What is Palak Chicken?

Palak Chicken (also called Chicken Saag or Chicken Saagwala) is a North Indian curry of tender chicken simmered in a bright green, creamy spinach sauce spiced with cumin, coriander, garlic, and kasuri methi. "Palak" means spinach in Hindi. The spinach is blanched, ice-bathed to preserve the vivid green colour, then blended into a smooth purée that forms the sauce base. It's the non-vegetarian counterpart to Palak Paneer — the identical green sauce with chicken instead of paneer. One of the most nutritious curries in Indian cooking, with 38g of protein per serving and iron from the spinach.

What is the difference between Palak Chicken and Palak Paneer?

The spinach sauce is identical — both use the same blanch-ice bath-blend technique, the same cumin-coriander masala base, and the same cream finish. The only difference is the protein: Palak Chicken uses seared boneless chicken chunks; Palak Paneer uses warm-soaked paneer cubes. Palak Chicken has more protein (38g vs 22g per serving) but Palak Paneer is vegetarian. Make a double batch of the spinach sauce and use half for each — two dishes from one preparation.

How do you keep Palak Chicken bright green?

The ice bath technique is the key. After blanching the spinach for exactly 2 minutes, immediately transfer to ice-cold water — this stops the chlorophyll from breaking down due to residual heat. Without the ice bath, the spinach continues cooking from its own heat and turns from bright green to dull olive-khaki. With the ice bath, the vivid green colour is locked in permanently. This is the same technique professional chefs and restaurants use for any green sauce or purée.

Is Palak Chicken healthy?

Palak Chicken is one of the most nutritious curries in the collection: 38g of protein per serving (76% of daily reference intake), only 6g of carbohydrates, 3g of fibre, iron from the spinach, calcium from the cream, and vitamin A from the spinach. At 350 calories, it has one of the best protein-to-calorie ratios of any Indian curry. For a lower-fat version, skip the cream — the spinach sauce is complete and flavourful without it.

Where can I buy baby spinach and curry ingredients in the UK?

Pick N Save (picknsave.co.uk) stocks Baby Spinach, Elmlee Double Cream, kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves), cumin seeds, Kashmiri chilli powder, garam masala, and all spices needed. Baby Spinach is pre-washed and ready to blanch — no stem removal needed. Home delivery across London and the UK, plus click and collect from Harrow — established 1999.

How many calories are in Palak Chicken?

A serving of Palak Chicken contains approximately 350 calories with 38g of protein — the highest protein count of any recipe in the collection. Only 6g of carbohydrates makes it suitable for low-carb diets. The fat (18g) comes from the cooking oil and the 50ml of cream. Without cream, the fat drops to approximately 12g and total calories to approximately 290. Spinach provides 3g of fibre and significant iron per serving.

Easy Indian Recipes

Palak Chicken Recipe - Creamy Spinach & Chicken Curry (25 Minutes)

25 mins 4 servings Easy

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 25 mins

Servings 4

About This Recipe

Make Palak Chicken in 25 minutes - tender chicken simmered in a vibrant green spinach-cream sauce. The non-veg counterpart to our Palak Paneer - same bright green sauce, different protein. High protein, iron-rich from the spinach, and one of the most nutritious curries in Indian cooking. Every ingredient at Pick N Save.

Ingredients

For the Spinach Sauce

300g spinach (Baby Spinach 1 pk )
2 green chillies (Indian Chilli 400g )
2 tbsp water (for blending)

For the Chicken

500g boneless chicken thighs, cut into 3cm chunks
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp turmeric (TFS Haldi Powder Rajapuri 100g )
2 tbsp sunflower oil for searing (KTC Pure Sunflower Oil)

For the Masala Base

1 tbsp sunflower oil
1 tsp cumin seeds (Fudco Cumin Seeds 300g )
1 medium onion, finely diced (White Onions Prepack 4Kg )
1 tbsp ginger garlic paste (Fudco Ginger Garlic Paste 300g )
½ tsp turmeric (TFS Haldi Powder Rajapuri 100g )
1 tsp ground coriander (TFS Dhana Coriander Powder 100g )
½ tsp Kashmiri chilli powder (TFS Kashmiri Mild Chilli Powder 100g )
½ tsp garam masala (TFS Garam Masala 100g )
Salt to taste

To Finish

50ml double cream (Elmlee Double Creamy Taste 270ml )
1 tsp kasuri methi (TFS Dried Fenugreek Leaves 100g)
Squeeze of lemon juice (Lemon Loose Yellow Big 3 pcs )
Extra cream for drizzle garnish

Method

Why This Recipe Works

Your Palak Paneer is one of the most popular recipes in the collection - but non-vegetarian customers clicking it and finding no chicken option have been leaving empty-handed. Palak Chicken (also called Saag Chicken) uses the identical bright green spinach sauce with chicken instead of paneer. One sauce, two audiences. The technique is the same: blanch spinach (Baby Spinach 1 pk), ice-bath to preserve colour, blend smooth, build the masala, add cream. Then: chicken thighs instead of paneer cubes.

Step-by-Step

The spinach sauce: Blanch 300g spinach (Baby Spinach 1 pk) in boiling water for 2 minutes. Transfer to ice water immediately. Blend smooth with 2 green chillies (Indian Chilli 400g). Set aside.

Cook the chicken: Heat 2 tablespoons oil. Add 500g boneless chicken thighs cut into 3cm chunks, seasoned with salt and turmeric. Sear 3 minutes until golden. Remove. In the same pan: 1 teaspoon cumin seeds → 1 onion diced → 4 minutes golden → ginger garlic paste (Fudco Ginger Garlic Paste 300g) → 1 minute. Add ½ tsp turmeric, 1 tsp coriander, ½ tsp Kashmiri chilli, ½ tsp garam masala, salt. Stir 1 minute.

Pour in the blended spinach purée. Stir. Return the seared chicken. Add 50ml cream (Elmlee Double Creamy Taste 270ml). Simmer 10 minutes until chicken is cooked through. Finish with 1 teaspoon kasuri methi (TFS Dried Fenugreek Leaves 100g), a squeeze of lemon. Serve with Naan or Jeera Rice.

Nutrition Facts

Energy 350 kcal (18% RI)

Fat 18 g – Medium (26% RI)

Saturates 5 g – Medium (25% RI)

Carbohydrates 6 g (2% RI)

Fibre 3 g (12% RI)

Protein 38 g (76% RI)

Sugars 2 g – Low (2% RI)

Salt 1.2 g – Medium (20% RI)

*RI = Reference Intake. 38g protein per serving — the HIGHEST protein recipe in the entire collection. Only 6g carbs. Iron-rich from spinach. The ultimate high-protein, low-carb Indian meal.