Chicken Saag

Ingredients

• 6 cups fresh spinach, tightly packed, washed, and drained, or 2 cups frozen spinach, defrosted
• 1 tablespoon butter 
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 large white onion, chopped
• 2 green chilis, stemmed and finely sliced
• 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste*
• 1/2 teaspoon Garam Masala 
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder  
• 1/2 salt or to taste
• 1 cup fresh chopped tomatoes or diced canned tomatoes  
• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 
• 1/2 teaspoon dry fenugreek leaf (crushed to powder)
• 1/4 cup heavy cream, optional

Directions

Step 1

If using fresh spinach, blanch it for 1 minute in a large pot of boiling water, and then use a large strainer to transfer it to a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking and set the color. Squeeze out the excess water, place the spinach in a blender, and purée it; set aside. If using frozen spinach, once it has thawed, squeeze it gently to remove any excess liquid.

Step 2

Heat a large skillet and, when it’s hot, add the butter and olive oil. Add cumin seeds, onion, and chilis and cook for 5 minutes or until the onions are light brown. Add ginger garlic paste, garam masala, cayenne, salt, and tomatoes and cook for another 5 minutes. Add the chicken and cook until firm and cooked through, 5 to 8 minutes, flipping the pieces halfway through. Add the nutmeg and fenugreek and stir for 2 minutes, then add the puréed spinach and a cup of water, and cook for another 5 minutes. For a creamier sauce, add the heavy cream and cook 3 to 5 more minutes. Serve with naan or over basmati rice.

*To make your own ginger garlic paste, in a small food grinder process 2 ounces peeled garlic cloves, 1 ounce peeled fresh ginger, and 1 teaspoon olive oil to a paste consistency, adding water by the teaspoon if necessary.