Jalfrezi
Jalfrezi (also jhal frezi, zalfrezi, zalfraizi, jaffrazi, and many other alternative spellings) is a curry dish originating in the Bengal and popular throughout the Indian subcontinent and beyond. It consists of a main ingredient such as meat, fish, paneer or vegetables, stir-fried and served in a thick spicy sauce that includes green chilli peppers. Common further ingredients include bell peppers, onions and tomatoes.
 | |
| Alternative names | Zalfraizi (Sylheti) |
|---|---|
| Type | Curry |
| Course | Main |
| Place of origin | South Asia |
| Region or state | Indian Subcontinent |
| Associated national cuisine | Bangladeshi, India cuisine |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Green chillies; meat, seafood, vegetables or paneer |
History of the dish
Jalfrezi recipes appeared in cookbooks of British India as a way of using up leftovers by frying them with chilli and onion.[1] This English-language usage derived from the colloquial Bengali word jhāl porhezī: in Bengali, jhāl means spicy food; porhezi comes from the Persian word, parhezī means suitable for a diet.[2] Jalfrezi is usually prepared by stir-frying ingredients, a technique introduced to the region by Chinese cuisine.
Popularity
In a survey in 2011, jalfrezi was rated the most popular dish in UK Indian and broader South Asian restaurants.[3][4]
References
- Collingham, Lizzie (2006). Curry: A Tale of Cooks and Conquerors. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 138. ISBN 978-0-19-988381-3.
- "jalfrezi". Oxford English Dictionary (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. September 2005. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- "Tikka masala out, jalfrezi is UK's No. 1 dish". The Times of India. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 23 July 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
- Hall, Hames (21 July 2011). "Move over masala, jalfrezi is now our favourite curry". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group Limited. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
