Keto chicken saagwala

Keto chicken saagwala

Saag chicken is a popular Indian curry. Marinated chicken is cooked and then simmered in a rich spinach gravy, finished with cream for a lush and robust dish. Flavorful and nutritious, it’s a great way to fill up with greens.

Keto chicken saagwala

Saag chicken is a popular Indian curry. Marinated chicken is cooked and then simmered in a rich spinach gravy, finished with cream for a lush and robust dish. Flavorful and nutritious, it’s a great way to fill up with greens.
USMetric
4 servingservings

Ingredients

Marinated chicken
  • 1 lb 450 g boneless chicken thighs
  • ½ tsp ½ tsp red chili powder
  • ½ tsp ½ tsp turmeric
  • ½ tsp ½ tsp coriander seed, powdered
  • ½ tsp ½ tsp garam masala seasoning
  • ½ tsp ½ tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tbsp 1 tbsp ghee
  • salt
Spinach curry
  • ¾ lb (11 cups) 325 g (2.5 liters) fresh spinach
  • ½ (2 oz.) ½ (55 g) red onionred onions
  • ¼ lb (23 cup) 110 g (150 ml) tomatotomatoes
  • 1¾ tsp 1¾ tsp ginger garlic paste
  • ¼ cup 60 ml heavy whipping cream
  • 1 tbsp 1 tbsp ghee
  • salt
This recipe has been added to the shopping list.

Instructions

  1. Combine chicken with spices, ghee and some salt. Marinate for at least 20 minutes.
  2. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the spinach and submerge the leaves in the water. Blanch for 30-40 seconds, then drain and rinse with cold water. Add to a blender and blend until you get a smooth puree.
  3. Chop the red onion and tomato roughly and blend to a smooth puree.
  4. In a frying pan, heat the ghee and fry the marinated chicken until it turns a nice golden color, for about 3-4 minutes on each side. Remove from the pan and set aside.
  5. In the same pan, add the onion and tomato puree and ginger garlic paste. Rinse out the blender with a tablespoon of water so nothing goes to waste. Combine well.
  6. Cover with a lid and cook on low heat for about 5-7 minutes. Add spinach puree and salt to taste.
  7. Cover and cook for another 6-8 minutes until it gets a nice thick consistency.
  8. Stir in the cream and add the chicken pieces together with the cooking juices.
  9. Cook for another 4-5 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and nicely covered in the sauce. Add an extra tablespoon of cream on top for garnish.

Tip!

This is great for meal prep and you can pair it with cauliflower rice or Keto naan.

You might also like

DD+ MEMBERSHIP
Healthy meal plans
Meal plans that work

Want to lose weight and improve your health? Try a ketogenic (keto), low-carb, or high-protein diet. Stay on track by following our nutritionally reviewed meal plans.

Low-carb recipes
1,333 💙 Low-carb recipes

Whether you’re looking for high-protein, strict keto, or liberal low-carb recipes, here you’ll find tons of tasty recipes to choose from. Discover our wide range of healthy recipes.

The Diet Doctor food policy
Our food policy

There are many thoughts and ideas about what foods are and aren’t part of a healthy diet. Learn more about what foods you can expect from our recipes.


💬 Have you tried this recipe?

What did you think? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below!

25 comments

  1. russell
    Delicious! Saagwala is one of my favorites!
  2. Enidh
    It was really delicious, the only thing I changed was that I added cream cheese to lighten the strong earthy spinach flavor.
  3. Jenny
    Swap the chicken for prawns for a change delicious either way
  4. Sheryl
    I’m going to give this ago, but what is ghee?
    Reply: #5
  5. Sahil Makhija
    Ghee is clarified butter. You can find it on amazon or at Indian grocery stores. You can also just use any other cooking fat you like if you can't find it.
  6. John
    For vegetarians, you ca substitute chicken with paneer and you get palak paneer.
  7. H
    Are we allowed paneer
    Reply: #8
  8. Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor

    Are we allowed paneer

    Yes, we have recipes using paneer!
    https://www.dietdoctor.com/recipes/tandoori-paneer-tikka

  9. Justin
    I love chicken saag, but I’ve never had it when the spinach is blended. Is this an American thing? (I’m British).
  10. Shabena
    Hi Sahil.

    I have a question, can I use frozen spinach? If yes would the quantity or method of cooking be different?

    Replies: #11, #12
  11. Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor

    Hi Sahil.
    I have a question, can I use frozen spinach? If yes would the quantity or method of cooking be different?

    Frozen tends to have much different texture and more liquid. We have not tested this recipe with frozen spinach.

  12. Cat
    I’ve made saag dishes with frozen spinach before and they’ve worked out well. I found that I needed to use more though - but that’s maybe because i love the spinach gravy! If you’re concerned about the water content, you could simmer it without the lid to assist thickening it up. I didn’t really find it a problem that I couldn’t solve though.
  13. Chris Pattinson
    I can tell which are Sahil's recipes from the pictures, but enough jibber jabber, just cook.
  14. Andrew
    Can this dish be frozen having used fresh spinach to cook it ?
    Reply: #15
  15. Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor

    Can this dish be frozen having used fresh spinach to cook it ?

    Yes, this should freeze well.

  16. Thuy Whitaker
    This dish was surprisingly good. I've never made saagwala before but it turned out nicely. I served it with a side of the grated cauliflower fried in butter (from other recipes in here)... great replacement for steamed rice when you do it well. Also, err on the side of more spinach in this recipe.
  17. stefmc56
    Just tried this dish today. Everyone loved it.really quick,easy and good for a cold night.
  18. Vera
    I added chopped fresh green chilies and coriander from the garden. Such a great tasting dish! Must plant more spinach now...
  19. Deb
    I've got a couple of chicken breasts and I also want to try this recipe : ) - what adjustment do you think I should make?
    Reply: #20
  20. Kerry Merritt Team Diet Doctor

    I've got a couple of chicken breasts and I also want to try this recipe : ) - what adjustment do you think I should make?

    Hi, Deb! It's certainly fine to swap the thighs for chicken breasts! You should be able to cook them following the same directions.

  21. Lorrayne
    Yummo!!! Tried this tonight with cauli/broccoli rice. Used chicken thighs and used coconut cream instead. The whole family loved it. Made plenty for the next 2 days for our keto OMAD fix.
  22. Janet H
    I grow Ceylon or Malabar spinach, a beautiful vine, and used it (without blanching as I would need to do with English spinach) in this recipe last night, chopping then blending it with the cream. Instead of ghee I used local Australian peanut oil and some natural yoghurt instead of drizzling cream. My mouth is watering even now as I remember the amazingly delicious and subtle flavours which layered themselves upon my palate. Thank you!
  23. Lupco
    Always a 'Go To' when we feel like a healthy tasty indian delight
    pair it with lo carb Naan or Cauliflower rice mmm mmm mmm!!!
    Thanks 'Sahil, Thanks Diet Doctor
    Reply: #24
  24. Kerry Merritt Team Diet Doctor

    Always a 'Go To' when we feel like a healthy tasty indian delight
    pair it with lo carb Naan or Cauliflower rice mmm mmm mmm!!!
    Thanks 'Sahil, Thanks Diet Doctor

    Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

  25. Emma Watt
    Loved this thank you, I cooked the chicken in the spices sous vide then added the chicken to the sauce, extremely tasty

Leave a reply

Reply to comment #0 by