Creamy chicken korma with almonds

Name: Creamy chicken korma with almonds
Ingredients: 5-6 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped; 2.5cm/1in piece fresh root ginger, chopped; 50g/2oz flaked almonds; 150ml/¼ pint water; 5 tbsp olive or groundnut oil; 2 bay leaves; 8 cardamom pods, lightly crushed; 4 cloves; 2.5cm/1in piece cinnamon stick; 1 onion, finely chopped; 1 tbsp ground cumin; 1 tbsp ground coriander; ¼ tsp chilli powder; 1 tbsp tomato purée; 1¼ tsp salt; ½ tbsp garam masala; 3 tbsp double cream; 1.5kg/3lb chicken pieces, skinned and cut into serving portions (breast cut in half across the centre)