Rich Indian Palak Chicken Recipe: Next-Level Delicious

Why You’ll Love This this Rich Indian Palak Chicken

This palak chicken brings together tender, perfectly spiced chicken with a vibrant spinach base that’s way more exciting than it sounds.

You get all that rich, earthy flavor from the spinach puree while the chicken stays incredibly juicy, and honestly, it’s one of those dishes that makes you feel like you’re getting your vegetables without even trying.

The whole thing comes together in about 30 minutes, which means you can have restaurant-quality Indian food on your table faster than you can decide what to order for takeout.

Ingredients List

You’ll need just a handful of simple ingredients to create this gorgeous, restaurant-worthy palak chicken that honestly tastes way more complicated than it actually is.

• 200 g skinless chicken
• 300 g spinach
• 20 g green chilies
• Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
• 2 tablespoons oil

A few things worth noting about these ingredients:

• Fresh spinach works best here, but frozen will do in a pinch – just make sure to thaw and drain it really well
• The skinless chicken keeps everything lean while still staying tender, plus it lets the spinach flavors really shine through
• That ginger-garlic paste is doing some serious heavy lifting flavor-wise, so don’t skimp on it
• With all that spinach, you’re basically sneaking a massive dose of iron, vitamins, and folate into what feels like pure comfort food
• The minimal oil keeps things lighter than traditional creamy Indian dishes, but you still get all that rich, satisfying taste

Step by Step Directions

Making this palak chicken is surprisingly straightforward – just cook the components separately, then bring them together for a dish that’s both nutritious and incredibly flavorful.

• Prepare the spinach: Clean and cut the spinach, washing thoroughly to remove all grit and dirt, then boil with green chilies and very little water until cooked.
• Make spinach puree: Once the spinach is cooked, blend it into a smooth puree and set aside.
• Cook the chicken: In a pan, add the chicken, salt, red chili powder, turmeric powder, and ginger-garlic paste, then cook with water until the meat becomes tender.
• Brown the chicken: When the water evaporates, add oil and continue cooking until the oil separates from the chicken.
• Combine and finish: Add the spinach puree to the cooked chicken and cook for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Serve: Enjoy hot with rice for the perfect comfort meal.

For even more consistent results when blending your spinach puree, consider using a professional stand mixer with a blending attachment to achieve that perfectly smooth texture every time.

Substitutions and Variations

• Frozen spinach hack: When fresh spinach feels like too much work, frozen works just fine – thaw it, squeeze out the water, and pretend you spent all that time washing leaves.
• Texture play: Leave some spinach chunky instead of blending it all smooth, because sometimes a little texture makes the dish feel more homemade and less like baby food.

Additional Things to Serve With This Dish

This creamy, spiced chicken pairs beautifully with so many things that you’ll want to make extra just to try different combinations.

• Basmati rice – The classic choice that soaks up all that gorgeous green sauce, and honestly, it’s hard to go wrong with this combo.
• Naan or roti – Perfect for scooping up every last bit of spinach goodness, because using bread as a utensil is one of life’s great pleasures.
• Jeera rice – Cumin-scented rice that adds another layer of warmth without competing with the palak flavors.
• Simple dal – A lentil side dish creates a complete protein situation while keeping things in the same flavor family.
• Raita or yogurt – Cool, creamy yogurt helps balance the spices and gives your taste buds a little break between bites.
• Pickled onions – A sharp, tangy contrast that cuts through the richness and adds some crunch to the meal.
• Roasted vegetables – Cauliflower, carrots, or potatoes roasted with similar spices tie the whole plate together nicely.

Cooking Tips & Tricks (Chef’s Notes)

Getting this dish just right comes down to a few key moves that’ll save you from the heartbreak of bland chicken or bitter spinach.

• Don’t skip the spinach blanching step – Yeah, it feels like extra work, but blanching keeps that gorgeous green color and prevents any bitter aftertaste from creeping in.
• Salt your spinach water generously – Think pasta water levels of salty, because this is your chance to season the greens from the inside out.
• Pat that chicken completely dry – Wet chicken equals sad, steamed chicken instead of the nicely browned pieces we’re after.
• Let the oil actually separate – I know it seems like it’s taking forever, but when you see those little pools of oil forming around the edges, that’s when you know the spices have done their thing.
• Blend the spinach while it’s still warm – Hot spinach purees way smoother than cold, and nobody wants chunky bits ruining that silky sauce.
• Taste and adjust at the end – The spinach can dilute your spices, so don’t be shy about adding a pinch more salt or garam masala if things taste flat.
• Use a wide, heavy-bottomed pan – More surface area means better browning, and heavy bottoms prevent those dreaded burnt spots that make everything taste like regret.

Nutritional Facts

This protein-packed dish delivers serious nutritional value alongside its incredible flavor, making it a smart choice for health-conscious food lovers.

• High in protein – With 200g of chicken providing approximately 40g of complete protein, this dish supports muscle building and repair.
• Iron powerhouse – Spinach is loaded with iron, essential for healthy blood circulation and preventing anemia.
• Low in calories – The entire recipe contains roughly 350-400 calories, making it perfect for weight management.
• Rich in folate – Spinach provides significant amounts of folate, vital for cell division and DNA synthesis.
• Vitamin K champion – One serving delivers over 100% of your daily vitamin K needs for bone health.
• Antioxidant dense – Spinach contains lutein and zeaxanthin, powerful antioxidants that protect eye health.
• B-vitamin boost – Chicken provides essential B vitamins, particularly B6 and B12, for energy metabolism and nervous system function.
• Minimal carbs – With less than 10g of carbohydrates per serving, it’s keto and low-carb diet friendly.
• Heart-healthy – The combination of lean protein and leafy greens supports cardiovascular health.
• Magnesium source – Spinach contributes to your daily magnesium intake, important for muscle and nerve function.

Fun “Did You Know?”

Beyond all those impressive health benefits, Palak Chicken holds some fascinating secrets that’ll make you appreciate this dish even more.

Did you know spinach actually contains more protein per calorie than steak? That’s right – your Palak Chicken packs a double protein punch!

Here’s another fun fact: spinach was Popeye’s superfood for good reason. It contains nitrates that genuinely boost muscle efficiency.

And here’s something cool – combining spinach with chicken creates a complete amino acid profile your body craves.

Plus, this green powerhouse was once so valuable that it was used as currency in some ancient civilizations!