Cashew Curry Recipes

CASHEW CURRY

Steps:

• Put the onion, garlic, ginger, chillies and coriander stalks in a small food processor and blitz to a paste.
• Heat a large, non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Add the cashews and toast for 1-2 mins until light golden. Set aside and return the pan to the heat. Add the oil and stir-fry the paste for 5 mins to soften. Add the garam masala and cook for a further 2 mins.
• Add the tomatoes and stock to the pan. Mix well, then tip into a blender with the cashews and blitz until smooth. Return to the pan, season and bring to the boil, then lower to a simmer.
• Cook for 30 mins until the sauce has thickened then add the chicken, cover with a lid and simmer for another 15 mins, until the chicken is cooked through. Add the yogurt and cream (if using), and stir well to make a creamy sauce.
• Scatter with the coriander leaves and serve with the greens.

SRI LANKAN CASHEW CURRY

Steps:

• Drain and rinse cashews; set aside. Heat coconut oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium. Add onion, garlic, and ginger and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened and translucent, 5-7 minutes.
• Add curry powder, turmeric, paprika, and 1¼ tsp. salt to pot and cook, stirring to coat aromatics, until toasted and fragrant, about 2 minutes.
• Add 1½ cups water to pot, scraping up any browned bits stuck to bottom with a wooden spoon. Stir in coconut milk and reserved cashews and bring just to a boil. Reduce heat so mixture is at a rapid simmer and cook, stirring occasionally and adjusting heat as needed, until cashews soften slightly and liquid is reduced by two thirds, 25-35 minutes. Remove from heat and let cashew curry sit 10 minutes (sauce will continue to thicken as it cools). Squeeze in lime juice; taste and season with more salt if needed.
• Cook's Note: Don't stress over the texture of the cashews. After their overnight soak and simmer, they'll be plenty soft-and you can't really overcook them.

CREAMY CASHEW CHICKEN CURRY

Steps:

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

CASHEW CHICKEN CURRY

Steps:

• Heat butter in a 5- to 6-quart wide heavy pot over moderately low heat until foam subsides, then cook onions, garlic, and ginger, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add curry powder, salt, cumin, and cayenne and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Add chicken and cook, stirring to coat, 3 minutes. Add tomatoes, including juice, and cilantro and bring to a simmer, then cover and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until chicken is cooked through, about 40 minutes.
• Just before serving: pulse cashews in a food processor or electric coffee/spice grinder until very finely ground, then add to curry along with yogurt and simmer gently, uncovered, stirring, until sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes.
• Note: Curry, without yogurt and cashews, can be made 5 days ahead and cooled completely, uncovered, then chilled, covered; reheat over low heat before stirring in yogurt and ground cashews.