Shahi Chicken Korma – Instant Pot

Shahi Chicken Korma – A “royal” Mughlai dish made with chicken cooked in a creamy spicy sauce and garnished with golden fried nuts and raisins that add subtle sweetness to the curry.

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Traditionally made in a white sauce and garnished with a super thin silver sheet known as “vark” was cooked in the Mughal kitchen to serve to the emperors. This Instant Pot recipe is a twist to the traditional version and is inspired from my memories of eating this dish in restaurants in India.

This shahi chicken korma recipe also has optional pot in pot steps to cook rice along with the chicken curry using these Instant Pot accessories:

• tall trivet
• stainless steel pot

Step by step Shahi Chicken Korma Recipe using Instant Pot:

• Make a smooth puree of onion, coconut, ginger and garlic using 1/4 cup of water

• Fry cashews and raisins in ghee on sauté mode until cashews turn golden brown and raisins plump up. Reserve.

• Saute the onion and coconut puree for 3 to 4 minutes or until the raw smell of onion is gone. Add spices, tomato puree and chicken.

• Mix well and Turn the Instant Pot off. PRO Tip –  It is very important to turn the Instant Pot off at this step. This will make sure that the liquids do not evaporate and the Instant Pot  comes to pressure with less liquids. Carefully place the tall trivet and rice pot over the trivet. Note that making rice is an optional step.

• Pressure cook for 5 minutes, followed by 5 minutes natural pressure cooker. Open the Instant Pot. Carefully take the rice pot and the trivet out.

• Stir in cashew cream. Garnish with cilantro and reserved cashews and raisins. Optionally honey can be stirred in.

Enjoy hot with steamed rice and naan!

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5 from 4 votes

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Chicken Shahi Korma - Instant Pot

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

30 mins

Total Time

40 mins

 

A "royal" Mughlai dish made with chicken cooked in a creamy spicy sauce and garnished with golden fried nuts and raisins that add subtle sweetness to the curry.

Course: Entree

Cuisine: Indian

Keyword: Korma

Servings: 4

Calories: 648 kcal

Author: Archana

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup ghee
• 2 tablespoons raisins
• 20 cashews
• 1 medium yellow onion chopped
• 2 tablespoons coconut unsweetened, dry, shredded
• 4 garlic cloves
• 1 inch ginger

Spices:

• 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
• 1.5 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 cup tomato puree
• 1.5 pounds chicken thighs skinless boneless, skinless, cut into 2 inch pieces
• 1/4 cup cashews
• 1/4 cup water or milk
• 1 tablespoon honey

Optional Pot in Pot rice:

• 1 cup basmati rice
• 1.5 cups water
• 1 teaspoon salt

Garnish:

• 1/4 cup cilantro chopped

Instructions

1. Make a smooth puree of the onions, coconut, garlic and ginger using 1/4 cup of water.

2. Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode and heat 2 tablespoon ghee. Add the cashews and raisins and cook for 2-3 minutes until the raisins start to plump up and the cashews start turning golden brown. Take the raisins and cashews and reserve.

3. Add remaining ghee and pureed onion and coconut. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes as the raw smell of the onions goes away.

4. Add all the spices, tomato puree and chicken. Mix well. Press Cancel to turn the Instant Pot off. Note, it is very important to turn the Instant Pot off at this step. This will make sure that the liquids do not evaporate and the Instant Pot  comes to pressure with less liquids. 

5. Place the tall trivet over the chicken. Add rice, water and salt to a stainless steel pan and place the pan over the trivet.

6. Close the Instant Pot with Pressure Valve to sealing. Select Manual/Pressure Cook(Hi) and adjust the time to 5 minutes. Allow 5 minutes of natural pressure release.
7. Make a smooth puree using the 1/4 cup of cashews and 1/4 cup of water. Set aside.

8. Release the remaining pressure and open the Instant Pot. Carefully take out the rice pan and the trivet. Set the Instant Pot to saute mode. Stir in the cashew paste and honey and cook until the curry comes to a gentle boil. Garnish with cilantro, reserved cashews and raisins. Enjoy with steamed basmati rice and naan.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Nutrition facts also include rice cooked pot in pot. 

Nutrition Facts

Chicken Shahi Korma - Instant Pot

Amount Per Serving

Calories 648 Calories from Fat 234

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 26g 40%

Saturated Fat 10g 50%

Cholesterol 190mg 63%

Sodium 1646mg 69%

Potassium 992mg 28%

Total Carbohydrates 62g 21%

Dietary Fiber 3g 12%

Sugars 9g

Protein 41g 82%

Vitamin A 11.8%

Vitamin C 12.8%

Calcium 6%

Iron 25.6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Author: Archana

Hey there! I am a techie turned recipe developer, cooking instructor, and food blogger. I love food and enjoy developing easy and healthy recipes for busy lifestyles. I live New Jersey with my husband and two sons.

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