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Almond Coriander Chicken

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  • Success Rating: 94%

Almond Coriander Chicken

by Dawn T in Rouxbe Videos

This mild and delicious, Indian influenced chicken dish is finished with ground almonds, thick cream and fresh cilantro.

Serves
6 to 8
Active Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr

Step 1: Cooking the Onions

Cooking the Onions
  • 4 whole onions
  • 1/2 cup ghee - can substitute with butter
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 tsp Kosher salt - can substitute with 1 tsp table salt
  • 2 large garlic cloves
  • 2 tbsp fresh ginger
  • 2 whole green chilis
  • 1 tsp fresh cracked pepper
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground coriander
  • 1/4 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric
  • 1/4 tsp paprika
  • 1 cup Water

Finely dice the onions.
Heat the ghee over medium heat in a large fry pan or Dutch oven and sweat the onions, bay leaves and salt for approximately 25 to 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, peel and roughly chop the garlic, ginger, chilies and place into food processor and purée.
Once the onions are very soft add the garlic, ginger and chilies and cook for another 3 minutes.
Then add all of the remaining spices and seasoning and cook for another 2 minutes.
Add the water and bring the mixture to a boil.
Reduce the heat to low and cover. Let the mixture simmer for 10-15 minutes.

Related Drill-down Videos

Step 2: Cooking the Chicken

Cooking the Chicken
  • 8 whole chicken breasts

If you bought bone-in chicken breasts you will need to first debone them. Of course, save the bones for the next time you make stock.

Then dice the chicken into approximately 1 inch cubes.

Add the diced chicken into the sauce, replace the lid on the pot and simmer for another 10 -15 minutes or until the chicken is almost fully cooked.

Related Drill-down Videos

Step 3: Finishing the Curry

Finishing the  Curry
  • 1/2 cup blanched almonds
  • 3/4 cup cream
  • 1 bunch cilantro

Grind the almonds in a food processor. Then add the cream and blend until you have a smooth paste.

Add the almond paste to the chicken and onions and stir. Check for taste and adjust if necessary.

To finish add the chopped cilantro and enjoy. This is especially good with Pilau Rice and crispy pappadams! Yum!!

Related Drill-down Videos

Notes

If you want to make this dish the day before, I suggest that you don't add the chicken and cilantro until just before you are ready to eat.

Comments

Pappadams are no tortillas

In the video the pappadams may appear to look like corn tortillas, but they're not.

Their flavour and texture is quite different, so make sure you do get the real pappadams.

by Javier T | Mar 22, 2007 9:11pm | Permalink
I can vouch for that.

Pappadams are soo good. They're a bit salty but very good. Dawn uses the grilling and tong shaping technique in the drill-down. My one advice is to triple the amount of pappadams that you make since the go really fast since people find that they just keep munching on the left overs even after the curry is gone. Or maybe that's just me.

by Ritchie M | Mar 25, 2007 5:08am | Permalink
My first major curry!

This was my first major curry. It turned out pretty well. Some notes:

1) Ghee is clarified butter. I came back from the market and when I got back to my kitchen, I forgot to buy butter, to my horror. I used olive oil. The world didn't explode.

2) 2 chili peppers, while spicy enough for me, was too spicy for some of my friends and is still spicier than regular Indian restaurant curries (in the United States, anyway). De-seed if your friends are wimps.

3) I couldn't find blanched albums, so I bought a can of salted almonds and rinsed them in cold water. Again, the world didn't explode, and the curry was fine. (Poor Dawn would probably freak out if she read this, however.)

by Ernie H | Mar 27, 2007 8:52pm | Permalink
Pappa-DUMB?! Call me a DIM bulb...

i tried making the pappadums in the oven and it didnt work. i also held them over an open flame (i have a gas stove) and i burnt them...i don't know how to make them if i dont have a grill...am i a dim bulb?

by Lisa N | Mar 28, 2007 5:00pm | Permalink
Lisa: why did it not work in the oven?

just curious: did the pappadums burn in the oven? I ask as I heard in the video that you should be able to make them in the oven?

by Gagan D | Apr 5, 2007 5:10pm | Permalink
Tips for great Pappadums!

I have to say that I just tested pappadums in the oven, gas and electric, in the microwave and on my gas burner and they all worked beautifully. The reason Lisa had a problem in the oven was because she put them on a tray (this I know because she told me). Pappadums need the direct heat so they should go directly on the rack and not onto a tray. Also watch them, you may need to turn them. Turn the heat to 375° degrees, and let cook for about 30 seconds, you can even leave the oven open if you like. For the burner, you have to be quick and move them around alot. But they totally work and will give you that nice charred color that is almost like doing them over a grill. For the microwave, place onto a plate covered with a piece of paper towel and cook for 40 to 60 seconds. Generally pappadums cook quickly and are best (at least easiest) if you only cook a few at a time!

by Dawn T | Apr 5, 2007 9:41pm | Permalink
Pappa SMART!

OK , Dawn is right, I put the pappadams on a cookie sheet and literally nothing happened...I havent had time to try straight on the oven racks...but I can't wait! YAY! Thank you!

by Lisa N | Apr 9, 2007 1:42pm | Permalink
Great curry!

My husband made this dish yesterday and it turned out perfectly. I thought that it could have been a bit saucier and perhaps we'll have to adjust the water/cream amount next time, but overall it was a great success.

We served it with parathas instead of papadums and just plain basmati. I can't wait for the leftovers tomorrow.

Tonight, we're making the tortilla de patatas!

by Christine R | May 6, 2007 4:36pm | Permalink
I made it veg-friendly!

Tonight I made this vegetarian friendly by substituting tofu for the chicken, and I must say it was amazing! As usual, I always freeze my extra firm tofu first and then defrost it in the microwave until it's still just a little cold, but not frozen. Freezing it makes it much, much easier to drain and squeeze out the excess liquid. I chopped that up and threw it in the sauce for half the time that the chicken would cook. It really soaked up the flavor.

Also, I couldn't find any pappadams - is there anyone in Portland who can recommend a good place to find them?

On a last note, I have to say that neither my husband or I are cilantro fans, but I used it here in this recipe (in both the rice and the curry) and loved it. It really provided a freshness to the dish that was really unique.

by Leah P | Jun 4, 2007 11:58pm | Permalink
Outstanding

This was quite simply one of the best dishes my wife and I have tried in a while. A complexity of flavours that lingered long after the last delicious mouthful.

More curry recipes please!

by Jon W | Jun 11, 2007 6:01pm | Permalink
Delicious!

This will be a regular addition to the menu. Very easy to prepare. I made the Pilau rice - had to make my own crisp onions, as I could not find them in the grocery, glad I did, it was delicious too. I put the papadums in the microwave, lightly brushed with oil for 45 seconds - perfect.

by Charlotte R | Jun 12, 2007 9:45pm | Permalink
Just superb

Even without the fresh coriander it was so delicious! The coriander would have been an amazing finish, but I don't have a reliable supply where I live :( I put in a bit more cream as I like a very saucy curry.

by Lisa P | Jun 28, 2007 7:37am | Permalink
Added tomatoes to mine.

I make Indian food regularly, as it is our favourite. Decided to try this one as it looked really good! I found that it was very very mild, so I added more chili and two fresh tomato and let it simmer on the stove for 30 mins. It turned out really amazing, so if anyone wants a more authentic Indian taste, this is a great way to do it. Overall the recipe was wonderful. I recommend going the extra mile to make the Pilau rice, as it a great addition to this dish!

by Anna C | Nov 25, 2007 7:18pm | Permalink
A nice one

Although involves curry,I think this recipe in not 100% Indian one,but more a Malaysian one.Anyway,o rich taste.I let myself to add 60ml (aprox 2 oz.) of coconut milk

by Vasile dorin B | Dec 13, 2007 8:28pm | Permalink
Unique flavors

Made this last night and really enjoyed it. Not difficult at all and has great spices. Will make again!

by Paul M | Feb 17, 2008 9:29am | Permalink
Very Nice

This was a wonderful taste but the sauce was a little to thick for us so I added about a cup of low sodium chicken broth. My onions may have been to large helping to thicken the sauce.

by Gary H | May 19, 2008 12:25pm | Permalink
Missed the Ghee

Pretty good - cooked it for the extended family tonight with plenty of Pops and Pilau. Went down very well with several spice lovers.

Was worried initially that I'd left too many chilli seeds in and made it too hot but after I'd added the cream and almond sauce it took the edge off and smoothed everything out really well.

The detail of the flavours may have been a lot clearer if I'd found some Ghee but here in the UK it's hard to get and I didn't clarify the butter.

Eight out of ten I think - much praise heaped on the chef. Of course I never reveal my sources, only mu sauces!

S

by Simon T | May 24, 2008 10:19pm | Permalink
Ghee Video

Glad you had a great meal. Here is the ghee video for future reference. Easy to make and the nutty flavor of this cooked clarifies butter will add to this dish.

rouxbe.com/drilldowns/101

by Joe G | May 24, 2008 10:26pm | Permalink
Almond Coriander Chicken

yom, yum,yum. So good. I substituted Veg oil for the ghee and also half and half for the cream. Will make this again for sure.

by M M | Jul 21, 2008 1:27am | Permalink
Pappadams

I'm planning on making this dish next weekend. It sounds great, but I have one small problem. I live in a remote area of Minnesota and have no ideal where I would find the pappadams. Would pita bread sliced in halved and toasted on the grill or in the oven work for a substitute? Do you have a better substitute?

by Beth S | Jul 21, 2008 5:25pm | Permalink
Pita Bread

Hi Beth,

Plain pita bread on the grill or in the oven would work just fine. I'd even brush it with a little butter, toast it on the grill and sprinkle with a bit of salt. Yummmm. Anything to soak up the curry would be fine. Happy cooking!

by Kimberley S | Jul 21, 2008 5:53pm | Permalink
Thanks...

I appreciate the quick respnose....Can't wait to try the recipe.
Do you have anymore great recipes that use cilantro. I have a fresh herb garden and want to try new recipes.

by Beth S | Jul 21, 2008 6:15pm | Permalink
Cilantro

Hi Beth,

I did a quick search on the site and here are a few recipes that take a good amount of cilantro.

rouxbe.com/recipes/56
rouxbe.com/recipes/59
rouxbe.com/recipes/64
rouxbe.com/recipes/70
rouxbe.com/recipes/828

by Kimberley S | Jul 21, 2008 8:50pm | Permalink

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