As an Indian who regularly prepares Indian cuisine, particularly various chicken curries, I have picked up a handful of invaluable tricks over the years, all courtesy of my mother. Armed with decades of culinary knowledge and secret techniques handed down through generations, my mother possesses an unrivalled collection of tips and tricks. She is also, without question, the finest cook I have ever known. It comes as little surprise, then, that a secret hack she passed on to me years ago about making chicken curry creamier and more delicious without using cream has since been endorsed by Michelin-starred chefs and food writers across the globe.
The Magic Ingredient: Cashew Nuts
Indian cooks and well-known restaurants alike have a secret weapon when it comes to achieving creamier curries — and no, it is not actually cream. The magic ingredient is, in fact, cashew nuts. Cashew nuts — rather than dairy — are frequently the secret ingredient responsible for introducing a creamy flavour and texture into Indian curries. The technique involves soaking the nuts, ideally for a couple of hours or overnight where possible, then lightly roasting them before blending and grinding them into a smooth paste. This paste is then gradually stirred into your curry sauce, lending it a richer, creamier flavour, a denser texture and a gloriously silky mouthfeel — all hallmarks of a truly outstanding curry.
Cashew nuts possess a natural sweetness that counterbalances the bold spices in curries, contributing a depth of flavour, layering and complexity that most cooks strive to achieve.
When to Add Cashew Nuts in Your Curries
For a straightforward, mild tomato-based chicken curry, your cashew nut paste should be added just before you would normally introduce your meat — this comes after all the base ingredients (onions, cumin, garlic, ginger, chillies, tomatoes) and spices have been sautéed and cooked until everything transforms into the soft, mushy masala paste that forms the foundation of your curry. A top tip from my mother is to keep stirring continuously while incorporating the cashew paste, as cashews have a tendency to catch and burn rather quickly if left unattended on a high heat without careful monitoring.
For a dish such as butter chicken, there are two approaches through which cashew nuts can be introduced. The first is what my mother considers the easy method — this involves adding boiled cashews directly into the blender at the very beginning, alongside your sautéed onions, tomatoes and water, blending everything until you achieve a paste or purée with a wonderfully smooth and velvety consistency. The second method, and the one my mother personally swears by, is to sauté all the base ingredients together in a single pan — namely onions, ginger, garlic and cashews — until they turn a lovely, light golden-brown colour. You then remove the mixture and set it to one side, before adding your whole tomatoes (sliced in half) to the same pan, cooking them until they are beautifully soft and their skins begin to peel away with ease. Finally, grind everything together before passing it through a sieve to achieve the ideal consistency and texture. This paste or purée then serves as the foundation into which you add water and cook your chicken.
Health Benefits of Cashew Nuts
These blitzed nuts are an absolute game-changer when it comes to Indian curries, and not only do they taste fantastic, but they also boast a number of impressive health benefits. According to Melissa Mroz-Planells, DCN, RDN, a nutritionist based in Seattle, Washington, and a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, cashews are genuinely good for you. Mroz-Planells tells WebMD: "A handful of these little half-moon-shaped critters gives you protein, healthy fats, fibre, and various vitamins and minerals. They are also rich in polyphenols, a type of antioxidant that helps to ramp down overall inflammation in your body." Indeed, according to WebMD, when consumed in moderation, cashew nuts have demonstrated real potential in reducing cholesterol, lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke, while also contributing towards diabetes prevention and management, as well as boosting immunity. Who would have thought these unassuming little seeds — and yes, they are technically seeds rather than nuts — could pack such a powerful health punch? It is worth bearing in mind, however, that moderation remains essential, as cashews are calorie-dense and overindulging could potentially lead to weight gain.
