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Chicken Rezala

Name: Chicken Rezala
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 5
Ingredients: 1 kg Chicken, bone-in, cut into curry pieces; 300 g Yogurt; 2 pc Onion, ground to a paste; 1 tbsp Ginger, made into a paste; 1 tbsp Garlic, made into a paste; 3 tbsp Dry fruits, cashews, soaked and ground to a paste; 1 tsp Black pepper, ground; 5 pc Cardamom; 1 pc Cinnamon; 6 pc Green chilli; 3 tbsp Clarified butter; 2 tbsp Cooking oil; to taste Salt; 1 tsp Sugar

55 min Medium 5 servings

Serves 5 · Total 55 min · Prep 20 min · Cook 35 min

Updated on 9 November 2026

AI-generated illustration (Gemini)

A pale, creamy chicken curry built on yogurt, cashew-and-poppy paste and white pepper instead of red chilli and turmeric, so the colour stays light. A Mughlai-Bengali wedding classic, milder and richer than most everyday curries.

Quick answer: 55 min in total · serves 5 · main ingredients: Chicken, Yogurt, Onion, Ginger · amounts in metric and US

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Ingredients

Metric US

1 kg 2.2 lb Chicken, bone-in, cut into curry pieces
300 g 1.25 cup Yogurt
2 pc 2 pc Onion, ground to a paste
1 tbsp 1 tbsp Ginger, made into a paste
1 tbsp 1 tbsp Garlic, made into a paste
3 tbsp 3 tbsp Dry fruits, cashews, soaked and ground to a paste
1 tsp 1 tsp Black pepper, ground
5 pc 5 pc Cardamom
1 pc 1 pc Cinnamon
6 pc 6 pc Green chilli
3 tbsp 3 tbsp Clarified butter
2 tbsp 2 tbsp Cooking oil
to taste to taste Salt
1 tsp 1 tsp Sugar (Optional)

Steps

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Marinate the chicken with half the yogurt, ginger-garlic paste and salt for 30 minutes.
⏱ Marinating · 30 min
Heat the ghee and oil; add the cardamom and cinnamon, then the onion paste (blend the sliced onions with a little water first), and fry gently until soft but not browned.
⏱ Frying the onion paste · 5 min
Add the marinated chicken and cook uncovered on medium heat until it changes colour, without letting the masala brown.
⏱ Cooking the chicken · 6 min
Add the cashew paste (3 tbsp cashews ground with a little water), the remaining yogurt a spoon at a time on low heat, ground black pepper, sugar and green chillies; stir well.
Add a little hot water, cover and simmer on low heat until the chicken is tender and the gravy is creamy and pale. The chicken should reach 74 °C / 165 °F.
⏱ Simmering · 15 min
Remove from the heat and let it rest for 2-3 minutes so the flavours settle before serving.
⏱ Resting · 3 min

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Frequently asked questions

How long does Chicken Rezala take?

55 minutes in total: about 20 minutes of prep and 35 minutes of cooking.

Is Chicken Rezala hard to make?

Degchi rates it medium. The method has 6 steps, and 5 of them have a timer you can start on this page.

How many people does Chicken Rezala serve?

This recipe serves 5. Use the toggle above the ingredient list to see the amounts in metric or US measures. For more or fewer portions, scale every amount in the same proportion, or use the servings control in the Degchi app.

Is Chicken Rezala halal, vegetarian or eggless?

It is marked halal in our recipe data. It is not vegetarian. It has no egg. It has no beef. Check the labels on any packaged ingredients for your own needs.

What will I probably need to buy for Chicken Rezala?

Everyday staples that Degchi counts as pantry basics: cooking oil, salt. Spice-box items: black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon. Fresh items you will probably need to buy: chicken, yogurt, onion, ginger, garlic, green chilli, clarified butter. Lentils, grains and other dry goods: dry fruits.

Any tips for making Chicken Rezala?

Keep the heat low once the cashew paste goes in — it can split and lose its creamy look if it boils hard.