BANGLADESHI CHICKEN KORMA

Bangladeshi Chicken Korma image

Homestyle Bangladeshi chicken korma is likely more aromatic, flavorful, and deeply chicken-flavored than the heavy, creamy versions served in Indian restaurants. This recipe, adapted from Shama Mubdi, is also incredibly easy to make: You just stir everything together in a pot and turn on the heat. A last-minute addition of butter-fried onions adds sweet complexity. Serve with basmati rice and salad or South Asian pickles.

Provided by Francis Lam

Categories dinner, lunch, curries, main course

Time 1h

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

2 pounds skinless, bone-in chicken pieces (preferably dark meat)
1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
1 medium onion, peeled
1 1 1/2-inch knob of ginger, peeled and chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 cup whole-milk yogurt
4 to 6 green cardamom pods, cracked open
3 to 5 cloves
2 bay leaves
1 3-inch stick cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
2 to 3 small hot green chiles (optional)
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Steps:

Place the chicken in a medium Dutch oven, and season with 1 teaspoon salt. Thinly slice 1/4 of the onion, and set aside. Roughly chop the rest of the onion, and purée it in a blender with the ginger, garlic and 3 tablespoons of water, until smooth. Add splashes of water to keep it moving, if necessary.
Combine the onion purée with the chicken, yogurt, cardamom, cloves, bay leaves, cinnamon and peppercorns. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring. Cover the pot until the chicken releases its juices, 5 to 7 minutes.
Uncover the pot, and adjust the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook, stirring and flipping the chicken occasionally, until tender and the sauce is gravylike in consistency, about 35 minutes. Adjust the thickness of the sauce by adding water or cooking it down. Stir in the sugar. Pierce the chiles with a knife, then add them. Season to taste with salt. Keep warm over low heat.
Heat the butter and oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. After it foams, add the sliced onions, and cook, stirring, until they are richly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Season with a pinch of salt. Add the onion mixture to the korma. Serve with steamed basmati rice.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 652, UnsaturatedFat 30 grams, Carbohydrate 9 grams, Fat 48 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 44 grams, SaturatedFat 15 grams, Sodium 741 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 1 gram