What To Serve With Chicken Korma: 10 Tasty Side Dishes!
A creamy, coconutty chicken korma is a fantastic choice for when you’re cooking for those who don’t love too much spice, or if you just fancy a change from your usual go-to curry.
It’s often a popular choice for kids, and depending on what you serve it with, it can be anything from a speedy midweek meal to the star of the show at a dinner party.
Let’s take a look at your options for what to serve with chicken korma…
What to serve with chicken korma
The best sides and accompaniments for a chicken korma curry include poppadoms with your favourite pickles, garlic and chilli naan bread, Bombay potatoes, healthy oven baked onion bhajis, South Indian mushroom biriyani, and keema pakoras.
Want to try making some of these sides at home? Check out these easy to follow recipes…
1. Poppadoms and your favourite pickles
In my humble opinion, it’s not curry night without a starter of poppadoms and pickles!
It’s such a sociable way to enjoy some nibbles before the main course, and it gives you a chance to sit down and chat with your guests whilst your korma bubbles away in the kitchen.
Popular dips include raita, onion salad, and mango chutney. When I’m serving a mild curry, I like to prepare a fairly spicy chilli dip, like this Kashmiri chilli sauce.
This way, the spice lovers at the table can still indulge in something with a bit of a kick.
2. Garlic and chilli naan bread
You can’t beat dipping a hot, pillowy naan into a creamy curry sauce!
For best results, I recommend making your own naan breads at home.
The process is a little easier than you might think, and the results are so much better than anything you’ll find in the readymade aisle in your local store.
This garlic and chilli naan recipe is laden with aromatic garlic and warming chilli, and it’s another great way to offer a bit of heat to those who enjoy it.
If you like, you could keep a couple of naans plain, so everyone has a choice that will suit their tastes the best.
3. Bombay potatoes
You really can’t beat a potato side dish, can you?
My recipe for Bombay potatoes is perfect for what to serve with chicken korma as part of a banquet style meal, and it’ll be a big hit with those who don’t particularly enjoy rice.
Thanks to the turmeric that’s included in the ingredients, they’re a beautiful golden colour, and have a rich, slightly earthy taste.
You can add some extra chillis if you like, to create a little extra heat.
4. Healthy onion bhajis
Sometimes, onion bhajis from a takeaway restaurant can be a little disappointing.
They don’t always stand up well to being transported straight after the cooking process, and the result can sometimes be an oily, greasy bhaji.
The good news is that it’s super simple to make your own homemade onion bhajis, and you don’t have to use a deep fat fryer.
You’ll combine a few simple ingredients such an onion, carrot, and sweet potato, add spices, form into balls, spritz with a little cooking oil, and bake in the oven until golden brown.
5. South Indian mushroom biryani
Rice is a classic choice for what to serve with chicken korma, but if you find plain rice a little boring, there are plenty of ways to jazz it up a little.
I love to make this South Indian mushroom biryani, which incorporates wonderfully fragrant ingredients including cumin, cardamon, star anise, and cinnamon.
The smell of it cooking may well remind you of Christmas, though it’s great at any time of the year!
If you can, use ghee during the cooking of this recipe.
Though it’s high in fat and best used in moderation, it gives food a delicious buttery flavour and it has a higher smoking point than standard butter.
6. Keema pakora
If you love meat, you might decide that you want to make some keema pakoras to serve with your curry.
These keema pakoras use minced chicken breasts, though you can substitute with minced beef or mutton if you prefer.
They’re juicy, succulent, and flavoursome, and they can be served as a starter with a dollop of mango chutney and a few green salad leaves, or as a side dish.
(If you love Indian cuisine, you’ll also enjoy what to serve with tandoori chicken!)
7. Indian salad
A curry can be rich and filling, and a bright and vibrant salad can be the perfect accompaniment to ensure you have balance in a meal. It can also be a good way to cut down on calories if that’s something that’s important to you when it comes to menu planning.
When you make this delicious Indian salad, you really won’t feel like you’re missing out on anything. With cucumber, tomato, pomegranate, red onion, chilli, and lime juice, it’s refreshing and zesty on the palate, and it requires no cooking.
I like to make more than I need for dinner, and save a portion for lunch the next day. It’s lovely served with cold grilled meats and fish.
8. Lemon pilau rice
A citrus based rice perfectly complements the coconut and creamy flavours of a chicken korma, and this lemon pilau rice couldn’t be any easier to make.
You’ll use cooked and cooled rice, making it a tasty way to use up any leftover rice that you might have, and add a range of flavours including lemon peel, turmeric, and fresh coriander.
9. Lamb samosas
These lamb samosas are Indian pastry parcels stuffed with lean lamb mince, tikka paste, carrot, mint, and peas. Using a packet of filo pastry helps to cut down on the preparation time, and make this recipe a perfectly achievable one for any home cook who wants to expand their Indian culinary repertoire.
They’re freezable too, so you might want to make a bigger batch so you have some ready and waiting for you the next time you’re in the mood for a curry night.
I like to serve these on a sharing platter with a small bowl of mango chutney and some green leaves for garnish.
10. Indian roasted potatoes
You seriously need to try these roasted potatoes with East Indian spices.
Mint, coriander, and lime juice all come together to create a fresh and vibrant flavour profile, and it’s an exciting and unique choice for what to serve with chicken korma.
If you want to add some extra heat, you could throw in some cayenne pepper, or garnish with fresh chopped red and green chillis. Don’t be scared to experiment a little and make these potatoes your own!
Choosing the best sides for chicken korma
Some of the best sides for a mild curry like a chicken korma include:
- Poppadoms and a selection of Indian dips
- Garlic and chilli naan breads
- Lemon pilau rice
- Indian salad
- Lamb samosas
- Keema pakoras
You can incorporate some spice to create a varied meal, or keep things a little simpler if you’re cooking for children and fussy eaters!
