chicken Korma With Cauliflower Rice sprinkled with chopped cilantro
Chicken Korma With Cauliflower Rice

Chicken Korma is a popular Indian curry dish that I love to make at home so I was keen to try a keto-friendly version of this.

It is typically made with chicken, yogurt or cream, onions, garlic and a mixture of spices such as cardamom, cumin, coriander, ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon. The sauce can be thickened with ground almonds or cashews for extra richness. It is usually not a very spicy dish and has a mild, creamy taste. It is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent but is popular throughout South Asia.

It can be served with basmati rice or naan bread. This comforting curry dish can range from mild to medium-hot spice depending on your preference. It is traditionally cooked with ghee or butter, but can also be made with vegetable oil. The addition of tomato puree to the dish will add a slight sourness and balance out the creaminess. Additionally, some chefs like to use coconut milk instead of yogurt for added creaminess. This recipe allowed for coconut milk which is luxurious!

Slowly sweating onions, garlic and ginger in ghee in a Le Cresuet dish
Slowly sweating onions, garlic and ginger in a pool of ghee – delicious

What is ghee, and can I make it at home?

Ghee is a type of clarified butter that is used in Indian cuisine. It has been around for centuries and is made by simmering unsalted butter over low heat until the milk solids separate from the liquid fat. The milk solids are then strained out, leaving a rich, golden-coloured oil. Ghee is often used as a cooking oil, but it can also be used as a spread on toast or in baking. It has a nutty flavour and is rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K. Ghee is also known for its health benefits; it aids digestion and helps to reduce inflammation. In addition to being used in Indian cuisine, ghee is becoming increasingly popular in Western cuisine, as it is a healthier alternative to butter and other cooking oils. It also adds a unique flavour to dishes, making them even more delicious. Ghee can be found at most health food stores and specialty grocery stores.

You can make your own ghee too. To make ghee, unsalted butter is melted over low heat until the milk solids separate from the liquid fat. The mixture is then strained and the solids are removed. This leaves a golden-coloured oil with a nutty flavour. Ghee can be used in many dishes, including curries, stir-fries, and other Indian dishes; it can also be used as a spread on toast or in baking. Additionally, it has a variety of health benefits and is becoming an increasingly popular cooking oil in Western cuisine.

Adding chicken thighs to bubbling red curry
Adding succulent chopped thighs to the fragrant sauce

Blog useful – chicken thighs

When it comes to chicken, there is no denying that the thigh meat is far more succulent than the breast. This is because the thighs are made up of darker, redder meat with a higher fat content and have more flavour than their white counterpart. The bone structure also makes this cut of meat easier to separate from the bone when cooked, making it a more time-efficient and convenient choice.

The key to removing the bone from chicken thighs easily is to start by scoring the meat around the joint where they attach. This allows you to pull away the skin and expose the joint, which can then be cut free with a sharp knife or kitchen scissors. Once this is done, you can then start to separate the meat from the bone by gently pulling it away. The bone will usually come away easily, leaving you with juicy boneless chicken thighs ready to be cooked and enjoyed.

Ingredients for Chicken Korma With Cauliflower Rice

Chicken Korma With Cauliflower Rice

This Indian dish tastes way more complicated than it actually is. Serve it with low-carb cauli-rice. You'll never crave a take out again.

Serves

Prep Time5 Mins

Cook Time25 Mins

Total Time30 Mins

Ingredients

  • 1.3 lb boneless chicken thigh
  • 0.25 cup ghee or virgin coconut oil
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp grated ginger
  • 2 tsp each curry powder and garam masala
  • 0.5 tsp each turmeric powder and chili powder
  • 1 cup unsweetened canned tomatoes
  • 0.25 cup creamed coconut milk or heavy whipping cream
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional: 2 tbsp almond flour
  • Cauliflower rice - 2tbsp ghee or coconut oil, 4 cups cauliflower rice, chopped fresh cilantro and salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. To make the meat sauce, dice the chicken into about 1 1/2- inch (4 cm) chunks and set aside.
  2. Heat a large saucepan or casserole dish over medium-high heat.
  3. Add the ghee, onion, garlic, and ginger. Cook until fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
  4. Add the curry powder, garam masala, turmeric powder, and chili powder, stir, and cook for another minute.
  5. Pour in the tomatoes, add the chicken pieces, and stir well until the chicken is covered in the mixture. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, and bring to a boil.
  6. Reduce the heat to medium, cover, and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  7. Remove the lid and add the creamed coconut milk. Add the almond or coconut flour (if using); this will make for a thicker sauce.
  8. Stir and cook for another 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
  9. To make the cauliflower rice, grease a pan with the ghee.
  10. Add the cauliflower rice and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring constantly.
  11. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve with the chicken korma. Garnish with the chopped cilantro.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving

Calories 690
Fats 61.3g
Protein 25.25g
Carbs 6.5g
Net Carbs 5.7g
What we think

“There was a beautiful smell of spices in my kitchen. Cooking the onion, garlic and ginger in a pool of ghee was luxurious, what a fantastic way to slowly soften these ingredients. So moist and flavorful.

I grew up on curries and this was brilliant. Creamy spicy sauce, soft chicken and fresh cilantro. Even the cauliflower rice was a hit, so much more nutritious and flavorsome than rice. A 5 out of 5 for a dinner for four people. I only made enough cauliflower rice for lunch for two people as we had the curry for dinner too. And let me tell you, the longer you cook a curry, the better it tastes. The spices combine further and create a wonderful flavor. And leftover curry is the best!”

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Thanks for reading as always!
- Lucy & Will

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