When it came to N, I knew which dish I had to make, as there was something long pending, calling my attention. I have so many versions bookmarked, written down, and noted for the Navarathna Kurma, yet never came close to even planning it. It was only natural that I finally plan on making my own version of Navratna Kurma for this Marathon.
During my chatting with Vaishali, I realized another interesting factor based on what she said she has planned for another interesting letter. Though my K was not Kurma, I knew I can't use my another Kurma dish that was ready for the other letter. Anyways you will read about it when it is time for that letter.
Left to me, I would always write it as Kurma. I cannot get myself to write it as Korma, kormaa, qorma, khorma. Blame on my laid back sense of names. However, during my initial years of blogging, I realized that the gravy what we call Kurma and associated with the south, was in fact quite common in North Indian cuisine as well.
From Wiki, I read that the name Korma is derived from the Hindi and Urdu words for "Braise". It is a characteristic Indian dish which can be traced back to the 16th century and to the Mughal incursions into present-day Northern India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Classically, a korma is defined as a dish where meat or vegetables are braised with water, stock, and yogurt or cream. The gravy is made rich by using Yogurt, cream, nut and seed pastes or coconut milk.
Coming to the type of Kurma I am sharing today, Navratan korma is a vegetarian korma made with vegetables and either paneer or nuts or sometimes both."Navratan" means nine gems, and it is common for the recipe to include nine different types of vegetables, nuts and cheese.
I found recipes with different combinations. Most of them called for Paneer as part of the ingredients. Given our affinity to this cheese, it is no wonder and of course, given the fact that my Kids would love to have paneer in their side dish, I was only keen to include this. The other masala part was something I did as I went ahead with the recipe, including whatever ingredient I could add to make it extra rich. I was pairing it with Parotta and so it has to be quite rich.
So finally I have N with Navratna Kurma
Navrathana Kurma
Ingredients Needed
For the Ground Masala
Fried Onions - 1 medium
Cashews - 5 -6
Mint leaves - 5 -6 leaves
Green Chili - 1 long
For the Gravy
Paneer 50 gms, diced and fried.
Mixed vegetables 3 cups (potato, green peas, beans, carrot, cauliflower etc)
Tomato - 2
Onion - 1 medium
Green chilies - 1 long
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Milk - 1 cup
Fresh cream - 1 tbsp
Ghee - 1 tbsp
Salt to taste
Curd - 1/2 cup
Coriander leaves for garnish
Spice powders
Turmeric powder a pinch
Coriander powder 1 & 1/2 tsp
Chilli powder - 2 tsp
Garam masala 1 tsp
Cumin powder - 1 tsp
Manjula Bharath says
very very delicious navaratan korama 🙂 looks fabulous and super tempting dear !! 🙂 very inviting platter !!
Pavani N says
I've made Navratan kurma for one of the previous BMs and really enjoyed it.. Yours looks amazing.
Suma Gandlur says
The combo looks delectable.
Hasna Hamza Layin says
nw i started waiting eagerly fr the nex one u guys r goin to post n ths series... good work gals
Padmajha PJ says
I remember having this in my childhood in a party. That dish is so fresh in my memory. Haven't tried it yet. So you know what I will do , right 🙂
Rumana Ambrin says
perfectly cooked and delicious:)
vaishali sabnani says
This is the Kurma which is served in restaurants..perfect recipe..the addition of chaar magaz makes it more rich but very well made ..and the parathas go so well with the dish.
Sapana Behl says
Navratan korma looks so delicious ! That plate with Raita and Paratha makes it more inviting...
Rajani S says
Coming to think of it, very few of the kurmas are tomato based. Most of them are nut based or cream based!! Never noted it before...And your version looks superb!
Priya Suresh says
Fingerlicking kurma, that too navratan kurma with parotta,i can die for this combo..Wonderful platter.
Nisha Sundar says
The cashew-onion paste is the best combo to make any gravy delicious. Should make this often. Lovely clicks Valli.
Chef Mireille says
what a flavorful combo and loved reading about the history as well
The Pumpkin Farm says
beautifully made kurna dish, i believe this is the most popular kurma recipe
Sandhya Karandikar says
I shall definitaely try this. It has no sugar in it.
The one that we get in Mumbai is so sweet that I just don't like it and so have never made it.
Gayathri Kumar says
The combination of parotta and kurma is inviting me over to your place. Looks fabulous Valli...
Preeti Garg says
Look so delicious and love the addition of cashew paste which give nice and thick creamy texture to korma.
Kalyani says
love these yummy gravies ... but tell me, doesnt this kurma gen contain apples, pineapples and some dry fruits too ? I rem having them in bangalore , and they tasted rather sweet a couple of times....
veena krishnakumar says
I tasted this first in kerala and it was very sweetish. From then on it is a no no in my house...this version looks yumm..must try