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.
Bengali Chicken Rezala Recipe
about the influence of nawabi finesse on rustic Indian cuisine, Bengali in this case.
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
Instructions
- 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.
- Marinate the chicken with the above prepared marinade for two hours.
- Blend the remaining onion paste with the curd and keep it separate.
- 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.
- Now spoon out the pieces of chicken from the marinade and add to the oil carefully, and let it stir fry for 10 minutes.
- Next add the marinade along with the mixture of onion paste with curd and cook for few minutes.
- Add further the ginger-garlic paste and freshly pounded white pepper powder, continue cooking on low heat, add sugar and salt to taste.
- 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.
- Add few drops of kewra water or rose-water to the chicken.
- 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.
26 Comments
Deepa
May 12, 2011 at 5:59 pmOne of our fellow blogger Ushnish Kaku had posted an elaborate post about rezala (http://ushnish.blogspot.com/2010/01/razela-festival-veg-non-veg.html) . Kaku 4 types of preparation share korechilen. tumi jodi oono variation chao tahole onar ta dekhte paro.
I like the gravy if it is little runny when it comes to rezala . And your curry just fits the bill for me. Looks amazing dear.
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi
Deepa
May 12, 2011 at 6:56 pmthanks a lot for your sweet words dear. Ami ki tomar naam jante pari?
Sash
May 12, 2011 at 7:07 pmLove your recipes boudi! Keep em coming.
I have a request. When you get a chance, could you post your recipe for Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani?
Priya
May 13, 2011 at 12:20 amOmg, chicken rezala looks super rich and simply marvellous, mouthwatering..
Deboshree
May 13, 2011 at 9:16 pmI want some of this right now… seems absolutely yum! It also makes me realize how long it’s been since I last had chicken… 🙁
Miz Helen
May 14, 2011 at 3:35 amWhat a beautiful meal. The recipe looks delicious and your photos are awesome. Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope to see you next week!
Vidhya Jayadeep
May 14, 2011 at 5:20 amThis curry looks so comforting and rich.
torviewtoronto
May 14, 2011 at 11:22 pmyummy looking chicken curry
Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
May 16, 2011 at 11:38 pmDear Sukanya – You have me convinced. Am making this for saasuma when she gets in at the end of the month – her first meal from the airport. Think she’ll swoon??…lol…
Listen – have you checked out my forthcoming Epicurean Voyage to Sicily in Oct yet? Please please pass along to foodie friends 🙂
chow! Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
Jason@JLHealth
May 17, 2011 at 2:38 amI’ve never had chicken rezala before but after looking at your pictures I will….very soon! Love the walnuts on top.
Thanks for sharing at the hearth and soul hop.
suparna
May 19, 2011 at 4:42 pmSuperb blog with some really awesome recipes! would love to frequent you 😛 Thanks for the wonderful recipe…looks super yummy.
Happy cooking
sukanya ramkumar
May 20, 2011 at 8:41 amLovely traditional dish.. Looks so good. Nice recipe. Mouthwatering….
Raji Krishna
May 23, 2011 at 5:06 pmHey thats a yummy read! 😀 Making me hungry as always.. hmm.. being a blore foodie.. m sure u ve tried out fava? the med restaurant..http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fava-Experience-the-Med/187312881309263
Shilpi Bose
June 3, 2011 at 12:01 pmI keep searching for fellow Bengali food bloggers and am glad I found this blog, this recipe looks yummy, though I personally would prefer to make it without the kewra water but that is a matter of personal taste. Must go through your blog it looks interesting.
itiriti
September 21, 2011 at 3:36 amThanks for the wonderful recipe
Debraj Mandal
December 3, 2012 at 5:49 amThis is a very good recipe.
Maitreyi
November 3, 2014 at 5:59 pmThanks. I am going to try it out tomorrow
saffronstreaks
November 3, 2014 at 6:07 pmGreat ! Let me know how it turned out for you.
suman kalyan
July 12, 2017 at 8:56 pmVery well described ….thanks for the recipe
saffronstreaks
July 13, 2017 at 7:59 pmThank you so much for the feedback.