Korma

also called chicken korma · lamb korma · qorma · kurma · shahi korma · navratan korma

The table

1 large(finely chopped)yellow onionsweat 12 min, without letting it colourfry in 2 minsimmer 20 min, coveredstir in, simmer 8 min
4 Tbs(56 g)ghee
2 Tbs(34 g)ginger-garlic paste
6 pods(bruised)green cardamom
4cloves
1 stick(2-in piece)cinnamon
2 tspground coriander
1 1/2 lb(680 g; cut in 2-in pieces)boneless chicken thighs
1/2 cup(120 g; whisked smooth and stirred in off the heat)thick yogurt
1 1/2 tspkosher salt
1/2 cup(70 g)blanched almondsblitz 2 min to a smooth cream
1/4 cup(35 g)raw cashews
3/4 cup(180 mL)hot water
1/3 cup(80 mL)heavy cream
1 pinch(soaked in a spoon of warm milk)saffron
1/2 tsprose water
The mildest line on the board the one to order when you cannot judge a kitchen yet. Lamb shoulder wants an hour instead of twenty minutes and goes in before the yogurt; prawns want four minutes and go in with the cream; a vegetable korma is the same sauce with cauliflower carrot and peas which is what navratan means
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.18 things to get out.

Pans and tools

1sweat 12 min, without letting it colour

2blitz 2 min to a smooth cream

3fry in 2 min

goes in with what step 1 made

4simmer 20 min, covered

goes in with what step 3 made

5stir in, simmer 8 min

goes in with what steps 2 and 4 made

Cooking it

Start to finish is the longest chain through the table, so branches that overlap are counted once. That is why the waits add up to more than the clock — and it only holds if you get them going together.

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
42 mintwo waits that overlap count once
Needs you
16 minthe rest you can walk away from

The recipe itself says 1 hr 15 min.

  1. blitz 2 min to a smooth cream

    2 minneeds youfrom the start

  2. sweat 12 min, without letting it colour

    12 minneeds youfrom the start

  3. fry in 2 min

    2 minneeds you12 min in

  4. simmer 20 min, covered

    20 minwalk away14 min in

  5. stir in, simmer 8 min

    8 minwalk away34 min in

Drawn to scale, so a long wait really does take up the room it takes. The shortest stretches keep a sliver so they stay visible; their times are printed beside them. Bars that line up are happening at the same time.

You'll need blender · heavy pot

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Korma
>> category: Stews & Braises
>> tags: chicken, indian, almond, yogurt, curry
>> counters: Curry House
>> aka: chicken korma, lamb korma, qorma, kurma, shahi korma, navratan korma
>> pairs-with: pilau-rice, naan, ginger-garlic-paste
>> servings: 4
>> time: 1 hr 15 min
>> step.1: blitz 2 min to a smooth cream
>> step.2: sweat 12 min, without letting it colour
>> step.3: fry in 2 min
>> step.4: simmer 20 min, covered
>> step.5: stir in, simmer 8 min

Blitz @blanched almonds{1/2%cup}(70 g), @raw cashews{1/4%cup}(35 g) and @hot water{3/4%cup}(180 mL) in a #blender{} ~stir{2%min}, until there is no grain left on the tongue.

Sweat @yellow onion{1%large}(finely chopped) in @ghee{4%Tbs}(56 g) in a #heavy pot{} over low heat ~fry{12%min}, with a lid on for the first half, until it is completely soft and still the colour it went in. Every other sauce on this board wants brown onions. This one does not, and a korma with brown onions in it is a bhuna wearing cream.

Fry @ginger-garlic paste{2%Tbs}(34 g), @green cardamom{6%pods}(bruised), @cloves{4}, @cinnamon{1%stick}(2-in piece) and @ground coriander{2%tsp} into @&(~1)softened onion{} ~fry{2%min}.

Simmer @boneless chicken thighs{1 1/2%lb}(680 g; cut in 2-in pieces), @thick yogurt{1/2%cup}(120 g; whisked smooth and stirred in off the heat) and @kosher salt{1 1/2%tsp} in @&(~1)spiced onion{} covered ~simmer{20%min}.

Stir @&(~4)nut cream{}, @heavy cream{1/3%cup}(80 mL), @saffron{1%pinch}(soaked in a spoon of warm milk) and @rose water{1/2%tsp} into @&(~1)chicken{} and ~simmer{8%min}, uncovered, until it coats a spoon. Keep it under a bare simmer from here — nut and yogurt sauces split when they boil.

The mildest line on the board, and the one to order when you cannot judge a kitchen yet. Lamb shoulder wants an hour instead of twenty minutes and goes in before the yogurt; prawns want four minutes and go in with the cream; a vegetable korma is the same sauce with cauliflower, carrot and peas, which is what navratan means.