Chicken with spinach curry (Palak chicken)

Palak means spinach in Hindi and palak chicken is a recipe with tender pieces of boneless chicken and spinach leaves simmered in a tomato, onion curry sauce. This meal is high in protein and very tasty. Serve with roti or naan and or basmati rice.

Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup cooking oil (sunflower oil is preferred)

• 2 chopped onions

• 1 green chilli slit

• 2 Roma tomatoes

• 8 boneless chicken thighs or 4 chicken breasts cut in 1 ‘ cubes (washed and dried)

• 4 cloves

• 3 cinnamon sticks

• 3 cardamom pods

• 1 tsp cumin seeds

• 1 1/2 tbsp garlic paste

• 1 1/2 tbsp ginger paste

• 1 1/2 tbsp ground cumin

• 1 1/2 tbsp ground coriander

• 1 tsp cayenne ( to taste)

• 2 tsp salt (or to taste)

• 3 tsp lemon juice

• 2 bags (10oz ) washed spinach

• 3/4 cup crushed tomatoes

• 1/2 tsp garam masala

• 2 tbsp butter

• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro

• 1/4 cup chopped green onions

Directions:

1. In a large pot, saute onions in oil till golden brown; add whole spices and green chilli and saute for a minute.

2. Add washed and dried chicken pieces and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add garlic, ginger and all ground spices and saute for about 10 minutes till chicken is almost done. Add chopped Roma tomatoes and cook through for 5-8 minutes.

3. Add spinach and crushed tomatoes. Cook till spinach is cooked through and add lemon juice, salt, butter and garam masala. Cover and simmer about 5 minutes.

4. Add chopped cilantro and green onions and serve with roti or naan and basmati rice.