Chicken and Spinach Curry

Submitted by Brian Holley

"A wonderful way to use spinach, cooked with the chicken and flavoured with chillies and spices. My daughter eats this so often she has muscles like Popeye--it's good."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 15mins
• Ingredients: 20
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 3 lbs chicken, jointed and skinned
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon ground fennel
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1⁄2 teaspoon chili powder
• 4 tablespoons oil
• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 1 inch piece fresh ginger, grated
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
• 3 fluid ounces water
• 2 ounces butter
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 8 curry leaves
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cumin seed
• 1⁄2 teaspoon fennel seed
• 2 dried red chilies, chopped
• 1 lb fresh spinach or 8 ounces frozen chopped spinach
• 4 tablespoons plain yogurt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon garam masala

directions

1. Cut the chicken so that the legs are separated from the thighs, cut each breast in two lengthwise.
2. Mix together in a bowl the turmeric, fennel, coriander and chili powder with 3 tbsp water to make a paste.
3. Heat the oil over medium heat and fry the onions, ginger and garlic, till the onions are brown, 5 minutes.
4. Turn the heat to low and fry the spice paste stir and cook for 5 minutes To the bowl in which the spices were mixed add 3 tbsp water, stir to remove all traces of the spices and add the water to the pan. Stir and cook 3 minutes.
5. Turn the heat to medium and add the chicken, stir and fry for 4 minutes, till the chicken changes colour.
6. Add 1 tsp of the salt and the water, bring to the boil, cover with a lid, reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
7. Melt the butter in a separate pan and add the garlic, curry leaves, cumin, fennel and red chillies. Stir and add the spinach and 1/2 tsp salt. Fry for 5 minutes.
8. Add the spinach to the chicken mix well, cover the pan and cook for 20 minutes.
9. Mix in the yogurt and garam masala stir well to blend the yogurt with the chicken and spinach . Cook uncovered 6 minutes, stirring frequently.

Reviews

[Andtototoo]

Another excellent chicken curry recipe of yours. I did make several changes though. I increased the ground coriander to 1 Table, increased the chili powder to 1 tsp. and did not add the 1/2 tsp. fennel seeds as I don't like a very strong fennel flavor. I deboned the chicken after the curry had cooled down and then added sour cream at the end, since I didn't have yogurt. I think that this curry is also very good without the dairy and I might eliminate it next time.

 

[BrooksieBB]

Wonderful. I used 4 chicken breasts cut into big chunks, so didn't need anything like as much water as recipe said, just enough to make paste, and a smidge more once chicken was in. Spinach is watery anyway, so I didn't add any more at all, or cook as long as stated. I too increased ground coriander to 1 tablespoon, and was a bit sparing with the fennel. Really tasty !

 

[Chillichef]

This is a great Curry. We use Ghee instead of oil and whole spices, lightly toasted then ground to give it a more authentic flavor. Chicken stock can replace the water if you have any and fresh Spinach also makes a difference. Anyway you like, it's still a great Curry!

 

[MrsMM]

It took only one bite before DH was saying we have to make this again soonest. I am going to venture to say, this is probably our favorite recipe of yours to date. I might change my mind, but it is definitely DH's favorite. First, my changes: Had to use chicken breast, and a little less than the amount called for, and didn't have ground fennel or the inclination to make it at the time. Everything else was just as called for. I think the #1 reason this is a keeper is because it is one of the very few recipes in which chicken breast is not too dry or boring. Having said that, this weekend when we make it, we will surely be using jointed chicken. I cannot imagine (and DH is swooning at the thought) how much this will add to the flavor. It's already 5-star. I loved the process of doing the spinach separate. The smell of the butter/spices/spinach is heaven. I was tempted to skip the yogurt as another reviewer had said it wasn't necessary, but I am SO glad I added it. It just took it to another level. Ok, my stomach is growling, and my lunch isn't nearly as appetizing as last night's dinner was. :) Thanks again, BrianH!!!

 

[eillena]

This was very good - great taste. My only issue was that it was a little watery. I'm not sure how I could thicken it. I added another tablespoon of yogurt but it didn't help too much. Thanks for the recipe!