Chicken, mutton, fish and egg dishes
Calories in Chicken Korma
One bowl of chicken korma has about 513 kcal, with 34.1 g of protein, 18.8 g of carbohydrate and 33.6 g of fat. The Indian Nutrient Databank figure is for a generous single bowl: 120 g of chicken cooked with 80 g of onion, 75 g of curd and 15 g of oil. Half a bowl is about 256 kcal.
Nutrition in 1 bowl of chicken korma
| Nutrient | 1 bowl of chicken korma | 2 bowls of chicken korma |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 513 kcal | 1,026 kcal |
| Protein | 34.1 g | 68.2 g |
| Carbohydrate (available) | 18.8 g | 37.6 g |
| Total fat | 33.6 g | 67.2 g |
| Dietary fibre | 6.3 g | 12.6 g |
| Sugars | 11.5 g | 23 g |
Of this energy, about 15% comes from carbohydrate, 59% from fat and 27% from protein.
1 bowl of chicken korma is about 24% of the daily energy requirement of a sedentary adult man and 31% of a sedentary adult woman's (ICMR-NIN, 2020).
These figures are from the Indian Nutrient Databank (INDB), which calculates each dish from a standard recipe using Indian food composition data. They describe that recipe and that serving: a larger portion, or more oil, ghee or sugar, gives more. Source: Vijayakumar A, Dubasi HB, Awasthi A, Jaacks LM. Development of an Indian Food Composition Database. Current Developments in Nutrition. 2024;8(7):103790 (Indian Nutrient Databank, INDB).
What this figure covers
The recipe makes 1 bowl, and everything in it goes to one person: 120 g of chicken, 80 g of onion browned into the gravy, 75 g of curd, 20 g of ginger and 15 g of oil, along with the spices, which the source does not itemise. A level teaspoon of oil is about 5 g, so the oil alone is a large measure for a single helping. That is true to the dish. Korma is a slow-cooked, thick, fat-rich gravy, and the bowl described is a full main-course portion. If the korma at your table is shared from one dish, your share may well be smaller than this.
Fat supplies 59% of the energy, protein 27% and carbohydrate 15%. The protein figure, 34.1 g, is the highest among the 14 meat, fish and egg dishes compared here, thanks to the chicken and the curd together. The fat, 33.6 g, still outweighs it in energy terms and comes from the oil, the chicken and the curd-based gravy. The 18.8 g of carbohydrate comes from the thick gravy, in which onion and curd are the main listed ingredients. The curd adds some calcium as well.
What goes into one serving
The recipe INDB analysed makes 1 bowl. These are its main ingredients; spices, salt and water are left out.
| Ingredient | In the recipe | In 1 bowl of chicken korma |
|---|---|---|
| Ginger | 20 g | 20 g |
| Onion | 80 g | 80 g |
| Chicken (broiler) | 120 g | 120 g |
| Curd | 75 g | 75 g |
| Oil | 15 g | 15 g |
What changes the number
- 01
Oil or ghee in the gravy
The recipe uses 15 g of oil for one bowl, where a level teaspoon is about 5 g. Korma made the traditional way, with onions deep-fried to a paste and ghee floating on top, uses more still. One extra teaspoon of ghee takes the bowl to about 558 kcal.
- 02
Nut, seed and coconut pastes
Cashew, almond, poppy seed or coconut paste is what gives many kormas their body, and all of them are rich in fat. A version that relies on curd and browned onion for thickness is at the lighter end; a white restaurant korma with cream and cashew is at the heavier end.
- 03
How much of the bowl is chicken
The bowl contains 120 g of chicken, which carries most of the 34.1 g of protein. Fewer pieces and more gravy shift the balance towards fat, because the gravy is where the oil collects.
- 04
Size of the helping
This is a whole bowl for one. Served family-style with other dishes, a smaller share may be nearer half of it, about 256 kcal. Decide which applies before using the figure.
How chicken korma compares
Other dishes of the same kind, one serving each, lightest first. Serving sizes differ, so read the serving before the number.
| Dish | One serving | Energy (kcal) | Protein (g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fish Tikka | 1 piece of fish tikka | 42 | 5.7 |
| Mutton Seekh Kebab | 1 mutton seekh kebab | 60 | 5.1 |
| Boti Kebab | 1 boti kebab | 73 | 5 |
| Egg Curry | 1 bowl of egg curry | 178 | 8.2 |
| Tandoori Fish | 1 piece of tandoori fish | 224 | 26.1 |
| Fish Curry | 1 bowl of fish curry | 282 | 22.3 |
| Afghani Chicken | 1 plate of Afghani chicken | 287 | 29.7 |
| Prawn Curry | 1 bowl of prawn curry | 313 | 24.4 |
| Chicken Curry | 1 bowl of chicken curry | 320 | 29.2 |
| Rogan Josh | 1 bowl of rogan josh | 329 | 22.6 |
| Bengali Fish Curry | 1 bowl of Bengali fish curry | 340 | 22.5 |
| Butter Chicken | 1 serving of butter chicken | 377 | 30.1 |
| Keema Matar | 1 bowl of keema matar | 457 | 29 |
| Chicken Korma | 1 bowl of chicken korma | 513 | 34.1 |
In a meal and in a day
A bowl of korma is about 24% of a sedentary man's daily energy requirement and 31% of a woman's, before the roti, naan or pulao that goes with it. Two bowls would be 1,026 kcal. With bread or rice, one bowl makes a heavy meal, and the day's other meals can sensibly be lighter. Its strength is protein, 34.1 g; what the plate still needs is a fresh vegetable or salad. Sharing one bowl between two, with dal and a sabzi, gives each person about 256 kcal of korma.
Ways to keep it lighter
- Brown the onions in a measured spoon of oil instead of deep-frying them.
- Let whisked curd thicken the gravy, and leave out cream and cashew paste.
- Use skinless chicken and skim the fat that rises during the slow cooking.
- Serve half a bowl per person alongside dal and a vegetable.
- Choose phulka over naan or pulao to go with it.
Before you rely on the number
At 513 kcal with 33.6 g of fat, this is a rich dish even in a home recipe, and restaurant kormas are usually oilier and saltier. None of that is a reason to avoid it; it is a reason to know the portion. People with heart disease, raised cholesterol or high blood pressure should follow what their doctor or dietitian has advised about fatty and salty dishes.
Food composition is general information, not a diet plan. Anyone managing a medical condition should plan their diet with a doctor or a registered dietitian.
Chicken Korma: common questions
How much protein is in a bowl of chicken korma?
About 34.1 g, from 120 g of chicken and 75 g of curd, which is 27% of the bowl's energy. It is the most protein per serving among the meat and egg dishes in this comparison, though it also comes with the most calories.
Why is chicken korma higher in calories than chicken curry?
A bowl of korma is 513 kcal and a bowl of home-style chicken curry is 320 kcal in the same set of recipes. Korma uses more oil, 15 g in a single bowl, and a thick gravy of browned onion and curd in place of a thin tomato one. The amount of chicken is similar.
How many calories are in half a bowl of chicken korma?
About 256 kcal. Half a bowl is a realistic share when korma is one of several dishes on the table, and it still supplies a useful amount of protein. A full bowl is 513 kcal, and two bowls are 1,026 kcal.
Is chicken korma good for weight loss?
It is the hardest of the chicken curries to fit in, because 59% of its energy is fat and one bowl is 513 kcal. A half portion with roti and vegetables is workable. The protein is an advantage, but the overall energy eaten through the day is what determines whether weight goes down.
The recipe, the ingredients and related reading
Ginger: nutrition per 100 g
Nutrients per 100 g, from IFCT 2017.
Onion: nutrition per 100 g
Nutrients per 100 g, from IFCT 2017.
Chicken (broiler): nutrition per 100 g
Nutrients per 100 g, from IFCT 2017.
How Much Protein Is in 100 g of Chicken? Breast, Thigh and Curry
The portion-by-portion answer, in the NNWA journal.
Is It Healthy to Eat Chicken Every Day? How Much, and How to Cook It
The portion-by-portion answer, in the NNWA journal.
Indian food calorie counter
Add up a whole plate in rotis, katoris and cups.
Calories in every dish
All the cooked dishes, with calories per serving.
Learn to read a plate
Certification in Nutrition
Estimating what is on a plate and turning it into a meal plan is taught in this NNWA course.