Kolkata Style CHICKEN REZALA

CHICKEN REZALA

Chicken Rezala is a very popular and beloved dish in Bengal.
This dish is only available in Bengal and brought to Bengali  food culture by the Nawabs 
                                    (mughal ruler )of mughal Empire .
Rezala has very unique flavor for which it is so distinctive from other mughal dishes .
The chicken is slow cooked in a white nut gravy with a blend of aromatic spices.
It has a perfect blend of sweetness and sourness which makes the royal dish with its delicious aroma texture and lip-smacking taste.



INGREDIENTS

Chicken -500 gms (Big Pieces)
Poppy seed paste -2tbsp
Ginger paste -1/2tbsp
Cashew nuts -2tbsp
Garlic paste-1tbsp
Char Magaz paste -2tsp

White pepper power -3tbsp
Black pepper power-3tbsp
Yogurt -1/2 cup
Salt -as per taste
Sugar -as per taste
Green chili paste -3tbsp
Whole garam masala
Oil-1cup
Ghee-3tbsp
Dry  red chili -3-4 pcs
Kewra water -1tsp
Rose water -1tsp
Nutmeg powder-1tsp
Garam masala powder-1tbsp

METHOD

1. Soak the poppy seeds, cashew and char magaz seed in half cup of water for 20 minutes and make fine paste.

2.Take the chicken pieces , wash and pat dry with kitchen towel .

Take a big bowl add the chicken to it then add curd ,ginger,garlic ,poppy ,charmagaz,cashew paste,salt,sugar,nutmeg powerder, green chili paste black pepper , garam masala powder and mix them well.

I wrap it with a cling film and refrigerate overnight.




3.Mandatory to take a flat pan add ghee ,oil and heat it .
Then add whole garam masala after few second add only the chicken pieces from the marinade .
Saute the chicken for few minutes on high flame then add marinade also.



Stir it occasionally and let it cook over low to medium flame and cover it with a lid .
Check it in few minutes and give some stirs until oils comes out from the sides of the pan and chicken gets soft and tender .
4.When the chicken gets soft and tender add water ,Rose water and Kewra water. 
Once it cooked, remove the bay leafs and close the lids for sometime before serving .


Serve the chicken Rezala with rumble roti,naan,saffron rice or with Mughlai Biriyani.

   KOLKATA STYLE CHICKEN BHARTA  

                      

Chicken Bharta is a spicy minced chicken dish .
Basically popular in dhabas and roadside eateries in India.
There is a famous restore in south kolkata called "HONEY-DA -DHABA".
They are famous for this recipe and myself was one of their daily customer for Chicken Bharta nd Naan .Some of their chef revealed their secret in a cookery show .
I followed their steps and outcome was good .
Do Try out this recipe and let me know how its works.

INGREDIENTS

• 1lbs-boneless chicken
• 1 onion -finely chopped
• 1 tomato finely chopped
• 1tsp ginger paste 
• 1tsp garlic paste
• 1tsp turmeric powder
• 1tsp chili powder (as per taste)
• 1tsp cumin powder
• 1tsp coriander powder
• 2tsp kasturi methi{dry fenugreek powder}
• 3tbsp cashew paste
• 1 cup plain yogrut
• 2tbsp plain cream
• salt to taste 
• 1tbsp sugar
• 2tbsp coriander leaves
• whole garam masala(cloves,cardamoms,bay leaves)
• 1tbsp butter
• 2 hard boiled egg
• 4 tbsp white oil(safola,canola,vegetable oil)

METHOD

Heat oil in a pan and add whole garam masala.
Let them sizzle then add chopped onion and fry until brown.
Time to add ginger + garlic paste fry them little after that add chopped tomato and fry all in a low heat till oil oozes out from the masala .
Then take a bowl mixed all the  dry spice powder with water and add to the pan .
Fry till the raw smell goes away.
At last add boneless chicken to it and mix them with the spices .
Wait till the chicken become soft then add salt ,sugar and cashew paste mix them well.
Now time to drizzle with cream,butter and kasturi methi  over it.
Cook it in a slow flame for 15 mints .
Turn off the heat add some chopped  coriander leaves (cilantro).
Garnish with hard boil eggs and serve with Naan,Roti.