Chicken Rezala- Bengali style

I first tasted this recipe when I was in Bhubaneswar. (are you laughing at me?, well I have a solid excuse) When we heard that Siraj restaurant had opened a branch there, which was in kolkata already, all the (well, most of all) members of IOP drove towards it. Mainly the bongs those who were used to miss kolkata style biriyani. 

But it was not the first time of visit. Me and Sam loved to go Siraj at least once or twice in 15 days...just for the kababs and biriyani. Then one day we ordered mutton rezala. And BUMB!! I found what did I actually missed...why didn't I ever tried this menu from other restaurants? It was really amazing. I felt so stupid. 

Once upon a time (It was around 1998-99, I can't remember the time clearly) I was in standard 7 or 8, Baba (my father) declared that he was going to make a new dish called "mutton rezala". My father also can cook well and my mother had learned many of dishes from him after their marriage. Every Sunday baba loved to prepare chicken or mutton dishes and it became a tradition for many years in our tiny nuclear family. Even still now he cooks when guests come. Of course he doesn't do all alone, maa helps. We had a cook book of Bela Dey and Lila Majumder at that time, and most of the experiments were based upon it. After my marriage baba gave me that book. This rezala-recipe was that book's child. So, when the dish was almost done, baba found a soupy texture. But according to him mutton or chicken dishes should not be soupy, it should has thick gravy (a type of myth you can say). He didn't ask anybody, and added some ararot(arrowroot) powder in it. Now you can imagine how thick and glue like texture we had found!! The taste was really good but the whole thing went so wrong that I never tried to try this recipe. Maa and me had so much faith on him, that we never opened the rezala page from that book. 

But now situations have changed. I love to prepare and experiment different kinds of dishes. Though the daily "thor-bori-khara" food preparations snatches my all enthuse. I found Priyanka Panigrahi's video from YouTube... and tried that. It was really very easy and all the ingredients were so easy to gather. Though I didn't follow the same. I was very much sure and satisfied that the whole thing went well. And when my guinea-pig returned from office and I seized  him towards my pressure cooker (the thing was there) without a little hint; he took a look, grasped the fragrance, and shouted out with full volume.... "yes!!! REZALAAAAAAA"

Do you want the same? You may then follow my way and you will need, 

• Chicken- large or medium pieces. I used 750 grams.
• Onion- 1 large, cut in round and thick slices
• Onion paste- 1 cup
• Ginger-Garlic paste- 2 tsp
• Green Chili- 2 or 3
• Sugar- 1/2 tsp
• Salt as required
• Cashew- 3 or 4 pieces
• Poppy seeds- 2 tsp
• Yogurt/Curd- 1 and 1/2 cup
• Bay leaves- 2
• Red chili- 2
• Green Cardamom- 5 to 6
• Cinnamon- 1"
• Cloves- 4
• Black peppercorn (whole)- 4 to 5 (I didn't use it, just because I didn't have it. So it is optional)
• Oil- 2 tablespoon
• Ghee- 2 to 3 tablespoon

Now the preparation-

Marinate the chicken with 1/2 cup curd for 10-15 minutes.

In the mean time make a paste of poppy seeds, cashew and green chili. Mix onion paste, ginger-garlic paste, 1 tsp salt with it. 

Now marinate the chicken with this paste and oil; leave it in refrigerator for 1 hour. 

Take the rest curd, add sugar, salt and very little water (if you think). Beat it well until it become very smooth. Keep aside.

And time for cooking-

Take a pressure cooker (you may use any deep bottomed pan). Add the ghee, let it melt fully, add the whole garam masalas i.e Bay leaf, Red chili, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and peppercorn. Let them splutter. 

Add the marinated chicken and cook for 10 minutes. Don't forget to stir. 

Marinated chicken after 1 hour

Add the beaten curd and onion; saute for another 1-2 minutes. 

Take the taste, if you need more salt. Add required water. Cover the cooker and cook until the chicken is fully cooked. It is done now. So easy right??

Coming up with Niramish Mangsho, Jeera Rice, Chanar Dalna and Karhai Mushroom... Keep in touch

Chicken Stew in easiest way

Hi, so after a long gap I am here again. In the mean time I was in Kolkata after 6 months. It was a really pleasant time I have spent with my parents. We bought a Barbie for my bonu (my cousin) as she got the first place in a talent exam (hopeless, I forgot the name) and the gift really made her happy. She asked me for a barbie last year, but then I had already left Kolkata. Now I am happy as I could keep my promise to the pretty little girl. We reached Chennai on 1st July and I became sick. Some kind of muscle pain pushed me back to complete bed rest for 1 week. Got a check up to Fortis Malar Hospital for 2 times and totally separated from computer. Doctor Anand even asked me not to sit. But now I am quite well and it is my first day with my laptop. 

But you know, it was truly spoken by  some wise that when a girl marries she exchanges the attentions of many men for the inattention of one.... in the time of my pain, I still had to attend my homemaking job :-/ . 

But the greater minds always forgive the lesser. I forgive him every time ;-) .

Well, I am not so much happy for Neymar's injury. Yes, I am a hardcore Brazil fan and after semifinal my heart is also injured.

from Google image

Hope he will get well soon. 

My most of the times now go with my new passion, Crochet. 



So everything is just going on. No spark, no charm, nothing at all. 



Now leave it. Put all your frustrations behind and it is time for a new (obviously the most stupid idea to call it a new) dish. Ta da.... presenting Chicken Stew.....

This is not my invention, the whole curtsy goes to my mother(IL). Sam loves it because it is very light for your tummy and I like it because it is very easy and less time consuming. 

All you need are ____

• Chicken - I used around 750 grams
• Potatoes - 4 peeled and cut into halves
• Cabbage - 2 leaves
• Tomato - 1 chopped
• Onion - 1 large
• Green Chili - 2 
• Beans - 2
• Capsicum - 1/4 th of 1

You may add any kind of veggies if you want. Oh I forgot to mention few more things..

• Butter - 1 tbsp (or more)
• Ginger paste - 1/2 tsp
• Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp 
• Green Cardamom - 2
• Cinnamon stick - 1 inch
• Cloves - 2
• Salt to taste
• Sugar- 1/4 tsp

You have to marinate your chicken pieces with ginger paste and Turmeric powder for 10 minutes.

Now follow all the steps like the picture. Okay let me guide you for 1st time. 

1. Take a pressure cooker. Add the butter, heat it, add green cardamom, cinnamon stick and cloves. Let the smell out but take care of the butter or it will burn.
2. Add all the veggies and stir them for 2-4 minutes.
3. Add the marinated chicken.
4. Stir them for another 4-5 minutes.
5. Add water (as much as you need your soup), salt and sugar.
6. Cover the cooker and cook until your chicken is done.

Please don't hesitate to share if you have another ideas.
Coming soon with Chicken Rezala (yummy!!!)