Palak Chicken Recipe - Healthy & Flavorful Spinach Chicken Curry

Palak Chicken is a delicious and nutritious dish from Pakistani cuisine. It combines tender chicken with spinach, flavored with aromatic spices.

Ingredients:

For Chicken Marinade:

• half kg chicken (bone-in or boneless)
• half cup yogurt
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon red chili powder
• 1 tablespoon turmeric powder

For spinach (palak) preparation:

• 500g (1 bunch ) fresh spinach (palak), washed and chopped
• 1 green chili
• half tablespoon salt (for blanching )

For Gravy:

• 2 tablespoon oil or ghee
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 medium tomatoes, chopped or pureed
• 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
• 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
• 1 tablespoon coriander powder
• half tablespoon garam masala
• 1 tablespoon red chili powder (adjust to taste )
• half tablespoon turmeric powder
• half tablespoon salt (adjust to taste )
• 1 tablespoon butter (optional, for extra flavor )

For Garnish:

• 2 green chilies, sliced
• half tablespoon garam masala
• fresh coriander leaves, chopped
• 1 tablespoon cream (optional, for a rich texture )

Instructions:

Step 1: Blanch the Spinach

Boil 2 cups of water with 1/4 tablespoon of salt. Add the washed and chopped spinach. Let it cook for 2-3 minutes until wilted. Drain the spinach and immediately transfer it to a bowl of ice-cold water (this helps retain its green color ). Blend the spinach with 1 green chili to make a smooth or slightly coarse puree. Set aside. 

Step 2: Marinate the Chicken:

In a bowl, mix chicken with yogurt, salt, red chili powder, and turmeric. Let it marinate for at least 30 minutes (or overnight for deeper flavor ).

Step 3: Prepare the Masala (Gravy)

Heat oil or ghee in a pan on medium heat. Add cumin seeds and let them crackle. Add chopped onions and sauté until golden brown. Add ginger-garlic paste and sauté for a minute until fragrant. Add chopped or pureed tomatoes. Cook until soft and oil starts separating (about 8-10 minutes ). Add coriander powder, red chili powder, turmeric, and salt. Stir well. Add the marinated chicken and cook on medium heat until it turns white and slightly golden (about 10 minutes ).

Step 4: Combine Chicken and Spinach

Pour in a spinach puree and mix well. Cover and cook on low-medium heat for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is tender. Add garam masala and butter for extra flavor. Mix well.

Step 5: Final Touch and Garnish

Adjust seasoning if needed. Add green chilies, fresh coriander, and a drizzle of cream if using. Simmer for another 2 minutes, then turn off the heat.