Navratan Korma
Navratan Korma is a very flavourful Indian curry that epitomises bright, freewheeling culinary science traditions in the subcontinent. The dish is also known as "Nine Gems"; one can thus relate this to royal Mughlai cuisine with its luxurious proportion of vegetables, nuts, and creamy sauce. Traditionally, the Navratan Korma is a mix of nine items and, in practice, can feature a whole range of vegetables like carrots, peas, beans, and potatoes or even fruits like pineapple or mango to give it an unusual flavour profile, combining both sweetness with savoury flavours. The elaboration of Navratan Korma involves saut ing onions and a paste consisting of ginger and garlic, which is the aromatic base of the dish. Eventually, spices from cumin, coriander, and garam masala powder are added, giving the dish warmth and depth. The vegetables are then cooked soft and mixed with a rich sauce from yoghurt, cream, or coconut milk to create a luscious texture that coats the ingredients perfectly. The nuts-cashews and almonds add a critical weight to Navratan Korma. They make the richness of the curry nice and crunchy when sprinkled on top. They add colour and texture when they are blended perfectly into the curry sauce. Fresh coriander leaves sprinkled on top would be a good finish to this dish. Then, it is served over naan paratha or saffron rice. As long as a variety of mushrooms, spice powders, cream, ginger, and yoghurt are combined in an assortment of colours, textures, and flavours, the Navratan Korma becomes the perfect choice for festive occasions as well as celebrations, epitomising the real essence of Indian hospitality and artistry in the culinary skill. Whether it forms part of a special occasion or is there to be a comforting home-cooked meal, Navratan Korma can easily make anyone who gets to taste the dish happy with its flavour.