Chicken Korma

Ground Spices
2 Grind all the spices in a nut or spice grinder and set it aside. It is best to use homemade spice blend. Tip: You may use a good ready made garam masala, but I cannot guarantee the same taste as standard spices.
Marinate Chicken
5 Combine the cut and clean chicken with ginger garlic, chili powder, salt and set it aside to marinate about [timer minutes=30]30 minutes[/timer].Tip: Use chicken on bone, such as thighs, leg quarters or whole chicken. If you prefer to use boneless, then use boneless chicken thigh meat.
Chicken Korma
8 Heat the oil in a wide thick bottom cooking pot at medium high.
9 Add thinly sliced onions (you may use a mandolin slicer at 7.5 mm setting). Sauté the onions until light golden brown and they start crisping up. This may take about [timer minutes=20]20 minutes[/timer].
10 Using a slotted spoon separate the sauteed onions from the oil and set it aside in a plate.
11 Add the bay leaves and sauté in the same oil for minute.
12 Then add the marinated chicken and sauté for a few minutes until browned a little and the raw ginger garlic flavor is gone; followed by adding 2/3rd of the ground spices (or garam masala), ground coriander, ground cumin, turmeric. Keep stirring the chicken with the spices.
13 Meanwhile grind the drained cashews (or almonds) with a little bit of yogurt in a food processor at high speed until the nuts start to get ground. Add remaining yogurt and grind it all for few minutes until it forms a smooth paste. Tip: Make sure to grind the cashews only with a small amount of yogurt at first before adding the rest of the yogurt. This will ensure a smoother paste. If you are using a vitamix then you can blend it all at once.
14 Transfer about 2/3 rd of the cashew-yogurt mixture to the cooking pot and stir with the chicken. Let it simmer while the yogurt cooks with the spices. Make sure to stir once in a while.
15 Process the remaining cashew-yogurt paste with the sautéed onions until it is a coarse mixture. Tip: Preferably do not grind the mixture to a very fine paste.
16 Add the onion-cashew-yogurt mixture to the chicken, combine everything and simmer. Keep stirring every few minutes. Tip: You can add any slit green chilies or peppers if you wish. Remove the seeds if you want to lower the heat. Jalapenos are milder than Serrano peppers. And green chilies may vary in heat depending on the variety.
17 Once you start seeing some oil separate, then add 1/2 to 3/4 cup water or stock. Raise the heat to medium high and when the korma starts bubbling, lower the heat and let it simmer for about [timer minutes=45]45 minutes or an hour[/timer] until the chicken is well done.
18 The chicken will release its own juices. But add water as needed to give a rich and thick gravy. When the chicken is almost done, add the remaining garam masala, some cilantro and stir it in.
19 While the chicken korma is simmering, towards the end, oil will separate and surface on the top. The korma should be rich, thick but flowing consistency, with some red colored oil surfaced on the top. Chicken should be well done.
Garnish and Serve
22 If you prefer, add 2 teaspoons of rose water, which will surprisingly give a smoky flavor. Drizzle 1 tablespoon ghee and garnish with slivered ginger, if you wish.
23 Serve the chicken korma with naan or rice.