Is making chicken korma, tikka masala or similar dishes without a food processor feasible? Also what type of pan would you normally use?

[Cookerycapers]

Hello. I'm pretty much a beginner and I'm looking for easy recipes that I can make with just a couple of saucepans and a frying pan. I have been looking at recipes on the BBC Good Food site which is often recommended on MN. This recipe says I need a food processor and a "large high-sided frying pan".

I don't have a food processor, and they are quite pricey unless you already own one. The pan shown in the photos looks like a wok pan to me. I currently only have a 24cm frying pan from Ikea. They usually start from 20cm and go up to around 32cm. The sides of mine definitely aren't as high as the pan shown in the recipe. Can I make it without the food processor, and would I need (or should I buy) a different pan?

I’ve never made a paste to start a korma - I’d just chop the onion as finely as I can. I use a garlic press and a fine grater for the ginger but if you do that have those just chopping them really finely would work.

I wouldn’t buy a different pan if you’re just starting out. I often make stuff like Korma in one of my saucepans even though I have woks and frying pans.

I cooked for about 40 years without a food processor and use mine only occasionally (mainly for slicing cabbage for coleslaw). Millions of people the world over have managed for centuries without! You just need a knife and chopping board, a spoon and a bowl. The processor just speeds things up a bit. They wouldn't have been mentioned at all in older recipes.

That recipe looks nice!

No, you definitely don't need a food processor. I have one but I rarely use it.

All you need is a sharp knife and a chopping board. So, chop your onions, garlic & ginger as best you can. It won't matter if they're not in teeny tiny pieces. Whizzing to a paste is nice but really, it's not necessary.

Chop the chicken.

Your 24cm frypan will be fine- can you put a lid on it? I think that's what they mean when they say 'High sided". You need to fry everything together then add the chicken stock & simmer.

Really, you don't actually have to use a lid! If you can keep an eye on it for 10 mins or more whilst it simmers, it'll be fine. A lid will help it cook faster.

Some of these recipes are easy to play around with. For example, you can skip the ground almonds if you like (they add creamy texture but they're not a "Must") and they can keep their sultanas! I make loads of curries and am just not a fan on dried fruit in them.

Have fun!

You could also use a pestle and mortar, and maybe buy a cheap hand held blender for making sauces, soups etc

As others say, you really don’t need one, although I invested in a mini one years ago, just to save the hassle of chopping everything really finely after a long day.

I got this one which is under £30 and it’s still going after a decade:
amzn.eu/d/eAIP7a1

I didn't have a food processor, I have a tiny kitchen. I use a wok. It says korma paste, I just add the dry spices,to the onions. I batch cook and freeze. If it was just one portion, I would reduce amounts and just use a standard frying pan.

A little chopper would do instead of a full food processor - under £20 on Amazon. But if you want a food processor look on Facebook Marketplace.

I've made dozens of curries and never used a food processor. Saucepan and frypan always works.

For a high sided frypan, use a saucepan.

You can buy tubes and jars of minced garlic, ginger, chillies.

I use a hand blender, you don't really need to but I find pureeing the onions, garlic and ginger (once soft) really does make a huge difference.

I do actually find a nutribullet makes a huge difference. For example I cook down onions, garlic, ginger depending on recipe with the spices, then blitz in nutribullet with cashews and water so make a smooth creamy korma. Plus I then can add chicken to pan afterwards and cook, then re add sauce so the meat grills up nicely with spices

They are pretty cheap and take up little space

I just use a regular pan of any size though depending on how much. Often just a frying pan

Cannot recommend this butter chicken enough!

https://www.recipetineats.com/one-pan-baked-butter-chicken/

I cook curries a lot and never use a food processor.
I either use a saucepan or a sauté pan (deeper sides)
I have lost a lid and use foil to create a lid!