First, wash and clean the chicken pieces.
Marinate chicken pieces with half the onion paste, curd, ginger-garlic paste and white pepper powder. Add salt and refrigerate the marinated chicken for 2-3 hours.
In the meantime, soak the poppy seeds and cashew nuts in some water for about 30 minutes and then grind to a smooth paste.
Heat some ghee and oil in a pan and toss in the bay leaves, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves.
Next add the boiled onion paste and ginger garlic paste and sauté for a couple of minutes.
Add white pepper powder, poppy seed and cashew nut paste, salt and mix well.
Stir in well-beaten curd.
Next, add the well-marinated chicken, mix well, add some water, bring to a boil, cover and cook on slow flame for about 30 minutes.
After about half-an-hour, open the lid, blend in sugar, mashed khoya and garam masala and simmer till chicken is nicely done and you get a thick, creamy gravy.
Heat some oil/ghee in another pan and add red chillies and onions rings (optional), stir till onions turn brown and add this on top of the cooked chicken.
Garnish with a few strands of saffron.
Serve delicious and succulent Murg Rezala with Pulao or Roomali Roti.