INDIAN CHICKEN SAAG

Indian Chicken Saag image

Indian spinach curry with paneer cheese.

Provided by Ryan Feagin

Categories World Cuisine Recipes Asian Indian

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 21

Ingredients

2 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cubed
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided, or more as needed
2 teaspoons ground cumin, divided
2 teaspoons ground coriander, divided
2 teaspoons garam masala, divided
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 (8 ounce) package fresh spinach
¼ tablespoon butter
1 medium onion, diced
5 cloves garlic, minced
3 fresh red chile pepper, minced
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger root
5 fresh curry leaves
5 cardamom pods
1 teaspoon mustard seed
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
½ (8 ounce) can tomato paste
2 (6.5 ounce) cans tomato sauce
1 teaspoon honey
12 ounces paneer, diced
¼ cup heavy cream, or more to taste

Steps:

Drizzle chicken with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Season with 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon coriander, 1 teaspoon garam masala, salt, and pepper.
Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook and stir until nicely browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Remove from the skillet.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a separate pan over medium heat. Add spinach and season with salt; cook, covered, until spinach is wilted, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
Heat butter in the same skillet used for chicken over medium-high heat. Saute onion and a pinch of salt in the hot pan until onion has softened, stirring to pick up browned bits left from the chicken, 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic, chile peppers, and ginger; cook for 1 to 2 minutes, adding olive oil if necessary. Add curry leaves, cardamom pods, mustard seed, and turmeric; cook and stir for 30 seconds. Stir in tomato paste and continue to cook, 1 to 2 minutes. Add tomato sauce, honey, and sauteed spinach; reduce heat to low.
Blend sauce mixture in the skillet using an immersion blender until smooth. Continue to let simmer, 10 to 20 minutes.
Remove from heat. Add chicken and stir in paneer and heavy cream.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 530.1 calories, Carbohydrate 18.3 g, Cholesterol 141.1 mg, Fat 32 g, Fiber 4.3 g, Protein 43.2 g, SaturatedFat 10.4 g, Sodium 874.5 mg, Sugar 8.2 g