Step 1

Put the chicken thighs in a bowl with the turmeric, lime or lemon juice, oil and salt. Toss together well and set aside for 10 minutes.

Step 2

To make the sauce, heat the oil or ghee in a saucepan and add the cumin seeds. Once they start to sizzle, add the chopped onion, garlic and ginger and cook gently for 5–6 minutes over a low heat, or until well softened, stirring regularly.

Step 3

Tip the tomatoes and tomato purée into the pan and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring. Next, stir in the turmeric, garam masala, chilli powder, black pepper and a teaspoon of salt. Add the ground almonds and milk and cook on a low heat for 10 minutes, or until thickened, stirring regularly.

Step 4

While the sauce is cooking, heat a griddle pan or heavy-based frying pan. Cook the chicken pieces for 8–10 minutes, or until lightly browned and cooked through, turning occasionally.

Step 5

Add the chicken to the sauce, cover loosely and simmer gently together for 5–6 minutes, stirring regularly. It’s important to cover the pan as the sauce will splatter a little as it cooks. If it becomes too thick, add a splash of water. If you have time, leave the curry to stand for 30 minutes before serving, then reheat gently. Serve with rice on the side and fresh coriander scattered over.