Bangladeshi Chicken Rezala Recipe for Beginners

yogurt

🥗Healthier: low-fat yogurt

💰Cheaper: buttermilk

Low-fat yogurt reduces calories while maintaining creaminess.

ghee

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: butter

Olive oil is healthier and adds a different flavor.

chicken

🥗Healthier: turkey

💰Cheaper: chicken thighs

Turkey is leaner, while chicken thighs are more economical.

green chilies

🥗Healthier: jalapeños

💰Cheaper: bell peppers

Jalapeños offer heat, while bell peppers are milder and cheaper.

Marinate the Chicken: In a bowl, mix chicken with salt, ginger paste, plain yogurt, red chili powder, and green chili paste. Marinate for 30 minutes if possible, otherwise, you can start cooking right away.

Prepare Rezala Spice Mix: In a small pan, add cardamom, cinnamon, kabab chini, cumin, coriander, mace, nutmeg, and white pepper. Toast over low heat for 1 min 30 sec until fragrant. Let it cool, then grind to a powder using a mortar and pestle or spice grinder.

Fry the Chicken: In a wide pan, add cooking oil and fry the chicken pieces for 2-3 min over high heat in batches. Remove and set aside.

Make the Gravy: Lower the heat, add 2 tsp ghee to the same pan. Add 3 green chilis, cinnamon, cardamom, bay leaves, black pepper, and 1 tbsp raisins. Sauté until raisins puff up. Add garlic paste and ginger paste, sauté for 30 sec. Add red chili powder, mix well. Then add plain yogurt, increase the heat to medium, and mix well.

Combine: Add crushed fried onions, mix well. Add the fried chicken pieces, 1½ tbsp of the Rezala spice mix, and sauté for 2-3 min. Add ketchup, dried plums, and salt to taste. Mix well, cover, and cook for 10 min over low heat, stirring once.

Final Touches: Add cashew paste, sugar, warm milk, the remaining Rezala spice mix, 8-9 green chilis, kewra water, 7-8 raisins, 1 tbsp ghee, and 1 tsp fried onions. Mix well, cover, and cook for 25 min over low heat, stirring occasionally. Finish with cooking cream or malai and garnish with sliced almonds.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens