bengali chicken rezala with roasted almonds

Bengali chicken rezala – a unique and exquisite Indian chicken curry dish from Bengal speaks volumes about the Nawabi finesse on rustic Indian (Bengali) cuisine. Chicken rezala with roasted almonds (my take on this classic dish) is mild, mellow, infused with aromatic spices and so delicate with essential nutty essence.

Rezala is a perfect amalgamation of sourness and sweetness with an undertone of spiciness, with lots of unmatched flavour makes it rather amusing and delectable which is very much Bengali in origin.

Unlike other Bengali delicacies which has traveled to far away land, rezala remain confined to the geographical boundaries of Kolkata. The reasons are not known, may be it did not get a loyal patronage or it fails to amuse the rich and varied taste of Indian cuisine. The latter being highly untrue as the mystery slowly unfolds when one get absorbed in its creamy taste and rich flavour which itself speaks about the many tales that shrouded this amusing dish called rezala.

The long period of Muslim rule in the country has greatly influenced the architecture and cuisine of the country and Bengal was no exception. The Nawabs who represent the Mughal empire brought bawarchis and maslachis with them and soon the royal kitchens wafting with the flavour of kebabs and biryanis and when the last nawab of Awadh Wajid Ali Shah exiled to Calcutta (metiabruz), it formally established the mughlai cuisine in Calcutta which attains some robust flavour after mingling with the Bengali foods. Like biryanis and kebabs, rezala too slowly cooked over charcoal fire or in sigri and thus attained an unmatched flavour, truly reflecting the Mughal legacy.

The most unusual and comforting thing about this recipe of chicken rezala (a highly abridged version of mutton rezala) is that it uses few chosen spices, slow cooking and un-common blending of onion with sour curd used for marination as well as for cooking. Rezala usually has very thin gravy, if you are not comfortable with it you can always add roasted flour to thicken it slightly.

I have been cooking chicken Rezala for long time, predominantly little old fashioned and rustic way. So, this time it’s my retake on this classic dish with shahi garam masala roped in to give it rich flavours.
Relatively very ” not so popular” dish outside Bengal , this one is the real show stopper when it comes to true marriage of taste and flavours. Thin onion and yogurt gravy speckled with cashews and pistachios. Sweet but with undertones of heat from the green chillies. And on hot summer days this taste totally- Sublime.
Bengali Muslim in origin, its roots can be traced back to the shahi kitchens of Nawabs but very much a true “Calcuttan” in heart. Living in communal harmony since ages and liked and devoured by all.

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Bengali Chicken Rezala Recipe

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

40 mins

Marination Time

2 hrs

Total Time

3 hrs

 

Chicken rezala with roasted almonds - a classic dish from a bygone era. Rezala speaks
about the influence of nawabi finesse on rustic Indian cuisine, Bengali in this case.

Course: Main Course

Keyword: Bengali chicken rezala recipe, how to prepare authentic chicken rezala, Recipe for chicken rezala

Servings: 3

Author: Sukanya Ghosh

Recipe Ingredients

• 500 gm Chicken, curry cut
• 1 cup Onion Paste
• 1 cup Curd
• 1 tbsp Ginger - Garlic Paste
• 3 Red chillies whole
• 2 Bay Leaves
• Few Pieces of Cloves, Cinnamon , Mace, Nutmeg (pinch)
• 1 tsp White Pepper Powder
• Salt and Sugar to taste
• 3 tbsp Ghee
• 3-4 drops Kewra water / screw pine essence
• Roasted Almonds for garnishing

Recipe Instructions

1. For marinade: Mix ½ cup onion paste with ½ cup beaten curd along with a spoon of ginger-garlic paste, salt and 2 red chillies.

2. Marinate the chicken with the above prepared marinade for two hours.

3. Blend the remaining onion paste with the curd and keep it separate.

4. Heat ghee in a pan and temper it with cloves, cinnamon, bay leaves, mace, red chillies and grated nutmeg.

   Fry for few seconds till it leaves its aroma.

5. Now spoon out the pieces of chicken from the marinade and add to the oil carefully, and let it stir fry for 10 minutes.

6. Next add the marinade along with the mixture of onion paste with curd and cook for few minutes.

7. Add further the ginger-garlic paste and freshly pounded white pepper powder, continue cooking on low heat, add sugar and salt to taste.

8. Do not add any water as the onion, curd and chicken will ooze out enough liquid.

   Mix it well with the chicken and cover and simmer on low heat till done.

9. Add few drops of kewra water or rose-water to the chicken.

10. Garnish with roasted almonds and dry chilli flakes before serving.

 Variation : If you like to try this recipe with vegetables or other meat like mutton rezala, you can check it here at Ushnish da’s blog where he has elaborately described it.