Indulge in the rich and creamy flavours of Cashew Chicken Curry, a dish that blends tender chicken with a luxurious cashew sauce. This recipe, infused with aromatic spices and a hint of heat, is perfect for a comforting meal that impresses with both taste and presentation.

Cashew Chicken Curry is a delightful fusion of tender chicken pieces cooked in a creamy, nutty sauce made from roasted cashews, onions, and a blend of aromatic spices. The addition of cream and a touch of Kashmiri chilli powder gives this curry its distinctive flavour and vibrant colour. It’s a dish that brings warmth and comfort, ideal for serving with naan or basmati rice.
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons ghee
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1½ cups cashews, divided
- 2 green chillies, chopped
- 80ml cream
- 120ml water
- 2 tomatoes, pureed
- 1 kg chicken, cut into pieces
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 2 tablespoons danya jeera (coriander-cumin powder)
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 tablespoon Kashmiri chilli powder
- 1 teaspoon kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
- 1 tablespoon garlic paste
- 1 tablespoon ginger paste
- 3 tablespoons oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 small cinnamon stick
- 5 green cardamom pods
- 5 small bay leaves
- 2 onions, chopped
- 2 tablespoons oil (for tadka)
- 2 teaspoons Kashmiri red chilli powder
- Fresh coriander, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions:
- Prepare the Cashew Paste:
- In a medium-heated pan, melt 3 tablespoons of ghee. Add the finely chopped onion and fry for about 5 minutes until softened and golden.
- Add 1 cup of cashews and continue frying for another 5 minutes until they are golden. Add the chopped green chillies and stir for an additional minute.
- Remove the mixture from the pan and transfer it to a small food processor. Blend until smooth, adding 80ml of cream and 120ml of water to create a creamy paste.
- Garnish Preparation:
- In the same pan, fry the remaining ½ cup of cashews until golden. Set aside for garnishing.
- Prepare the Chicken:
- Season the chicken with 1 tablespoon of salt, 2 tablespoons of danya jeera, ½ teaspoon of turmeric, 1 teaspoon of garam masala, 1 tablespoon of Kashmiri chilli powder, 1 teaspoon of kasuri methi, and 1 tablespoon each of garlic and ginger paste. Mix thoroughly.
- Cook the Curry Base:
- In the same pan, add 3 tablespoons of oil and heat to medium. Add the cumin seeds, cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, and bay leaves. Fry for about a minute until aromatic.
- Add the chopped onions and fry until translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add the pureed tomatoes and cook until the oil begins to separate from the mixture.
- Cook the Chicken:
- Add the spiced chicken to the pan and fry for about 5 minutes, ensuring the chicken is well seared.
- Pour in 240ml of water, stir, cover, and cook on medium heat for 30 minutes, until the chicken is nearly cooked.
- Incorporate the Cashew Paste:
- Add the creamy cashew mixture to the chicken, stirring gently. Cover and cook on low heat for another 10 minutes to allow the flavours to meld.
- Prepare the Tadka (Optional):
- In a small pan, heat 2 tablespoons of oil. Add 2 teaspoons of Kashmiri red chilli powder and let it sizzle for a few seconds. Pour this mixture over the curry for added colour and heat.
- Garnish and Serve:
- Garnish the curry with the fried cashews and freshly chopped coriander. Serve hot with naan or basmati rice.
Tips for Perfect Cashew Chicken Curry:
- Blending: Ensure the cashew mixture is smooth to achieve a creamy sauce texture.
- Yogurt and Cream: When adding cream or yogurt, keep the heat low to prevent curdling.
- Tadka: The tadka step is optional but adds a lovely colour and an extra layer of flavour.
Cashew Chicken Curry
Cashew Chicken Curry is a delightful fusion of tender chicken pieces cooked in a creamy, nutty sauce made from roasted cashews, onions, and a blend of aromatic spices.
Ingredients
Instructions
Prepare the Cashew Paste:
-
In a medium-heated pan, melt 3 tablespoons of ghee. Add the finely chopped onion and fry for about 5 minutes until softened and golden.
-
Add 1 cup of cashews and continue frying for another 5 minutes until they are golden. Add the chopped green chillies and stir for an additional minute.
-
Remove the mixture from the pan and transfer it to a small food processor. Blend until smooth, adding 80ml of cream and 120ml of water to create a creamy paste.
Garnish Preparation:
-
In the same pan, fry the remaining ½ cup of cashews until golden. Set aside for garnishing.
Prepare the Chicken:
-
Season the chicken with 1 tablespoon of salt, 2 tablespoons of danya jeera, ½ teaspoon of turmeric, 1 teaspoon of garam masala, 1 tablespoon of Kashmiri chilli powder, 1 teaspoon of kasuri methi, and 1 tablespoon each of garlic and ginger paste. Mix thoroughly.
Cook the Curry Base:
-
In the same pan, add 3 tablespoons of oil and heat to medium. Add the cumin seeds, cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, and bay leaves. Fry for about a minute until aromatic.
-
Add the chopped onions and fry until translucent, about 5 minutes.
-
Add the pureed tomatoes and cook until the oil begins to separate from the mixture.
Cook the Chicken:
-
Add the spiced chicken to the pan and fry for about 5 minutes, ensuring the chicken is well seared.
-
Pour in 240ml of water, stir, cover, and cook on medium heat for 30 minutes, until the chicken is nearly cooked.
Incorporate the Cashew Paste:
-
Add the creamy cashew mixture to the chicken, stirring gently. Cover and cook on low heat for another 10 minutes to allow the flavours to meld.
Prepare the Tadka (Optional):
-
In a small pan, heat 2 tablespoons of oil. Add 2 teaspoons of Kashmiri red chilli powder and let it sizzle for a few seconds. Pour this mixture over the curry for added colour and heat.
Garnish and Serve:
-
Garnish the curry with the fried cashews and freshly chopped coriander. Serve hot with naan or basmati rice.
Note
Blending: Ensure the cashew mixture is smooth to achieve a creamy sauce texture.
Yogurt and Cream: When adding cream or yogurt, keep the heat low to prevent curdling.
Tadka: The tadka step is optional but adds a lovely colour and an extra layer of flavour.
Can I use salted cashews as this is all I have ? Thanks
yes, salted cashews can be used, just reduce the salt in the chicken marinade
Thank you
This is a fantastic curry which I made today and I highly recommend it. The spice mix with the Dhana Jeera was a revelation as it reminded of the smell of curry houses in the late 70s/80s in the UK where I’m from.
Excellent recipe. I garnished with the tadka of hot chillis and Kashmiri chilli powder because I knew the chappati/dhai which accompanied my plate would take the edge off the heat. There was a definite point where the aromatic signalled completely cooked!