Green Chicken Curry with Chillies, Coriander and Garam Masala
Non-vegetarian
A green chicken curry with a herb paste of fried onion, cashew, coriander and mint, finished with cream and garam masala. It tastes herby and aromatic, with mild heat from green chillies and warmth from cardamom and cinnamon.
Soak 50 g cashew in warm water for 30 minutes, then drain.
Heat 40.5 g vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add 200 g onion, thinly sliced, and fry for 18–20 minutes until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and cool.
Put the cooled onion, drained cashew, 6 g green bird’s eye chilli, 20 g coriander leaf, 60 g mint leaf and 149 g water in a food processor. Blend to a smooth, fine paste. Set aside.
Heat 27 g vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the whole spices for the oil and let them sizzle for a few seconds.
Add the garlic for frying and 10 g fresh ginger root, finely chopped. Fry for 1 minute.
Add 700 g skinless bone-in chicken, jointed, and the ground coriander for the chicken. Stir.
Add the herb paste and fry for 5–7 minutes, stirring well.
Add 0.3 g granulated sugar and 348 g water. Season with salt to taste.
Cover and simmer over low heat for 25 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Stir in 49.7 g double cream and the garam masala to finish. Stir well.
Use about a third of the weight (0.5 g ground for a 2.5 cm piece), stirred in with the ground spices rather than fried whole, since the powder burns quickly.
Use 20% to 25% of the weight (1 g for every 4 to 5 g fresh). Stir into the gravy; adds peppery heat and warmth, though it misses the crisp, zesty kick of raw root.
Use 50% of the weight and stir in near the end of cooking. Adds warmth and depth since it contains ground coriander, but introduces stronger spices like clove and cinnamon.
Use 50% of the weight mixed with equal parts ground coriander and a pinch of ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground green cardamom. Sprinkle near the end for a warming finish.
Use 80% of the weight, finely shredded and browned slowly with a pinch of asafoetida. Replicates the bulk and natural sweetness in gravies without allium.