Spinach-Chicken | Palak-Chicken

Spinach chicken /Palak chicken is a greeny,creamy & delicious combo.Kids who make faces looking at palak/spinach esp like the ones at my home will not even know a hint about spinach when its paired with chicken.My kids love chicken and so this was the easiest way I found to sneak in spinach to them.There was only one question while eating,"Mom,where did u buy a green chicken??"And his own reply before I could utter a word,like frosting cake,colored muffins...colored chicken !!ha ha..At this age it was easy for me,but after few years,they will understand the secret ingredient.Probably by then,they will start liking spinach,my wishes..lol. Anyways back to the recipe,though the ingredients are listed in four pairs and the list is long but it hardly takes an hour from preparation to cooking.The recipe uses just 1 tbsp of oil.The only thing I would like to tell my readers is its a must try recipe and it best pairs with rotis/naan :)

Ingredients
to marinate
chicken with bones  1 lb(approx 500 gm)
butter chicken masala 1 tbsp
yogurt 2 tbsp(not sour)
ginger-garlic paste 1tsp
salt

to grind
onion 1 medium sized
tomato 2 medium chopped
palak/spinach leaves 2- 2 1/2 cups chopped
green chillies 1 or 2
cilantro 4-5 sprigs
mint leaves 5-6 leaves
oil 1 tbsp

to season
ginger garlic paste 3/4 tsp
chilly powder 1 tsp
garam masala 1/2 tsp
coriander powder 1 tsp
turmeric powder 1/4 tsp

to garnish
heavy cream 2 tbsp(optional)

Method

1. Heat a pan,add the spinach leaves,mint leaves,cilantro and cover with lid,let it cook for 5 mins on medium heat.The water oozes out from leaves and is wilted by then.Put off flame,add the green chillies. Remove on a plate.Let it cool.
2. Again heat the same pan,add oil about 2 tsp.Saute the onion till slightly translucent and then add the tomatoes.Cook for 2 minutes.Put off flame ,let it cool.
3. In the mean time,marinate the chicken after a thorough wash and drain.Marinate with the ingredients listed above and make a smooth paste ,gently rub the marinade in all pieces and leave for half an hour.Leave covered.
4. Add both the step 1 and step 2 mixes in a blender when cooled and blend until smooth.
5. Heat another pan and add the remaining one tsp of oil,lower flame and add 3/4 tsp of ginger -garlic paste.Add the spices listed in seasoning on low flame and saute till raw smell disappears.Add the chicken pieces with the marinade and cook covered on medium flame until the water oozes out of chicken and is half way cooked.(about 15 minutes)
6. Uncover and let the chickjen cook for another 5 minutes,so that the water is slightly evaporated.Add the pureed spinach mixture in the chicken and let it come to boil and thicken.
7. The chicken gets a nice coating and is cooked in sauces,adjust salt.
8. Lower flame or put off and add 2 tbsp of heavy cream to add the taste and flavor.

Servings~4 adults

NOTES
* You can add cumin seeds to the seasoning too.I haven't added it.
* I usually add turmeric powder to chicken,you can skip that to retain the bright green color if u wish.
* You can even add 2tbsp paste of cashew too instead of cream if u wish.
* You can even prepare a veg combination with paneer or tofu or soya keeping the base gravy the same.

Sending this to Serve it boiled hosted By Krithi @Krithi's Kitchen