Delicious and Easy Keto Indian Curry Recipes

For those following a ketogenic diet, enjoying the rich and diverse flavors of Indian cuisine might seem challenging. However, with a few adjustments, you can savor authentic Indian curries without compromising your low-carb lifestyle. This article explores a variety of keto-friendly Indian curry recipes, focusing on popular dishes like chicken tikka masala and other flavorful options, while incorporating user-provided information to enhance the depth and accuracy of the content.

Keto Chicken Tikka Masala: A Quick and Flavorful Delight

One of the most beloved Indian dishes, chicken tikka masala, can easily be adapted for a keto diet. This keto chicken tikka masala recipe needs only 25 minutes to cook! It's a simple yet impressive low carb dinner that the whole family will enjoy, whether they're following a keto diet or not. Even though the dish has a lot of ingredients, it's actually super easy to make. First, marinate the chicken and prepare the sauce and then mix the two together. Keto tikka masala is actually very similar to butter chicken. The difference is that butter chicken has a creamier sauce, while the tikka masala sauce contains onions and more tomato.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Chicken: Chicken breast is commonly used, but skinless chicken thighs are a great alternative, offering a slightly richer flavor and often being more budget-friendly. Opting for free-range organic chicken is always a plus.
• Yogurt: Yogurt tenderizes the chicken and adds a fresh tang to the dish. Plain full-fat yogurt or Greek yogurt are excellent choices. For a dairy-free version, coconut yogurt can be substituted.
• Butter and Heavy Cream: These ingredients contribute to the dish's richness and scrumptiousness. For a dairy-free option, coconut oil or olive oil can replace butter, and coconut milk can stand in for heavy cream.
• Tomato Passata and Tomato Puree: A good quality passata or chopped tomatoes is essential for the sauce's base.
• Onion, Garlic, Ginger, and Spices: These aromatics are the heart of any good curry. Fresh garlic and ginger will always provide a superior flavor compared to their dried counterparts. Garam masala, a popular Indian spice mix, is a must-have, but other spices can be adjusted to your preference.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Marinate the Chicken: Add diced chicken to a large bowl with the chicken marinade ingredients and mix to combine. Leave to marinade for at least 15 minutes or ideally overnight, covered in the fridge.
2. Fry the Chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon of butter or oil in large non-stick frying pan. When hot, add the chicken. Fry for about 3 minutes per side, or until golden and almost cooked through. This takes about 8 minutes in total. Remove from the pan.
3. Sauté Aromatics: Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter to the pan and fry the onions for 3 minutes on a medium heat until golden. Add the garlic, ginger and spices and fry for 1 more minute until fragrant.
4. Simmer the Sauce: Now, add the passata and tomato puree. Turn the heat down to a simmer and cook for a further 10 minutes or until thick.
5. Finish the Dish: Stir in the heavy cream or coconut cream and optional low-carb sweetener. Add the chicken back in the pan and cook for about 5 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked through and warm.
6. Serve: Garnish with chopped fresh coriander and serve with cauliflower rice or creamy keto mashed cauliflower. Keto Naan also makes an excellent accompaniment.

Tips and Variations

• Adjust the Chili: Customize the heat level by adding more or less chili, or using cayenne pepper.
• Storage: This dish can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months, making it ideal for meal prep.

Keto Beef Curry: A Hearty and Satisfying Option

For those who prefer beef, a keto-friendly beef curry can be equally satisfying. The key is to use cuts of meat that become tender when cooked for an extended period, such as chuck or round.

Selecting the Right Meat

Most grocery stores sell "meat for stew," which is usually chuck or round cut that is tough, but tenderizes when used in soups/curries and cooked for a long time or under pressure. It’s also usually chopped up into 1-2 inch sized pieces so just season and add to whatever dish you are preparing. If you can’t find the stew meat at your local grocery a large chuck roast will do the job. It won’t have a lot of external fat on it (no trimming required), but it will have a lot of nice marbling! The meat should be cubed into 1-2 inch pieces.

Cooking Instructions

1. Sauté Aromatics: In a Dutch oven or other large skillet safe pot, heat avocado oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until tender. Add garlic and ginger then cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.
2. Add Spices and Tomato Paste: Add tomato paste, water, ground turmeric, ground coriander, garam masala, cinnamon salt and red chili powder. Stir well. Then add bay leaves.
3. Cook the Beef: Add cubed beef to the pot, stir well. Cook, covered on low for 1-1.5 hours until beef is tender.
4. Serve: Remove from heat. Remove bay leaves and top with fresh cilantro, if desired, and serve. If you want to thicken the curry, you can allow it to heat over medium-high heat for 5-10 minutes to allow it to reduce.

Keto Shrimp Curry: A Quick and Spicy Seafood Dish

Shrimp curry is another excellent option for a quick and flavorful keto meal. This all-natural Keto Indian Shrimp Curry recipe has bold flavor and a bit of a spicy kick.

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

Ingredients

• Shrimp: Use fresh or frozen shrimp, seasoned with sea salt and black pepper.
• Aromatics: Shallots, garlic, and peppers (such as habanero and Fresno peppers for a spicy kick) form the base of the flavor.
• Spices: Curry powder, ground ginger, ground coriander, and Panch Phoron (Indian Five Spice) are essential.
• Coconut Milk: The base of the curry sauce.
• Other: Fish sauce, keto brown sugar (such as Sukrin), and lime juice add depth and balance to the flavor.

Cooking Instructions

1. Sauté Aromatics: Add cooking fat (Coconut Oil), shallots, garlic, and peppers to a medium skillet and cook until translucent.
2. Add Spices: Add curry powder, ground ginger, ground coriander, and Panch Poran to the pan. Continue to cook for 1-2 minutes.
3. Simmer the Sauce: Turn the heat down to low. Add cayenne pepper and coconut milk, then fully incorporate. Add fish sauce, Sukrin, and lime juice to the pan. Stir then allow the mixture to simmer for 10 minutes.
4. Add Shrimp: Add the shrimp to the pan and cook until pink and opaque.

General Tips for Keto Indian Curries

• Spice is Key: Don't be afraid to experiment with different spices to find your favorite flavor combinations.
• Coconut Milk is Your Friend: It provides a creamy base while keeping the carb count low.
• Cauliflower Rice is a Great Substitute: Serve your curry with cauliflower rice to keep it keto-friendly.
• Adjusting Flavors: Taste as you go and adjust the spices and seasonings to your liking.

Additional Keto Indian Curry Recipes

• Keto Chicken Curry: A simple and tasty one-pan dinner ready in 35 minutes. This Indian-inspired chicken curry is packed with flavor, simmers on the stove with minimal effort and requires only 5 minutes of prep.
• Keto Butter Chicken: Similar to tikka masala but with a creamier sauce.

Detailed Keto Chicken Curry Recipe

This Keto chicken curry recipe is the perfect midweek meal. It is a one-pan dinner that requires only 5 minutes of prep. Plus, it has oodles of Indian curry flavor.

Ingredients

• Oil (light olive oil, grapeseed, or neutral-tasting oil with a high smoke point)
• Onion
• Fresh ginger
• Garlic
• Green chili
• Pureed fresh tomatoes (or canned)
• Natural yogurt (or coconut yogurt/cream for dairy-free)
• Spices (curry powder, turmeric, coriander, cumin, cayenne pepper)
• Salt
• Chicken stock
• Bell peppers (optional)
• Fresh coriander

Instructions

1. Sauté Aromatics: Add the oil to a non-stick frying pan and heat over a medium heat. Once hot, add the onion and sauté until the onions are golden brown, about 3 - 4 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger and stir for 1 minute, until aromatic.
2. Cook Chicken: Add the cubed chicken and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until the chicken is no longer pink in the middle.
3. Add Sauce Ingredients: Add the pureed tomatoes, green chilli, yogurt, spices and salt and sauté for 2 minutes, until the tomatoes start to break down.
4. Simmer: Add stock and allow it to come to a simmer again. Lower the heat to medium, cover and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring a couple of times in between.
5. Add Peppers (Optional): Uncover, and stir in the peppers. Option to add a touch more stock or water if you need to. Cover again and allow the mixture to cook for 3-5 minutes, or until the peppers are al dente and cooked through.
6. Garnish and Serve: Stir through the chopped coriander. Remove the cardamon pods, squeezing out the seeds into the curry. Serve a side of cauliflower rice or keto naan.

Tips and Variations

• More Sauce: Add heavy cream or additional yogurt/tomatoes to make a curry with more sauce.
• Change Vegetables: Yellow or green peppers go well with this curry.
• Dairy-Free: Use coconut yogurt or coconut cream instead of dairy yogurt.
• Chicken Thighs: Use boneless thighs and cube them into 2-inch pieces.

Serving Suggestions

• Cauliflower Rice: A perfect low-carb alternative to traditional rice.
• Keto Naan: A low-carb bread option to enjoy with your curry.
• Yogurt or Raita: A spoonful of yogurt or raita will balance the heat.

Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide

Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto

tags: #keto #Indian #curry #recipes