This Whole30 Indian saag chicken is a paleo, Whole30-compliant take on the Indian favorite, saag paneer. Super rich and satisfying, this Whole30 Indian saag chicken absolutely rivals takeout! Such a great Whole30 Indian recipe or paleo Indian recipe, you’ll never miss the paneer.
I present to you… the ugliest dish.
I’m just not sure there’s a dish out there can rival a rich Indian saag or palak in homeliness. Dark green mush, dotted with little white cubes of paneer on the buffet line, usually squatting in between a similarly hideous dal and heaps of fluffy jasmine rice, that doesn’t stop saag paneer from being my favorite Indian dish, maybe ever.
OK, so, my restaurant-style Whole30 chicken tikka masala might actually win that prize. But saag paneer is sure as hell right beneath it on the leaderboard.
Of course, though, paneer isn’t Whole30-compliant: it’s made almost entirely of whole milk. If you’re into that kind of thing, I have the best ever homemade paneer recipe for you, too! It’s easy and ridiculously rich and creamy, like 400 lightyears better than what you get at the store or at the restaurant. Like, the heavenliness cannot be overstated. You’ve gotta try it.
But the heavenliness and richness and holy-crap-meet-me-at-the-Indian-buffet-in-20-minutes-ness of homemade paneer is irrelevant when it comes to the Whole30 or more paleo diets. It’s off limits.
Enter… Whole30 Indian saag chicken. Technically saag murgh but who’s counting? This stuff is divine, y’all, and the chicken is so tender and perfect that you won’t miss the paneer one bit. The Whole30 Indian saag chicken is made by first caramelizing a quartet of Indian aromatics until they’re a deep brown and super rich. Then you blend in plenty of frozen spinach and plenty of coconut cream, making the dish creamy and complex and comforting and perfect.
The best part of this stuff is that it makes killer leftovers, and on a Whole30, maximizing leftovers is key.
Oh, the most important part? Don’t skip the caramelization. It absolutely has to look like this:
And if it doesn’t? I wash my hands of you! Seriously, though, this Whole30 Indian saag chicken will not be nearly as rich or complex or delicious or takeout-worthy if you skip the caramelization. Don’t do it!
Whole30 Indian Saag Chicken (Paleo Indian Saag Chicken)
Ingredients
Chicken
- 3 Tbsp. olive oil or ghee
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
- 1/4 tsp. cayenne powder
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken like thigh or leg
Saag
- 2 12-ounce packages frozen spinach steamed
- 2 1/2 Tbsp. ghee
- 6 cloves garlic
- 1 1/2 Tbsp. grated ginger
- 1-2 serrano chiles minced
- 1 medium white onion chopped
- 1 tsp. garam masala
- 4 tsp. coriander powder
- 2 tsp. cumin powder
- 2-3 Tbsp. dried fenugreek leaves
- 1 14.5- ounce can coconut milk
- 1 cup coconut cream the solid white part of a can of coconut milk or coconut cream
- plenty of salt like 1 - 2 teaspoons
- fresh cilantro chopped, to serve
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375º F. Combine spices and oil or ghee in a bowl. Place chicken pieces in a large baking dish and coat with oil-spice mixture. Bake for 30 minutes; remove from oven. Preheat broiler then broil chicken for 5 minutes, or until browned in places. Remove from oven and set aside. Let cool slightly, then cut chicken off the bone into bite-sized pieces.
- In a food processor, process steamed spinach until puréed. Set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium-low heat, place 2 1/2 tablespoons ghee. Add onions, ginger, garlic, and serrano chiles; cook slowly, stirring regularly, until a toffee color. Don't skip this part! Add a tablespoon of water, as needed, if mixture is burning or drying out.
- Add the garam masala, coriander powder, and cumin powder. Sprinkle with a little water to moisten, if you haven't added water in the previous step. Cook, stirring frequently, until the spices are fragrant, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add the spinach to the skillet and stir well. Add 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup of water, coconut milk, coconut cream, fenugreek leaves, and cooked chicken pieces. Stir well, then cook about 5 minutes uncovered. Taste and add more salt as needed.
- Serve over cauliflower rice and top with fresh chopped cilantro.
Nutrition
Cheryl Malik is the recipe developer, writer, and photographer behind the healthy, flavorful, family friendly recipes at 40 Aprons. She’s been a blogger for 10+ years and is known for her delicious recipes and detailed recipe instructions. Cheryl is a mom of three who lives in Memphis, TN.
Heather says
This was our first attempt at making saag at home, and it was shockingly delicious! We still can’t believe it was so simple to make a dish that tastes as good as it does at our favorite Indian restaurant!
Laura Kirsch says
Confused. The recipe calls for 1.5 lbs chicken pieces but then in step 1 cutting chicken off the bone is mentioned. Is it 1.5lbs bone in or out? Can’t wait to make this!
Savannah | 40 Aprons Team says
Hi! So sorry for that confusion- the recipe calls for bone-in chicken. 🙂
Josie says
Can you use boneless skinless chicken thighs? Or do you prefer bone in chicken?
Thank you
Savannah | 40 Aprons Team says
We think the bone in chicken really amplifies the flavors in this recipe, but boneless skinless chicken thighs can certainly be used!
JanM says
Is this also Keto?
Savannah | 40 Aprons Team says
It totally is! Wit it having 50 grams of fat and 8 grams net carbs per serving, this recipe is keto as-is! If you want to save an additional 1-2 carbs, then you can omit the onion!
Ashley says
This recipe looks SPECTACULAR. Thanks for sharing it! Do you think I could substitute cashew milk for the coconut milk? I’m trying to accommodate for dairy and coconut sensitivity.
Savannah | 40 Aprons Team says
Yes, that’ll work!
Joe says
I’m sitting at my desk at work eating my second helping of this dish. It’s so SO good. And easy. And healthy. And it re-heats wonderfully. Thank you for sharing!
Also, I couldn’t find fenugreek and went without. I’m sure it’s great if you’ve got it, but this dish is really wonderful either way.
jean rabone says
WHERE CAN I FIND THE NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THIS RECIPE I.E HOW MANY CARBS
Cheryl Malik says
Hi, the nutrition facts should be in the recipe now. Sorry about that!
Anji says
Can you use fresh spinach instead? Steam fresh spinach and then use it?
Cheryl Malik says
Yes!
Cheryl Malik says
Although the texture may be a bit different.
Jasmine says
Can I Use fresh spinach for this dish??
Cheryl Malik says
Sure!
Erika says
Yummers! I added lemon juice in place of the fenugreek. Not the same I know but it fooled my taste buds:)
Allie says
Tasted amazing! Couldn’t find the leaves but it still tasted pretty authentic.
I blended the spinach(which was picked from a farm I’m working at!)… turned out more like a soup..whoops. served this over quiona. Super great recipe! Thanks (:
Cheryl Malik says
I am sooo glad you liked it!!
Lowrie Ward says
Made this last night… can’t believe how much like “real” saag it tastes! full disclosure i used full fat yogurt plus coconut cream instead of coconut milk plus coconut cream, but i bet it’s just as good w/ either – next time i do a whole 30, i’ll try it as written. amazing!
Michelle says
Love your website I eat your tortilla-less soup more than I’m willing to admit!
Hoping to make this tonight but having a hard time finding fenugreek leaves. I’ve only found powder and seeds. Will these work? Can you leave them out entirely? Help! Thank you!!
Cheryl Malik says
If you can’t find fenugreek leaves, just leave them out entirely. If you like the dish, definitely go find some, though, because they make such a difference! Seeds and powder aren’t the same though and will make you smell like maple syrup 😀 I find fenugreek leaves, often labeled as “methi” leaves, at international markets!
Anu S. says
You can go to any Indian store and look for “Kasoori Methi” That is dried fenugreek leaves.
Sabah says
How much chicken?
Cheryl Malik says
1 and 1/2 pounds!
Albert Bevia says
¨I present to you… the ugliest dish¨…that was classic, but I know the flavors here are truly incredible, love your take on this classic dish
Cheryl Malik says
It is sooo ugly! But delicious 😀 I hope you try it, Albert!
Caitlin says
I love saag… this version sounds so satisfying on a cold day! Delish!
Cheryl Malik says
That’s exactly what it is! I hope you try it 🙂