Chicken Saag, a classic Indian dish that combines tender chicken with spinach, spices, and sour cream, is a flavorful option for a wholesome meal. This particular recipe, courtesy of Joe Ortiz and updated on July 28, 2022, outlines a straightforward approach to creating this savory dish.
Ingredients:
– ¼ cup vegetable oil
– 1 whole chicken (3 pounds), cut into pieces
– 2 pounds fresh spinach, rinsed and chopped
– ¼ cup water
– 2 large onions, minced
– 5 cloves garlic, minced
– 1-inch piece fresh ginger root, minced
– 1 can crushed tomatoes (14.5 ounces)
– 1 teaspoon ground coriander
– 1 teaspoon salt
– ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, or more to taste
– ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
– 2 cardamom pods
– 2 whole cloves
– 1 tablespoon water (if needed)
– ¼ cup milk
– 1 teaspoon garam masala
– 6 tablespoons sour cream
– 2 tablespoons butter
Directions:
1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the chicken pieces for about 8 minutes per side, then set aside.
2. In a large pot, bring spinach and 1/4 cup water to a boil. Cover, remove from heat, and let it steam for 10 minutes. Then blend the spinach until finely chopped and set aside.
3. Sauté onions, garlic, and ginger in the same skillet until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes, coriander, salt, cayenne, turmeric, cardamom, and cloves. Stir in 1 tablespoon water and cook for 10 minutes.
4. Pour in milk and mix well. Add the browned chicken, bring to a simmer, cover, and cook until the chicken is tender, about 20 minutes.
5. Stir in the spinach and garam masala, cooking until the spinach starts to stick to the skillet, around 15 minutes.
6. Mix in the sour cream and heat until simmering. Remove from heat and stir in butter.
Serve this delicious Chicken Saag with basmati rice for a complete and satisfying meal. The combination of spices, tender chicken, and creamy spinach makes for a dish that is both comforting and rich in flavor.
