Korma Base
A mild, fragrant base of slow-cooked onion, ground almonds, coconut and gentle spices.
makes 36 cubes, about 10p each
- Time
- 45 min15 min prep · 30 min cook
- Makes
- 36 cubes
- Cost per cubePer cube
- 10p
- Calories per cubeCalories
- 53 kcal
- A serving
- 4 cubes
- Spice
- 1 of 5
You’ll need
- 4 (600g)onions, sliced
- 80gground almonds
- 1 × 400ml tincoconut milk
- 6 cloves (30g)garlic
- 30gfresh ginger
- 16gcoriander, cumin, garam masala, turmeric, cardamom
- 20gsugar
- 5gsalt
- 30gbutter
- 150mlwater
Allergens: Milk, Tree nuts. Check the labels on stock cubes, sauces and pastes, as brands vary.
Use it for
Chicken korma for one: 120g chicken, 4 cubes · 4 cubes; Vegetable korma with cauliflower and peas · 5 cubes; Mild curry for children · 3 cubes
Method
- Step 1: Melt the butter over a low heat and cook the onions for 20 minutes until soft and pale gold, not brown.
- Step 2: Add the garlic, ginger and spices for 2 minutes.
- Step 3: Add the almonds, coconut milk, sugar, salt and 150ml water. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Step 4: Blend completely smooth.
- Step 5: Cool, pour into 30ml trays and freeze.
| kcal | protein | carbs | fat | fibre | salt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per cube | 53 | 1g | 3.1g | 4g | 0.7g | 0.15g |
| Per 4 cubes | 212 | 4g | 12.4g | 16g | 2.8g | 0.6g |
Cook’s notes
- Straight from frozen into a pan with a splash of water or milk.
- Use coconut oil instead of butter for a dairy-free base.
- A spoon of cream at serving makes it richer.
Use it for
- Chicken korma for one: 120g chicken, 4 cubes · 4 cubes
- Vegetable korma with cauliflower and peas · 5 cubes
- Mild curry for children · 3 cubes
Freeze, reheat and serve
- Freeze
- Cool it within two hours, freeze it in 30ml ice-cube trays, then bag and label the cubes. It keeps for 6 months.
- Use from frozen
- Straight from frozen into a pan with a splash of water or milk. Never refreeze thawed cubes.
- A portion
- 4 cubes is a serving: about 212 kcal.
Korma Base questions
Can I make it nut-free?
Swap the ground almonds for desiccated coconut or ground sunflower seeds. The sauce will be a little less creamy but still mild and rich.
Why cook the onions without letting them brown?
A korma should be pale and gentle. Browned onions add a deeper, slightly bitter note and darken the sauce, so keep the heat low and take your time.
Can I use light coconut milk?
Light coconut milk works but makes a thinner, less rich base. Let it simmer a few minutes longer before blending to thicken it up.
Freezer meals that go with it
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Updated . Nutrition, costs and yields are estimates.