Shahi Spinach Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 pkg. Perdue Perfect Portions chicken breasts
- 1 10-oz. pkg. chopped frozen spinach, thawed and fully squeezed.
- Salt and pepper to taste
- zest of one lemon
- 2 tsp. lemon juice.
- 1/2 tsp. light brown sugar
- 1 C. minced onion
- 2-3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 Tbs. minced ginger
- 2-3 broken cinnamon sticks
- 2-3 black cardamom pods (whole for flavoring)
- 1/4 C. dry fenugreek leaves (also called methi leaves- for flavoring)
- 3 Tbs. canola oil
- 1/4 stick unsalted butter
- Red Paprika for taste.
- 1/2 C. all purpose flour
- 1/2 C. rice flour
- 1 Tbs. cornstarch
- 2-3 Tbs. Tomato-paste,
- 2-3 Tbs. Tomato puree,
- 1/2 C. thick yogurt
- 1/2 C. sour cream
- 1 C. whole milk
- Optional:
- 1/2 C. cream
- 2-3 tsp. clarified butter
Directions
Pat dry all the chicken, then divide each piece in two. Sprinkle nicely both sides of chicken with salt pepper and paprika, put lemon zest and juice to marinate it. Set aside for 1-2 hours.
In bowl, mix dry ingredients (all flours) and season it with salt pepper, paprika .
Put non stick frying pan on stove on medium heat put butter. When it melts put canola oil . In meantime, dredge chicken pieces in flour one by one and dust extra flour and keep them aside.
When oil is ready shallow fry the chicken in batches so that they are nicely golden and crisp from outside, juicy and tender inside, about 3-4 minutes each side. Don't overcook breast they will be hard and chewy. In the same pan put minced onion when it changes its color put garlic, then ginger , some salt red pepper. Add spinach and mix well then add 2 Tbs. tomato paste, 2 Tbs. tomato puree, 1/2 C. thick yogurt, 1/2 C. of sour cream.
Mix and sauté well . Now put chicken pieces and cup of milk , fenugreek leaves , brown sugar and cover the pan with tight lid and make the heat at low to simmer. Let it simmer for 10-15 minutes checking the chicken with fork that its tender and done , then shut the heat and let it stay for covered for 4-5 minutes.
Open the lid it will be great aroma now if you want mix cream and clarified butter and transfer to serving bowl, this Shahi Chicken Spinach is ready to eat with basmati rice, or pita bread,
This recipe is called Shahi because it means Royal. You can garnish this dish with nuts.
