Chicken Lajawab

There are many ways to prepare the South Asian dish called chicken lajawab (lajawab often is translated from Urdu as “priceless” or “peerless”). Our rendition, a riff on a recipe from “Madhur Jaffrey’s Step-by-Step Cooking,” employs a high-impact seasoning paste two ways: it’s rubbed onto chicken parts that are cooked in a hot oven, and it’s combined with yogurt to serve as an accompaniment. Depending on their capsaicin content, the jalapeños may add a decent amount of chili heat; if you wish to temper their spiciness, remove the seeds and ribs before dropping the chilies into the blender. Basmati rice or warmed naan are excellent alongside.