Chicken Saag

Learn to make Chicken Saag, a restaurant favorite Chicken Spinach Curry, at home with this easy recipe. Curry is creamy, loaded with spinach and bursting with flavor of spices. A cozy winter meal!!

Posted On: Dec, 9 |  Author:
Chicken Saag
Diet Info: DF GF F LF Na LS VG V Fa

Chicken Saag, chicken and creamed spinach curry laced with flavor of fragrant spices, and ginger. Chicken cooks with the saag (spinach curry) that makes saag even more flavorful. To make it more substantial, I add paneer or tofu along with the chicken. It is also like enjoying two curries in one. You will love the flavors. 

Do you often order Chicken Saag from menu of your favorite restaurant? Or Do you never find this dish on the menu of your close-by restaurant? Either way, now don't wait for delivery because this recipe makes the best Chicken Saag ever! Full of flavor, it is picky eater's favorite way to eat spinach (including my husband's ;) ).

Chicken Saag Spinach Curry Indian

What Do You Need To Make Chicken Saag

There is nothing special needed to make this curry. Other than obvious spinach and chicken (plus tofu if you like), rest everything is very pantry-friendly. No special preps here, it's all in the style of cooking!

Here is a complete list of ingredients to make Chicken Saag:

  1. Chicken
  2. Palak (Spinach)
  3. Onion
  4. Tomato
  5. Garam Masala
  6. Turmeric
  7. Chili Powder
  8. Ginger
  9. Garlic
  10. Chicken Stock (optional)
  11. Heavy Cream (if desire creamy curry. I often skimp or skip this when serving for everyday dinner) 
  12. Oil and Salt

Preparing Spinach Saag (Curry)

Spinach Saag needs little bit of extra work. To save time of cleaning spinach I use prewashed baby spinach. Frozen spinach works as well.

Puree Spinach for Chicken Saag

To prepare spinach saag, I puree wilted spinach with ginger and tomatoes and then cook it with aromatics. 

If you cook in a large skillet, everything can be completed in same skillet, step by step.  That's what I do when cooking Saag on weekdays. After cooking the spinach, wipe the skillet clean.

Season the chicken with salt and cumin. 

Cooking Chicken for Chicken Saag

Sear it in the skillet in some oil until golden brown on the both sides. This helps lock the juices in the chicken. The resulting chicken cooks moist and tender.

Making Chicken Saag

Two important steps in making Chicken Saag; !) Make the palak puree; 2) and sear the chicken. After these two, the rest of recipe comes together very fast.  

  1. Cook the chicken and set aside in a plate.
  2. Sauté the aromatics - onion, garlic and spices.
  3. Add pureed spinach and ginger mix. And cook until oil separated. 
  4. Add cream, stock (if using) and chicken back into the skillet. Cook until chicken is cooked through.  

Making Chicken Saag Step by Step

That's it. This Chicken Saag recipe is my tried and time tested recipe. You will love the flavors.

Substitutes

In some parts of India, Saag for Chicken Saag is also prepared with mustard leaves. If you can find mustard leaves, replace spinach with mustard leaves. Rest of the recipe remains the same. 

In traditional Indian saag recipes, instead of heavy creamy, corn flour is used to thicken the saag curry. It gluten free and also dairy free substitute to cream. It wont make curry creamy like cream but adds a velvety texture.

When using heavy cream, you can go heavy or easy on cream based on taste preference. The chicken saag is so flavorful, either way works. 

Chicken Saag Curry

What to Serve with Chicken Saag?

I highly recommend serving Chicken Saag with Naan bread. A few recipes of homemade Naan suggested below.  A side salad and raita is always refreshing. (recipe coming soon) 

Try this recipe and make Paneer at home. It tastes fresh and better than store-bought.

Chicken Saag

Friends, try something different for family dinner this weekend. This Chicken Saag recipe needs pantry staple ingredients, its loaded with flavor of spices and makes a great family dinner option. Don't forget to serve naan on the side. (recipe below if trying homemade) 

Pairing Ideas:

Homemade No Yeast Garlic Butter Naan Quick Oven Baked Naan Bread Homemade Restaurant-Style Indian Garlic Naan

Chicken Saag

5 (9 reviews)
Chicken Saag
Total Time: Prep Time: Cook Time: Cuisine: Indian () Difficulty: Easy
Yields: 8 Servings - Serves: 8
(No. of servings depends on serving size.)

Ingredients

Chicken Saag
Optional

Directions

  • 1. Cook Fresh Spinach Or Use Frozen Spinach:  For fresh spinach, heat a large heavy bottom sauté pan or Dutch oven on medium heat. Add spinach in pot with 2 tablespoons of water. Cover and let spinach wilt. Transfer to a large bowl. Repeat for remaining fresh spinach. Drain excess water. Set aside to cool down slightly. If using frozen spinach, see note 1.
  • 2. Puree Spinach:  In a food processor jar, add spinach, chopped tomatoes, serrano and ginger. Run processor to make coarse puree.
  • 3. Sear Chicken:  In a large heavy bottom skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil. Pat dry chicken thighs. Season both sides with salt and cumin powder. Add chicken in single layer and cook undisturbed until chicken pieces develop golden brown crust. Flip and sear the other side. Remove seared chicken in a plate and set aside. See note 3 and 4.
  • 4. Sauté Aromatics :  In same skillet on medium heat (no need to wipe or wash skillet), add half of the remaining cooking oil. Add onion. Sauté until onions are soft and slightly brown at edges. (2-3 minutes). Add garlic and spices - turmeric, chili, and garam masala. Cook until fragrant (30 seconds)
  • 5. Cook Spinach:  Add spinach pureed in Step 2 with 1/2 tsp of salt. Cover and simmer on medium-high heat for 10-12 minutes or until spinach is darker in color, most water evaporates and oil starts to separate. Stir a few times in between. Add remaining oil after first 5 minutes of cooking.
  • 6. Finish Cooking Chicken for Chicken Saag:  Stir in heavy cream and water. Return seared chicken to the skillet. Arrange on the top of spinach and cream mix. Cover and cook for 5-8 minutes on medium heat or until spinach is thick and creamy and chicken is cooked through.
  • 7. Garnish, Check Seasoning and Enjoy!:  Remove from heat. Taste and adjust salt or add more heavy cream if you like extra creamy. Garnish with sliced ginger. Serve with side of Indian bread.
Savita's Notes:
  1. If using frozen spinach. Let it thaw and squeeze as much as water as possible, then proceed to Step -2.
  2. To make fresh ground cumin powder, heat a dry skillet. Add cumin seeds and toast for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Let cool down and then add to mortar pestle and grind.
  3. If you prefer bite size, diced chicken into bite size pieces. Sauté in half of the suggested oil. Small diced chicken will also cook faster. Don't over cook. 
  4. If using paneer/tofu, fry tofu or paneer before frying chicken in the same skillet. Remove in a plate. Add into the spinach when adding chicken.
  5. In some parts of India, Saag for Chicken Saag is also prepared with mustard leaves. If you can find mustard leaves, replace spinach with mustard leaves. Rest of the recipe remains the same. 
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14 Responses

  1. I am a 61 year old housewife and love cooking for my family who loves good food
  2. I love this chicken saag recipe. Its seriously delicious and very easy to make. Will make it again!
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
  3. I never would have thought this recipe was so easy....and only one pot, love it! A nice weeknight surprise for the family, they thought I had ordered out.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
  4. This was so delicious! I made it without telling my husband what it was and he loved it, even though he thinks he doesnt like the garam masala. Heheh. Thanks for the recipe.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
  5. I am not sure I have had any saag dishes before. This looks delicious and so flavorful. I would love to try my hand at making this.
  6. This Chicken Saag recipe seems like a wonderful way to recreate that restaurant experience at home! The thought of combining chicken with creamy spinach and fragrant spices is making my mouth water already.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
  7. My mouth is watering just thinking about this recipe! It sounds absolutely delicious!
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
  8. we love saag paneer in our home and will try making the paneer dish next time with your saag recipe
  9. I actually had lamb saag takeout a few days ago, and this recipe turned out the better!! This is going to be my new favorite saag recipe. Thank you for sharing!
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
  10. This is one of my favourite curries and I love making it at home. Sometimes I just use paneer and spinach but adding chicken is nice too. Its a family favourite!
  11. I love saag paneer and recently had a lamb saag which was delicious so I will definitely be trying your chicken saag.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
  12. This looks like something my family will enjoy. I will have to keep it in mind for a dinner one night.
  13. This chicken was fantastic and will be going in my weekly lineup. It was so easy to make and the entire family loved it.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
  14. Oh wow! Definitely the perfect meal for the chilly weather this week. The flavors sound fantastic with those spices.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★