I know how it sounds when we hear about the palak recipes. Children seem never like spinach because of its taste.
I don’t know about you, but when it comes to Indian cuisine, I am very picky and reserve my appetite for something more interesting like tandoori chicken or garam masala chicken. But palak chicken? Yum!
I was pleasantly surprised when our friend recommended this dish to us one evening while we were out drinking soft drinks at her place.
She said that she had made it several times and everyone who has tried it loves it, even her kids.
And she’s not the only one, trust me, there are plenty of reviews online that confirm palak chicken’s popularity.
So, want to taste the palak chicken recipe for yourself? Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
What is Palak chicken made of?
Before I get started, I think you should know what Palak refers to. Only India, Bangladesh, and a few Asian countries use this word.
Palak is spinach in Indian languages and refers to a type of leafy green vegetable that’s often steamed or boiled in water with spices.
The leaves are slightly firmer and have a stronger spinach flavor than other types of spinach, which might be why people seem to like it more than other varieties.
The main difference between this recipe and others you may know is that instead of being sautéed or braised in oil, palak chicken is simmered in a curry or masala sauce.
Now back to our chicken recipe. The spice mix used for Palak chicken includes ginger, garlic powder, cumin seeds, red chili pepper flakes, etc. which give it its delicious flavor profile.
You may also find garam masala paste in some stores nowadays which would make this dish even more aromatic and flavorful.
Can I eat chicken Palak?
One important question I think I should answer before I get started is this: is chicken Palak safe to eat?
At its core, chicken palak is simply spinach cooked in a curry or masala sauce. As long as you are using fresh and high-quality ingredients, there shouldn’t be any problems.
However, if you have food allergies or sensitivities, it’s better to consult a healthcare professional before you jump into it.
In fact, many people have allergic problems related to many foods.
However, except for this one instance, chicken palak is usually quite nutritious and you can enjoy it as part of a healthy diet.
Now that we’ve answered the question about whether or not chicken Palak is safe to eat, let’s get down to business and find out what goes into this dish.
One more recipe recommendation: Easy ground beef recipe.
Palak chicken recipe
- Prep Time30 min
- Cook Time30 min
- Perform Time3 hr
- Total Time4 hr
- YieldPalak Chicken
- Serving Size6
- Energy278 cal
Ingredients of Palak chicken recipe
To marinate the chicken
- 1 lb of 1 and 1/2 inch size chicken breasts pieces
- 2 tbsp Yogurt
- 1.2 tsp red chili powder
- 1 tbsp cumin seeds
- 1 and 1/2 tsp Kasoori methi
- 1/2 tsp garam masala powder
- 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
- 0.5-inch ginger, grated
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 green cardamom pods ( Indian spice), crushed lightly to yield a powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 and 1/2 tbsp ghee
- Salt as needed
To make the Gravy
- 1 tbsp garlic, paste
- 1 tbsp ginger paste
- 3 tbsp mustard oil
- 2 green chilies ( Crushed)
- 3 tomatoes ( Medium size pureed)
- 1/2 tsp red chili powder
- 3/4 tsp garam masala ( Powdered)
- 3/4 tsp coriander powder
- 3 pieces of black cardamom
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
- 3 medium onions, finely chopped
- 1 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
- 1 tbsp Kasoori methi
- Salt as needed
- 1 and 1/2 tbsp cream for better flavor
- generous pinch of saffron threads (optional)
- Butter for garnish
Instructions for Palak chicken recipe
Start by heating water in a pot or in the microwave.
Add spinach leaves to boiling water and cook for 1- 2 minutes until greens are wilted down.
Drain excess water and plunge spinach leaves into ice-cold water to cool quickly.
Once cooled, chop spinach leaves into medium pieces.
Take a blender and blend chopped spinach pieces until smooth.
In a bowl, mix together yogurt, red chili powder cumin seeds Kasoori methi ginger garlic paste cardamom pods coriander powder, lemon juice, and ghee.
Add salt as needed, mix well, and set aside.
In a separate bowl, season chicken with cumin seeds red chili powder garam masala ginger garlic paste cardamom pods coriander powder lemon juice, and saffron threads (if using).
Mix well to combine.
Pour yogurt marinade over chicken pieces in the bowl and coat evenly.
Cover with plastic wrap or foil if necessary for refrigeration for 2-4 hours minimum or overnight is better If you have time.
Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
Add ghee to the pan
When ready to grill chicken, remove chicken pieces from the marinade and discard any leftover marinade.
Grill chicken on both sides until cooked through (about 10 minutes per side).
Heat the mustard oil in a pan.
Add cumin seeds and whole spices for 1-2 minutes until lightly toasted.
Now add onion, garlic paste, and ginger paste and sauté for 2-3 minutes (add more water if necessary).
It’s time to add the tomato puree and chicken pieces.
Add chicken pieces and sauté for 2-3 minutes until fully cooked through.
Then add spinach leaves and sauté for another minute or two.
Keep stirring and checking the spinach leaves for any burning.
At this point, you can add a bit of cream, soy sauce, and or any other spices you might like.
Remove from heat and set aside.
- Serving Size6
- Amount per serving
- Calories278
- % Daily Value*Standard DV
- Total Fat14 g78 g17.95%
- Saturated Fat4 g20 g20%
- Trans Fat- g
- Polyunsaturated Fat- g
- Monounsaturated Fat- g
- Cholesterol61 mg300 mg20.33%
- Sodium286 mg2300 mg12.43%
- Total Carbohydrate18 g275 g6.55%
- Dietary Fiber7 g28 g25%
- Total Sugars6 g
- Added Sugars- g50 g0%
- Sugar Alcohal- g
- Protein23 g50 g46%
- Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol)- IU800 IU0%
- Calcium216 mg1300 mg16.62%
- Iron6 mg18 mg33.33%
- Potassium1466 mg4700 mg31.19%
- Vitamin A- mcg900 mcg0%
- Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)65 mg90 mg72.22%
- Vitamin E (Tocopherol)- IU33 IU0%
Pro Tips to make the Palak chicken recipe tastier:
1) Before you grill the chicken, rub it with cumin seeds and red chili powder to spice up the flavor.
2) Generally, palak chicken is cooked in a yogurt marinade and sautéed with spices. However, you can also cook it on the BBQ or stovetop.
3) You may want to add ginger garlic paste and cardamom pods for extra spice if using. For those who don’t like spinach leaves, chicken pieces can be left out altogether without any problems.
4) Remember to wash and chop the spinach leaves finely before adding them to the curry, as they can be waterlogged if left whole.
Health benefits of the Palak chicken recipe
Oh, what a long and winding road it is between chicken and curry.
Literally, palak chicken is a spinach-based dish that typically features chicken pieces. It’s commonly eaten in India and Nepal, where spinach is a popular leafy green.
However, The health benefits of Palak chicken come from the inclusion of spinach leaves (and other greens) in the recipe.
Spinach contains vitamin A, folate, manganese, beta-carotene (an antioxidant), iron, vitamin C, and dietary fiber.
What does this mean for you? Well, this means that spinach chicken is a healthy and nutrient-rich dish that can help you meet your daily nutritional requirements.
And chicken adds its own health benefits, such as being low in fat and cholesterol. So not only does palak chicken taste great but it’s good for you too.
Wow, I mean, how can a recipe get better than that?
Our previous article: Delicious crabs legs recipe.
Frequently asked questions:
Q: What are the spices used in palak chicken?
A: The spices used in the Palak chicken dish include cumin seeds, red chili powder, and a few more. As you can see above, some people like to add ginger garlic paste and cardamom pods for extra spice.
Q: Can palak chicken be cooked in the oven or on the stovetop?
A: The palak chicken recipe can be cooked on either a BBQ or stovetop, but you may want to avoid cooking it in the oven, as it can result in a dry chicken dish.
Q: What are some variations of palak chicken?
A: Some variations of Palak chicken include adding ginger garlic paste, fresh cilantro leaves, or tomato masala to the recipe.
And if you’re looking for something more exciting, try adding chicken tikka masala and coconut milk.
Final Thoughts
I really had a tough time picking a favorite recipe from this list but I have to say that spinach chicken definitely takes the cake.
It’s healthy, has tons of flavor, and can be cooked in many different ways.
The best part is, after all this hard work, you will be left with a delicious and satisfying meal that everyone in your household will love.
In the end, all I want to say is GO FOR IT and share these recipes with everyone you know.
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