Creamy Cashew Chicken Curry

Creamy cashew. Lets start there. We are going to make cream out of cashew nuts. Cashew cream actually thickens up faster than real cream. Very surprising actually. And then there is the curry and garam masala chicken over basmati rice. Say hello to India as the aroma of the spices fill the air of your kitchen. Grab a bowl add some flat bread like Garlic Naan. Enjoy!

By Chef John

Prep: 20 minutes Cook: 30 minutes Additional: 4 hours (marinade chicken) Total: 4 hours 50 minutes Serves: 8

Ingredients

For the Spice Mix:

• 2 teaspoons kosher salt, or more to taste 
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin 
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander 
• 2 teaspoons paprika 
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper 
• ½ teaspoon ground turmeric 
• 2 teaspoons garam masala 

For The Rest:

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs 
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 
• 2 tablespoons butter, divided 
• 1 yellow onion, chopped 
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste 
• 4 garlic cloves, minced 
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger root 
• 1 cup chicken broth 
• 2 cups cold water 
• ¾ cup whole roasted cashews 
• ⅓ cup sliced green onions 
• ⅓ cup freshly chopped cilantro 
• 1 lime, juiced

Instructions

1. Mix salt, cumin, coriander, paprika, cayenne, turmeric, and garam masala together in a small bowl.

2. Cut a chicken thigh in half lengthwise along the crease. Halve the thicker portion to end up with three 2-inch pieces. Repeat with remaining chicken thighs.Transfer chicken to a bowl. Add oil and about 1/2 of the spice blend; mix thoroughly. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate in the fridge for 4 to 12 hours.

3. Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a large pan over high heat until melted and golden brown. Add the chicken in a single layer. Cook until browned, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Return chicken and accumulated juices to the bowl.  

4. Heat remaining butter in the same pan over medium-high heat. Add onion, remaining spice blend, tomato paste, garlic, and ginger. Cook and stir until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Add the chicken and any accumulated juices.

5. Combine water and cashews in a blender; blend on high speed until very smooth. Stir cashew cream into the pan. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until flavors blend, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in green onions and cilantro; taste for seasoning. Squeeze in lime juice.
   

Tips

After adding the cashew cream, you can simmer this for as little as 5 to 10 minutes, or just until the chicken is cooked. Or you can reduce the heat and simmer for up to 45 minutes, depending on how thick you want your sauce.