Kaju Masala / Cashew Masala

Cashew masala also known as Kaju masala is a creamy cashew onion tomato masala gravy made using cashew nuts cooked with onion and tomato adding spices goes well with chapati, naan and jeera rice.

The following ingredients are needed to prepare Kaju masala / Cashew Masala. 

Ingredients:
For Cashew Onion Paste:
Cashew nuts. -3/4 cup
Onion.           -3 medium
Water.            -as required

For Ghee Fried Cashew nuts:
Cashew nuts.-3/4 cup
Ghee.            -3 tbsp +1tbsp

For Onion Tomato Masala Gravy:
Onion.                    -2
Tomato.                  - 4
Green chilly.           -2
Garlic chopped.      -3 tbsp
Ginger garlic paste.-1tbsp
Cumin seeds.          -1tsp
Cardamom.             -3
Bay leaf.                 -1
Turmeric powder.   -1/2 tsp
Kashmiri chillypowdr.-1tbsp
Coriander powder.  -2 tsp
Cumin powder.       -1tsp
Garam masala.        -1/2 tsp
Kasuri methi.          -1/2 tsp
Butter.                     -1tbsp
Fresh cream.           -2 tbsp (optional)
Water.                     -1/4 cup
Coriander leaves.   - few

Instructions:
1).Slice 3 medium size onions and boil in enough water adding 3/4 cup of cashew nut for 10-12 minutes on high flame. Strain and rinse the boiled onion slices and cashew nuts under tap water. Grind the boiled and drained cashew nuts and onion slices in a mixer grinder to a smooth paste adding little less than 1/2 cup (100 ml) of water. Keep aside the ground cashew onion paste.

2). Heat 3 tbs ghee in a wide bottom pan. Add 3/4 cup cashew nuts and shallow fry on low flame until golden brown colour. Remove the ghee fried cashew nuts from pan and keep aside.

Method:
1). In the same wide bottom pan add 1 tbsp ghee. Add 1tsp cumin seeds, 3 cardamom, 1 inch cinnamon stick, 1 bay leaf, 3 tbsp thinly chopped garlic cloves and 2 thinly chopped green chillies into the pan and saute well on low flame till garlic pieces are cooked. Add finely chopped 2 medium size onions and saute well until onion pieces are turned golden brown.Add 1tbsp ginger garlic paste and stir well on low flame for 2 minutes.

2). Add 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 1tbsp kashmiri red chilly powder and stir well for 2 minutes on medium flame. Add 2 tsp coriander powder, 1tsp cumin powder and 1/4 cup of water into the pan. Mix well and cook on medium flame until ghee is released.

3). Add 3-4 finely chopped medium size tomatoes and required salt into the pan.Cover and cook the tomatoes for 10-15 minutes on low flame and stir well in between until the ghee is released from onion tomato mixture.

4). Add ground cashew onion paste into the pan and mix with onion tomato masala mixture. Keep on stirring the mixture and cook for 10 minutes on medium flame.

5). Add ghee fried cashew nuts, 1/2 tsp kasuri methi, 1/2 tsp garam masala, 1tbsp butter and 2 tbsp fresh cream into the cashew onion tomato masala gravy. Stir well and cook for 2 minutes on medium flame. Check for salt and add required salt if needed and mix well. Lastly add finely chopped coriander leaves and stir well.

6). Transfer the kaju masala / cashew masala to a serving bowl and garnish with few ghee fried cashew nuts on top.

Very tasty Kaju Masala / Cashew Masala is ready to serve with chapati, naan or jeera rice.