Badami Chicken in creamy almond gravy is rich, royal, and delicious. If you like a subtly spiced indulgent curry, you’ll feast on this recipe. Juicy, tender chicken pieces, simmered in a flavourful and creamy almond sauce is lip-smacking good!
Imagine tender chicken pieces simmered in a rich, velvety almond gravy, delicately flavoured with warming Indian spices and finished with a luxurious touch of cream. Badami Chicken In Creamy Almond Gravy – Murgh Badami Curry is an indulgent North Indian-inspired chicken curry that brings restaurant-style elegance straight to your home kitchen.
Made with badam (almonds), ginger, garlic, aromatic spices, and a creamy sauce, this delicious Badami Chicken Recipe is perfect for festive dinners, weekend family meals, and special occasions. The almonds lend the gravy a naturally nutty flavour and silky texture, while the spices create a beautiful balance of warmth and richness.
Whether you’re searching for an authentic-style Murgh Badami Curry, a creamy almond chicken curry, or an impressive Indian chicken dish to serve with naan, this recipe is sure to become a favourite. Serve it piping hot with fragrant basmati rice, butter naan, or flaky parathas for a memorable meal.
What Is Badami Chicken?
Badami Chicken, also known as Murgh Badami, is a rich Indian chicken curry prepared with badam (almonds), aromatic spices, and a smooth, nutty gravy. The almonds are typically soaked, peeled if desired, and ground into a fine paste that thickens the sauce and gives it a naturally creamy texture.
Depending on the household or regional interpretation, the gravy may include onions, yoghurt, cream, ginger, garlic, cardamom, cinnamon, and garam masala. Some versions are mild and delicately spiced, while others have a deeper, more robust flavour.
Unlike tomato-heavy curries, chicken in almond gravy highlights the mellow sweetness of nuts and the warmth of whole spices. The result is an elegant dish that pairs beautifully with Indian breads and rice.
Health Benefits of Badam (Almonds)
- 🌰 Rich in vitamin E: Almonds provide vitamin E, which helps protect cells from oxidative damage.
- 💪 Provide plant-based protein: Almonds contribute additional protein to the dish alongside the chicken.
- ❤️ Contain unsaturated fats: Much of the fat in almonds is unsaturated, which can support heart health when it replaces saturated fats in a balanced diet.
- 🌿 Provide dietary fibre: Whole almonds contain fibre that supports normal digestive function.
- 🦴 Supply minerals: Almonds contain magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus, which contribute to normal muscle and bone function.
- ⚡ Offer lasting energy: Their combination of fat, protein, and fibre can contribute to satiety.
Badami Chicken Recipe:
Badami Chicken In Creamy Almond Gravy – Murgh Badami Curry is a rich, flavourful Indian chicken dish that brings restaurant-style indulgence to your dining table. Made with tender chicken, ground almonds, aromatic spices, and a luscious creamy gravy, this Badami Chicken recipe is perfect for festive celebrations, weekend dinners, and special family meals.
Whether you serve this creamy almond chicken curry with butter naan, jeera pulao, or fragrant basmati rice, every bite delivers a delicious blend of nutty richness and warming Indian flavours. With simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, you can recreate this irresistible Murgh Badami Curry in your own kitchen.
Try this homemade chicken in almond gravy, adjust the spices to your taste, and discover a new favourite for your Indian dinner menu.
- For this Badami Chicken Curry recipe, take 1 kg chicken, clean and cut into medium sized pieces. Wash the pieces well.
- Place the cleaned chicken in a large mixing bowl.
- Add salt, turmeric powder, Kashmiri Lal mirch and ginger garlic paste.
- Mix well and refrigerate the marinated chicken for half an hour at least.
- Meanwhile, soak poppy seeds and almonds separately in warm water for about 10 minutes.
- Next, dry roast bay leaf, cinnamon sticks, cloves, green cardamoms and pepper corns. Cool and grind the roasted masala to powder. Transfer the ground garam masala powder onto a plate and keep aside.
- Now grind the soaked almonds (keep aside 5 almonds for garnishing) and poppy seeds to a smooth paste.
- Keep the ground paste aside.
- Now heat 4 tbsp of ghee in a wide pan. Add chopped onions to the hot pan.
- Sprinkle ½ tsp salt and sauté on medium high for about 10 minutes till they turn a golden brown.
- Put in the marinated chicken and mix well.
- Sprinkle ½ tsp red chilli powder and ¾ of the ground garam masala. Reserve the remaining ground masala for garnishing. Add the remaining 1/2 tsp salt.
- Combine all the ingredients well, cover and cook the chicken for 10 minutes on medium heat.
- Keep stirring occasionally to prevent the chicken from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- In the meantime, take 3 tbsp curd in a mixing bowl and whisk well. Keep aside.
- After 10 minutes, remove the lid and take the pan off the heat. Stir in the whisked curd.
- Place the pan back on the flame.
- Cover and cook the chicken for a further 10 minutes.
- Now add the ground almond-poppy seeds paste and mix well.
- Add about ½ cup water and stir well. Cover and cook for 10 minutes.
- Now blend in 3 tbsp of cream.
- Simmer Chicken Badami for about 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat. Transfer Murgh Badami into a serving dish.
- Garnish with almond slivers, a sprinkle of garam masala and a blob of cream.
- Serve Badami Murgh In Creamy Almond Gravy with Roomali Rotis.
For another delicious chicken meal, browse these Murgh Recipes and find your next family favourite, like this juicy Chicken Kosha.
Serving Suggestions for Murgh Badami Curry
- 🫓 Butter naan or garlic naan: Perfect for soaking up the rich, creamy almond gravy with every delicious bite.
- 🍚 Steamed basmati rice: The delicate aroma and fluffy texture complement the creamy sauce.
- 🥘 Jeera rice: Cumin-scented rice adds a gentle savoury flavour without overpowering the curry.
- 🫓 Lachha paratha: Flaky layers make this a satisfying choice for a special dinner.
- 🥗 Fresh onion and cucumber salad: A crisp, refreshing contrast to the richness of the curry.
- 🥒 Mint raita: Cooling yoghurt with mint provides a refreshing accompaniment.
- 🍽️ Festive Indian thali: Serve alongside dal, a vegetable sabzi, rice, and a small salad for an elaborate spread.
Variations for Badami Chicken in Creamy Almond Gravy
- Mild and creamy Murgh Badami: Reduce the chilli powder and let the almonds, cardamom, and cream take centre stage. Ideal for those who prefer gentle, aromatic flavours.
- Spicy Badami Chicken: Add green chillies or extra Kashmiri chilli powder for a bolder curry with a pleasant kick.
- Almond and cashew chicken curry: Replace part of the almond paste with cashew paste for an even richer, smoother sauce. Both nuts are calorie-dense, so adjust the quantities as desired.
- Dairy-free almond chicken curry: Skip the yoghurt and cream, using a suitable dairy-free marinade and extra almond paste for body. The taste will differ slightly from the traditional creamy version.
- Boneless Murgh Badami: Use boneless chicken thighs or breast for easier serving. Reduce the simmering time as needed and check that the chicken is fully cooked without becoming dry.
Tips for Perfect Badami Chicken
- ✅ Use fresh almonds: Fresh, good-quality almonds provide the best nutty flavour.
- ✅ Blend the paste until smooth: Add water a little at a time to prevent a grainy gravy.
- ✅ Brown the onions gently: Lightly golden onions provide flavour without making the curry too dark.
- ✅ Marinate for flavour: Allow at least 20–30 minutes; refrigerate the chicken if marinating for longer.
- ✅ Cook the spices properly: Sauté them until fragrant, but avoid burning them.
- ✅ Adjust gravy consistency: Add warm water gradually for a thick, restaurant-style sauce.
- ✅ Simmer gently: Slow cooking helps the flavours blend and allows the chicken to absorb the almond gravy.
- ✅ Add cream at the end: This helps maintain a smooth, luxurious texture.
- ✅ Balance the richness: A small squeeze of lemon at the table or a fresh salad alongside can provide a refreshing contrast.
- ✅ Garnish just before serving: Slivered almonds and fresh coriander add colour, texture, and visual appeal.
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- Murgh Badami Curry Recipe details below:
Almond Chicken Curry
Ingredients
For marination:
- 1 kg chicken
- 1 ½ tsp Kashmiri lal mirch
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- 1 ½ tbsp. ginger-garlic paste
Dry Roast:
- 1 bay leaf
- 5 cardamoms
- 2 one inch cinnamon sticks
- 10 pepper corns
- 7 cloves
Soak:
- 30 almonds
- 4 tbsp poppy seeds
For the curry:
- 4 tbsp ghee
- 4 medium onions finely chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp Kashmiri lal mirch
- 3 tbsp curd
- ½ cup water
- 3 tbsp cream
Garnish:
- 5 almonds
- ¼ tsp Ground spice powder
- 1 tsp cream
Instructions
- Clean and cut the chicken into medium sized pieces. Wash the chicken pieces well.
- Place the chicken pieces in a large mixing bowl and add salt, turmeric, ginger-garlic paste and red chilli powder. Mix well and set aside for 30 minutes.
- Soak the almonds and poppy seeds in warm water for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, dry roast cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, bay leaf and peppercorns. Cool and grind to a fine powder. Remove onto a plate and keep aside.
- Next, grind together the almonds (reserve about 5 almonds for garnishing) and poppy seeds to a smooth paste.
- Heat about four tablespoons of ghee in a pan.
- Drop in the chopped onions with ½ tsp salt and sauté till slightly browned.
- Then add the marinated chicken pieces and mix well.
- Sprinkle ½ tsp red chilli powder and about ¾ of the ground spice powder (keep the remaining spice powder for garnishing) and mix well. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 tsp salt
- Cover and cook the chicken for about 10 minutes, stirring now and then.
- Meanwhile take 3 tbsp curd in a bowl and whisk well.
- Take the pan off the flame and stir in the whisked curd.
- Now place the pan back on the stove and mix everything well.
- Cover and cook the chicken for a further 10 minutes.
- Now tip in the ground paste. Stir in ½ cup water and mix well.
- Cover with a lid and cook for 8-10 minutes till the chicken is tender.
- Blend in 3 tbsp cream. Check the seasoning.
- Garnish Badami Murgh with almond slivers, a sprinkle of ground powder and fresh cream.
- Serve Murgh Badami Curry hot with Steamed or Naan
🌰🍗 Almonds, aroma, and a whole lot of curry love! 😍 Loved this creamy Badami Chicken? Don’t forget to share, comment, and follow Seasonal Flavours for more delicious recipes that make every meal feel like a feast! 💛✨
I loved this recipe so much!!
Glad you loved it!