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Chicken Rezala

Serves 4
60 mins
550 Kcal
Chicken rezala is one of the richest and creamiest Mughlai dishes, known for the delicate balance of spices. This mildly spiced curry from the Bengal zone of origin is mainly relished with naan, paratha, or steamed rice. Unlike any other spicy curry, chicken rezala brings out a rather subtle flavour, creamy white gravy, and an aromatic blend of yoghurt, cashews, and poppy seeds. The chicken rezala recipe starts with marinating chicken pieces in yoghurt, and ginger-garlic paste, with a pinch of salt so that all the flavours seep into the meat. Meanwhile, a basic paste is prepared by soaking cashews and poppy seeds followed by almonds for some depth to flavour while tempering whole spices like cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon to give it its typical aroma. For this recipe for Chicken Rezala, prepare ghee in a pan and fry the whole spices until fragrant. Add the marinated chicken and cook until it is tender. Add the ground nut-seed paste blended with yoghurt, which gives the gravy its telltale creaminess. A little sugar and salt are added to balance the acidity of the yoghurt to make the flavours well-blended and harmonious. It is slow-cooked so that the spice remains well mixed and blends in very rich, creamy gravy that is subtly sweet with a mild heat. Chicken rezala is frequently garnished with fried onions and served hot.

Ingredients required for Chicken Rezala

  1. 1 kg chicken
  2. 30 gms onion
  3. 10 gms ginger
  4. 4 cardamoms
  5. 4 cloves
  6. 2 cinnamon
  7. 4 bay leaves
  8. 20 peppercorns
  9. 14 gms salt
  10. 3 gms coriander powder
  11. 10 gms poppy seeds
  12. 5 gms cashew nuts
  13. 10 gms khopra
  14. 5 gms garlic
  15. 10 gms ginger
  16. 45 gms cooking oil
  17. 80 gms ghee
  18. 4 red chillies
  19. 10 makhana
  20. 50 gms milk
  21. 1/2tsp cornflour
  22. 150 gms curd
  23. Mace

Cooking steps for Chicken Rezala

  1. 1
    Calcutta Chicken Rezala is the most aromatic and quite rich which stands as an important representative of the culinary culture of Kolkata.
  2. 2
    This dish finds its way into many homes and restaurants because of the unique flavours of spices and a creamy texture.
  3. 3
    A mouthful of a feast to relish and to celebrate flavour, it is one of the greatest experiences in a lifetime.
  4. 4
    It starts with the choice of chicken-preferably 1 kg, which should be cut into pieces that can be cooked suitably.
  5. 5
    The chicken itself is the star of the dish, with choices that range from a broiler to free-range birds.
  6. 6
    To begin making the dish, a mise en place must be prepared.
  7. 7
    Begin by finely chopping 30 gms of onion and slicing 10 gms of ginger.
  8. 8
    Then collect your spices, including 4 pods of cardamom, 4 cloves, 2 sticks of cinnamon, 4 bay leaves, and 20 peppercorns.
  9. 9
    These are the flavours that will support the aromatic base of the rezala.
  10. 10
    Now, in another bowl, you can mix the following - 3 gms of coriander powder, a gram of lightly toasted mace, and 2 gms of lightly toasted white peppercorns.
  11. 11
    You would also make ready 10 gms of lightly toasted poppy seeds, 5 gms of toasted cashew nuts, and 10 gms of peeled lightly toasted khopra, or that dried coconut.
  12. 12
    Finally, leave 5 gms of garlic, 10 gms of ginger, and 100 gms of white onion for further cooking. Now it's time to mix the chicken and spices.
  13. 13
    Heat 45 gms of vegetable oil and 80 gms of ghee in a large pot.
  14. 14
    Adding ghee brings to the dish a rich flavour as well as a luxurious texture, and using vegetable oil helps to fry spices.
  15. 15
    Once the ghee and oil are hot, add the dried red chillies, then 10 makhana or fox nuts to add their nutty fragrance to the oil.
  16. 16
    Add 2 cardamom pods, 1 mace, and 10 black peppercorns, mixing them well to release all their flavours.
  17. 17
    After a minute, add chopped onions, garlic, and ginger, saut ing them until they become light golden brown.
  18. 18
    This is the most crucial step because it will dictate the taste of the dish.
  19. 19
    In this step, the already browned onions will be added to the prepared chicken pieces, 14 gms of salt, and 600 ml of water.
  20. 20
    It should be stirred thoroughly so that the chicken and the spice blend well.
  21. 21
    The amount of time for cooking depends upon the size of the chicken pieces. Cook until the meat is tender and cooked nice and thoroughly; it should absorb all the aromatic flavours.
  22. 22
    Now it's the turn to add the embellishments.
  23. 23
    In a bowl, mix up 150 gms of yoghurt, 3 gms of salt, and 12 gms of sugar, and pour this mix gently into the pot and stir it smoothly with the mixture.
  24. 24
    The addition of yoghurt helps introduce creaminess and slight tanginess.
  25. 25
    If it becomes too thick, you can thin it out to the right consistency by adding 50 ml of warm milk.
  26. 26
    For a subtle but perfect touch, sprinkle 10 gms of finely chopped green chillies into it.
  27. 27
    Half a teaspoon of kewra water for its floral after-taste.
  28. 28
    And as a final thought, a dash of meetha attar completes the aroma.
  29. 29
    This unique composition beautifies the dish and infuses it with the essence of Kolkata.
  30. 30
    The dis is ready. To serve your Chicken Rezala garnish with rose petals, which will surely do justice to the presentation.
  31. 31
    This dish is vibrantly colourful and has aromatic spices, which make it more than a meal-it's an experience to have it.
  32. 32
    Enjoy the full richness of this exquisite dish with naan or steamed rice.

Shop Ingredients

Onion (30 gms)
86
1
182
1
30
1
41
1
141
1
68
1
105
1
190
1
101
1
101
1
Makhana (10)
222
1
160
1
443
1
300
1
288
1
169
1
159
1
251
1
223
1
84
1
Cardamoms (4)
189
1
51
1
250
1
143
1
135
1
252
1
323
1
192
1
209
1
239
1
Cloves (4)
117
1
32
1
53
1
110
1
90
1
220
1
195
1
223
1
210
1
118
1
Red Chillies (4)
42
1
91
1
67
1
107
1
126
1
131
1
193
1
54
1
123
1
83
1
Coriander Powder (3 gms)
30
1
Cornflour (1/2Tsp)
30
1
57
1
87
1
47
1
32
1
30
1
Cooking Oil (45 gms)
148
1
170
1
138
1
144
1
153
1
278
1
144
1
729
1
236
1
175
1
Milk (50 gms)
32
1
24
1
27
1
33
1
45
1
50
1
Curd (150 gms)
26
1
32
1
39
1
121
1
42
1
57
1
31
1
106
1
150
1
70
1
Garlic (5 gms)
113
1
98
1
135
1
126
1
197
1
132
1
167
1
135
1
131
1
Peppercorns (20)
39
1
134
1
270
1
247
1
169
1
201
1
135
1
91
1
130
1
168
1
Bay Leaves (4)
25
1
18
1
17
1
35
1
36
1
Cashew Nuts (5 gms)
267
1
296
1
579
1
116
1
115
1
451
1
637
1
133
1
280
1
465
1
Ghee (80 gms)
370
1
585
1
549
1
355
1
650
1
665
1
551
1
696
1
141
1
409
1
Khopra (10 gms)
68
1
90
1
172
1
Chicken (1 kg)
159
1
249
1
215
1
239
1
135
1
319
1
219
1
229
1
Ginger (10 gms)
25
1
46
1
47
1
109
1
Salt (14 gms)
27
1
21
1
98
1
22
1
50
1
107
1
57
1
105
1
47
1
67
1
Poppy Seeds (10 gms)
241
1
235
1
245
1
266
1
Mace
55
1
Cinnamon (2)
52
1
45
1
32
1

FAQs

What is Chicken Rezala, and why is it so different from other chicken curries?

Chicken Rezala is a rich aromatic Mughlai-inspired Bengali dish that is creamy and slow-cooked. The thing that can be told about Chicken Rezala is that its white, creamy gravy makes it different from the numerous spicy red or brown chicken curries available. A combination of yoghurt, cashew nuts, poppy seeds, and aromatic spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves gives a certain flavour to the chicken rezala. The gravy is perfect in both richness with the yoghurt and the ground nuts and a hint of sweetness from it, making the dish light yet extremely flavourful and fragrant.

How do I prepare perfect Chicken Rezala at home?

The chicken rezala recipe begins with marinating the chicken in yoghurt, ginger-garlic paste, and a few gentle spices for a few hours. For the preparation of the gravy, whole spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves are fried in ghee or oil to extract all the aromas before adding the marinated chicken, which is then cooked until soft. Ground cashews, poppy seeds, and a splash of rose water or kewra water are added to give the dish that typical creamy texture and taste. Chicken rezala recipe is less about heat and rather aromatic, rich, and mildly sweet, usually served with naan or basmati rice.

Can Chicken Rezala be prepared ahead of time?

The best part is that chicken rezala can be made ahead of time, and the flavours deepen as it sits. You can store it in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. To reheat gently so that it doesn't break the creaminess of the gravy, you can do it on low heat. You can also freeze it and use it when you want it. This is excellent if you make a meal plan for them or a special occasion.