Chicken Rezala

Chicken Rezala, a very popular Bengali dish. Tender meat cooked in rich aromatic white gravy does an absolute magic to your taste buds. 

Ingredients:

• Chicken                     - 1 lbs, cleaned, cut into medium pieces
• Onion                        - 2 medium sized, paste  
• Garlic paste               - 1½ tsp
• Ginger paste              - 1 tsp
• Yogurt                       - 3/4 cup
• Cashew                      - 10-12
• Poppy seeds               - 1 Tbsp
• Bay leaves                 - 2
• Green Cardamom       - 3
• Cinnamon stick          - 1 inch
• Cloves                       - 6
• Red chilli                   - 5
• Black pepper corn      - 10
• White pepper powder - 1 tsp
• Ghee                         - 3 Tbsp
• Salt                           - As per taste
• Kewra jal                  - 2-3 drops

Method:

1. Marinate chicken with yogurt, salt, white pepper powder, onion-ginger-garlic paste. Keep aside for 2-4 hours. 

2. Soak poppy seeds in half cup water for 30 minutes. Put in blender, add cashew. Make a smooth paste. Keep aside. 

3. Heat ghee in a pan. Temper with green cardamon, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves, peppercorn and red chilli. Cook for a minute till aroma of masala spreads. 

4. Shake off the excess marinade as much as possible from the chicken pieces and add the pieces in pan. 

5. Fry in medium heat until they become whitish from all the sides.

6. Now add the excess marinade and cook till masala is cooked. This will take around 8-10 minutes.

7. Add cashew and poppy seeds paste. Mix well and simmer until gravy thickens. 

8. Add kewra jal and give a good stir. Remove from stove. 

9. Serve hot with pulao or naan.