Lucknowi Chicken Korma

Lucknowi cuisine has a unique identity and character of its own, just like the city of Nawabs where it was born. Lucknow was under rule of the Mughal Empire during the 16th century. The bawarchis or chefs of the Shahi kitchen were trained to cook an elaborate fair comprising high levels of dexterity and finesse. It was a meal fit for the kings.
The food was cooked on Dum, which means, on a low flame and this technique is used in the Lucknowi kitchens even today.
Korma is one of the famous dishes cooked using the dum technique. It’s a typical Mughal dish and its roots can be traced back to the 16th century as well. The edginess of Korma comes from the perfect blend of spices and dum style of cooking which incorporates the flavours perfectly into the meat.

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4-5

Ingredients:
Chicken breast – 500 gms
3 medium size onions – pureed
2 green chilies+ 1 inch ginger + 3 cloves garlic + few coriander leaves – marinating the chicken
1 tsp lime juice
1 bay leaf
3 cardamom pods
4 cloves
A piece of cinammon
2 tsps Kashmiri chili powder
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
2 tsp poppy seeds
2 tbsps cashewnuts
2 tbsps dessicated coconut
Ghee for frying
Salt for seasoning

Method:
1. Grind the marination ingredients into fine paste. Apply to the chicken along with lime juice and salt and let it sit aside.
2. Puree the onions.
3. Blitz poppy seeds, cashew-nuts and desiccated coconut into fine paste.
4. Heat ghee in a heavy bottom pan. Add the whole spices – bay leaf, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves. Fry on low till aromatic.
5. Spoon in the pureed onions and fry till the water in the puree evaporates.
6. Add chili powder, turmeric powder and fry on low for a bit.
6. Slowly tumble in the marinated chicken and add the ground cashew-nut paste.
7. Stir well so the chicken is covered thoroughly in the mixture.
8. Check for seasoning. Add salt if needed.
9. Lid on and simmer on low till the chicken is cooked and tender.
10. Garnish with raisins, chopped cashews and serve hot with Parathas, lime wedges and slices of onions.