Chicken Korma: 7 Reasons to Love This Dish.

Introduction

Chicken Korma is a sauce-filled and spicy meal that has been in the South Asian kitchens over the years. It is a classic favorite that is usually made by following the traditional recipe of chicken korma which is characterized by a smooth gravy, melt in mouth chicken and just the right seasoning balance.

Be it a family meal or a large event, Chicken Korma usually retains a privileged position in the table. You will read about the history, ingredients, preparation and the cultural significance of chicken korma in a very easy and simple manner in this article.

 

What Is Chicken Korma?

This dish is a spiced chicken curry that contains yogurt, stewed onions, and mixed spices. Korma derives its name from a term that translates to mean braising or slow cooking. Slow cooking enables the chicken to turn extremely soft and also enables the spices to stir up well with the gravy.

Korma is not very spicy as other curries are. This is among the reasons as to why it is enjoyed by people of all ages. It is creamy with a bit sweet and sour taste. It is normally served with rice or naan. Other variations such as white korma, which is less rich and creamier, is also liked by many people for its umami flavor.

 

The history of a Royal Dynasty

The history of this dish starts in the Mughal times. Mughals were emperors who were fond of luxury items and savory food. They were accustomed to special cuisine using meat, nuts and spicy aromatic spices. One of such royal dishes was korma.

Cooks at royal kitchens then used a combination of almonds, yogurt and saffron together with either lamb or beef. With the passage of time, people began preparing an easier one with chicken. It is this version that found a lot of following in the Pakistani and Indian homes.

Every day, this dish is not only a dish of kings and queens. It is produced at home, in restaurants and at special events such as weddings, Eid. Actually, this dish recipe Pakistani style is very popular in the country.

 

Popularity of chicken Korma

This dish is the favorite of many due to a lot of reasons:

• It is delicious: Spices and yogurt combine so that it has its own taste.
• Soft Chicken: It is cooked slowly hence the chicken is very soft.
• Creamy Gravy: The gravy is creamy and it complements both the naan and rice.
• Easy on the Stomach: Unlike other dishes, it is not too spicy thus easy to digest.
• Family Favorite: It is a dish the children and adults like.

 

What is used to prepare chicken Korma?

Basic materials of this dish are the simplest and the most common in the house:

• Chicken pieces
• Plain yogurt
• Fried onions
• Garlic and Ginger paste
• Cooking oil or Ghee
• Seasonings such as cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, black pepper and salt

Nuts may also be added by some people to enrich the dish such as almonds or cashews. Others can include kewra water or rose water to have a special aroma. All these combined constitute a typical korma masala.

The preparation of Chicken Korma

Preparing this dish can be done at home, though not difficult: it is a time taking and consideration process. The way it is cooked can be explained as follows:

The chicken is cleared and is made in parts. Afterwards, yogurt is combined with spice to create a marinade. The chicken is regularly preserved in this marinade to absorb the tastes. Crushed fried onions are poured in hot oil or ghee. Paste of ginger and garlic is also added and cooked to a few minutes.

The chicken which has been marinated is then put in the pot. It is presented at low fire until the chicken is tender. The gravy thickens and gets smooth as it cooks. Finally, a touch of some additional spices can be added. This is the way that makes this dish homemade taste something very special.

 

 

The Ways People Consume Chicken Korma

This dish may be accompanied with:

• Naan: It is a soft bread which can be used with the gravy.
• Rice: Plain basmati rice will be the right companion to the rich korma sauce.
• Raita: Is a yogurt side dish that contains cucumber or mint.
• Salad: The crunchy fresh salad goes well with the Korma.

Others even prefer it with paratha or sheermal depending on one’s taste.

 

Chicken Korma in Pakistan Culture

This dish is prepared during significant occasions in most of the Pakistani families. It is a favorite Eid dish, family gathering and a wedding dish. It also comes during visits of guests.

When people inhale the smell of korma being cooked in the kitchen their memories and wicket feelings come back. It makes them think about home, the family and time spent together. Pakistani chicken korma is a tradition followed even now in many households in a big occasion.

 

Home Made Chicken Korma vs Korma Restaurant

Homemade korma and that one which is in restaurants are quite different. Korma prepared at home tend to be less oil and lighter with more natural flavors. It is prepared in a thoughtful way.

Korma in restaurants may be thick, and oily or creamy to appear decadent. In some restaurant, they add some food color or artificial flavors. This is the reason why most people would like to eat this dish at home, when they are in a mood to have something that is comforting and real.

 

Storage and Reheating suggestions

Should you want to preserve extra korma in the refrigerator, up to two days will do. Be sure to keep it in a dry shut container.

To reheat:

• Heat it up in a stove slowly.
• To make up a gravy that is too thick add a bit of water.
• Reheat it but stir it thoroughly in order that it all gets hot.

This will be well not to microwave it longer than necessary which will dry up the chicken.

 

Is Korma Chicken Healthful?

This dish may be a healthy when prepared with less oil and fresh ingredients. Some of the health benefits are as follows:

• Protein: Chicken contains protein and this helps in shaping muscles.
• Calcium: Yogurt supplements it with calcium that is beneficial to the bones and teeth.
• Spices: Fruits such as ginger/turmeric are helpful to digest.
• Less oil: You use less oil when it is prepared at home and this makes it lighter.

Individuals who are mindful of what they consume mostly inquire about this dish calories. The dietary calories are determined according to the amount of introduced oil and cream. The homemade ones tend to be healthier.

 

Various Styles of Chicken korma

There are a lot of variations of this dish according to location. It is sweeter in parts, and has more nuts, in others. In some it is more spicy tasting. There are coconut milk versions, and also others with cream.

In Pakistan, the fashion of frying onions, yogurt and the local seasoning is the most popular one. It is dense, heavy and very flavorful. White chicken korma recipe is also rather common to have a mild one.

 

 

A Few Famous Events of chicken korma

This dish is usually cooked at some specific days. These include:

• Weddings
• The festivity of Eid
• Dawats (invitations) of the family
• Friday lunches

During such day’s big pots of korma are made to cater to the large number of people. When it is served to the guests, it is a way of expressing love and care.

Reasons why Chicken Korma remained popular today

This dish has been a favorite even with new fast-foods and new tastes. It is so due to the fact:

• It makes people feel attached to their roots and customs.
• It unites the family on the dining table.
• It is solidifying and fulfilling.
• It is not out of fashion.

This dish is beautiful in that you can prepare it simple or select and dressed-up with one or a crowd of people. It has some special taste always.

A Dish of Memories

To most individuals this dish is something more than food. It is a recollection. It may be something that they were taught to cook first. Or the food that they had on wedding day.

Or the one their grandmother prepared at each Eid. Its smell, its taste, its look all reminds me of the happy times. This is the enchantment of this dish.

 

Final Thoughts

A time-tested dish like Chicken Korma is a time-tested dinner. royal kitchens to equipment in homes. It is created out of love, consumed out of happiness, and rememorized out of warmer feelings.

Either it is your own preparing or having it with your family, chicken korma adds zest of tradition and unity. Each bite hands you the attention, the culture and the enriched tastes that make it one of the most popular dishes in South Asia.

Eat korma the next time, not only because it tastes so good, but also because of the story that goes with it. It is a heartful, historical, and happy dish.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Chicken Korma?                                                                                                                  This dish is an orthodox curry prepared with chicken, yogurt, onions and spices.

Is this dish hot?                                                                                                                                     No, it is rather soft and not too spicy, so it suits all persons well.

What does this dish taste?                                                                                                                     Its taste is creamy, moderately sweet and rich.

What originated Chicken Korma?                                                                                                            It originated during the Mughal period when it became widespread in South Asia.

What goes with this dish?                                                                                                                    You may have it with naan, rice or paratha.

Is this dish healthy?                                                                                                                             Yes, when prepared with less oil and fresh produce it is on the healthy side.

Which are the principal ingredients of this dish?                                                                          Chicken, yogurt, fried onions, ginger, garlic, and spices.

Is this dish child friendly?                                                                                                                   That is mild and soft, hence children tend to like it very much.

Is it possible to store this dish in the fridge?                                                                                    Keep it in a container yes and eat it in two days.

What is the best way of reheating this dish?                                                                                  Warm it gradually on the stove and add few drops of water.

Is this dish fit to be used on special occasions?                                                                              Yes, it is frequently prepared during a wedding, Eid and family parties.

Is this dish nut free?                                                                                                                        Almonds or cashews are used in some of the recipes and not all of them have it.

It is possible to make this dish without yogurt?                                                                                  Do not be attached to yogurt by the texture and taste it needs, but find alternatives in case of necessity.

Why homemade Korma tastes better?                                                                                                    It contains less oil, no added flavor and is carefully cooked.

What is the duration of cooking of the this dish?                                                                           About 45 to 60 minutes are required when it is cooked at low temperature.

Which variety of chicken suits Korma?                                                                                              Use bone-in chicken for the best flavor.

Is it possible to freeze this dish?                                                                                                           Of course, but it is always fresher in terms of taste and texture.

How are Chicken Korma and Chicken Curry different?                                                                          Korma is sweeter, and more mellow, with thicker gravy.

Is Korma suitable to vegetarians?                                                                                                           It does exist in vegetarian forms, yet regular Korma is not vegetarian.

How come this dish is so popular in Pakistan?                                                                                 Due to rich taste, culture, and attachment to family cultures.