Chicken Jhal Fry Recipe, A Spicy Bengali Treat

By Shireen Jamooji

October 17, 2023

Chicken Jhal Fry is a fiery and flavourful Bengali dish. It features tender pieces of chicken marinated in a spicy mix of chilli and other aromatic spices.  The dish is known for its intense heat and vibrant taste, making it a popular choice for those who enjoy a spicy kick in their meals.

Ingredients

Marinade: 1 kg of chicken 1 tsp of lime juice ½ tsp of red chilli ½ tsp of turmeric ½ tsp of salt Gravy: ½ cup of fried onions ¼ cup of onion paste 1 tsp of garlic paste 1 tbsp of ginger paste 1.5 tsp of coriander powder 1 tsp of red chilli powder ½ tsp of turmeric Salt to taste

Ingredients (cont.)

1.5 cups of water ½ cup of cooking oil 3 tbsps of ketchup ½ tsp of black or white pepper ½ tsp of roasted cumin powder ½ tsp of garam masala 4-5 green chillies

Step 1

In a bowl, marinate the chicken with red chilli powder, turmeric, salt, and lime juice. Allow it to marinate for 15 to 30 minutes.

Step 2

Heat the cooking oil in a pan and fry the marinated chicken until it turns brown. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.

Step 3

In the same pan, add the sliced onions and fry until they turn brown. Once the onions are brown, remove them from the pan.

Step 4

Add the whole garam masala, onion paste, garlic-ginger paste, and all the spices to the same pan. Sauté them until they become fragrant.

Step 5

Return the fried chicken to the pan, add ketchup, and the fried onions. Sauté for another 10 minutes.

Step 6

Pour in 1.5 cups of water, and let it simmer until the chicken becomes tender. Add green chillies, 1/2 tsp of garam masala, and 1/2 tsp of roasted cumin powder. Serve hot with rice or rotis.