Servings
Font
Back
0 from 153 votes

Chicken Saag (Chicken Palak) Recipe

This Chicken Saag is a classic Indian curry that is easy to make at home. It is a flavor-packed curry with chicken, onion, garlic, ginger, frozen spinach, and aromatic spices. You can find everything you need for this Chicken Saag at the grocery store. And using frozen spinach makes it even more convenient. There is no cream or dairy in this curry, yet it has a beautiful rich flavor thanks to the onions. They are the secret weapon for giving you a profoundly flavored curry.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 426 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

For the base
  • 2 onions - yellow/brown
  • 2 tablespoons oil - vegetable/canola
  • ½ cup broth - chicken/vegetable
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground coriander
For the spice mix
  • 2 teaspoons ground coriander
  • 1½ teaspoon ground fenugreek - see note 1
  • 1½ teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
  • ½ teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
  • ½ teaspoon Turmeric
  • ¾ teaspoon ground cardamon
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper - see note 2
For the curry
  • 1 inch piece of ginger
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 2 tablespoons oil - vegetable/canola
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste/tomato puree
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 lb chicken thighs
  • 1 cup frozen chopped spinach thawed (-see note 3)

Instructions

Make the curry base
    Cup of Yum
  1. Peel and roughly chop the onions2 onions
  2. In a large pan, heat the oil until shimmering.2 tablespoons oil
  3. Add the onions and cook over medium heat until soft and golden in color. (About 10 minutes)
  4. Transfer the onions and oil to a blender, add the broth, ground cumin, ground coriander, and puree until smooth.½ cup / 240 ml broth½ teaspoon ground cumin½ teaspoon ground coriander
To make the curry
  1. Combine the spice mix ingredients in a small bowl and set to one side.2 teaspoons ground coriander1½ teaspoon ground fenugreek1½ teaspoon garam masala1 teaspoon ground cumin½ teaspoon sweet paprika½ teaspoon salt½ teaspoon turmeric¾ teaspoon / ¼ teaspoon ground cardamon¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  2. Peel and grate the ginger and garlic.1 inch / 2.5 cm piece of ginger2 cloves garlic
  3. Heat the oil in a large pan (you can use the same pan you cooked the onions in, no need to wash it)2 tablespoons / 3 tablespoons oil
  4. Add the ginger and garlic and cook over low heat for 2 minutes.
  5. Add the combined spices, tomato paste, and water. Then stir to combine.1 tablespoon tomato paste/tomato puree2 tablespoons water
  6. Add in the onion base and cook over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes until thick and darkened in color.
  7. While the base is cooking, chop the chicken into bitesize chunks.1 lb / 450 g chicken thighs
  8. Add the chicken and cook for 10-15 minutes until just cooked.
  9. Add the defrosted spinach (no need to drain) and stir to combine with the sauce.1 cup / 150 g frozen chopped spinach
  10. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • If you can't find ground fenugreek, you can replace it with ½ teaspoon of mustard powder or yellow mustard seeds.
  • The cayenne adds heat; as written, this is medium-mild curry; you can increase the cayenne to make it spicier.
  • If you want to use fresh spinach, use ½lb, remove any tough stems and finely chop. You will need to give it 3-4 minutes extra cooking time to allow it to wilt down fully.

Nutrition Information

Calories 426kcal (21%) Carbohydrates 10g (3%) Protein 21g (42%) Fat 34g (52%) Saturated Fat 6g (30%) Polyunsaturated Fat 8g Monounsaturated Fat 17g Trans Fat 0.1g Cholesterol 111mg (37%) Sodium 676mg (28%) Potassium 508mg (15%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 3g (6%) Vitamin A 4915IU (98%) Vitamin C 7mg (8%) Calcium 89mg (9%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 426

% Daily Value*

Calories 426kcal 21%
Carbohydrates 10g 3%
Protein 21g 42%
Fat 34g 52%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Polyunsaturated Fat 8g 47%
Monounsaturated Fat 17g 85%
Trans Fat 0.1g 5%
Cholesterol 111mg 37%
Sodium 676mg 28%
Potassium 508mg 11%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 3g 6%
Vitamin A 4915IU 98%
Vitamin C 7mg 8%
Calcium 89mg 9%
Iron 3mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.