spinach recipes

Spinach Curry with Chickpeas

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This spinach curry recipe is one of my favorite Indian dishes. When you see spinach and chickpea curry at an Indian restaurant, it’s called Chole Palak. There are many versions of this dish. One of my favorite versions is here, but that spinach curry recipe calls for asafoetida and garam masala. If you wish to explore Indian cooking, I highly recommend you seek those ingredients out, but with the recipe below, you can make a delicious spinach curry with ingredients you might already have in the kitchen.

Ingredients for Spinach Curry Recipe

1 pack frozen or canned SPINACH thawed, 10 to 15 oz
½ to 1 cup ONION chopped
HOT PEPPER to taste, chopped, optional
15oz can diced TOMATOES or 2 fresh tomatoes
2-4 cloves GARLIC finely chopped
1 Tbsp minced GINGER
15 oz can CHICKPEAS rinsed and drained
1-2 tsp CUMIN SEEDS
2 tsp CORIANDER POWDER
½ tsp TURMERIC POWDER
1 tsp CHILI POWDER
2-3 Tbsp OIL
SALT and PEPPER to taste

Check out current prices for Indian Cooking Spices on Amazon.

spinach curry

How to Make Chickpeas and Spinach Curry

  • Heat oil on medium-high heat and add cumin seeds. The seeds should sizzle when they hit the pan and will brown and crack quickly, so only leave them cooking on their own for a matter of seconds.
  • Add in the onions and peppers and stir for about 1 minute.
  • Add in the garlic and seasonings and continue to stir another 1-2 minutes.
  • Empty one can of diced tomatoes and the ginger into the skillet and mix well with the other ingredients. Adjust the stove top heat as needed throughout the cooking process.
  • Add the canned chickpeas, rinsed and drain, plus 1-2 cups of water. Stir well and bring the skillet up to a simmer, then cover and cook for about 10 minutes.
  • Uncover and crush about ½ on the dish with a potato masher or fork. This will thicken up the dish and make it creamier. You can “smoosh” the entire dish if you like, but I prefer leaving about half of the chickpeas whole. Continue to simmer the curry uncovered until the water has cooked away to your desired consistency.

And that’s it! Spinach curry is often served very wet, sometimes almost soupy, but I prefer the dish much drier. Try the dish both ways and see which version you prefer. This Indian-style recipe is delicious, and maybe a good tactic to sway non-spinach lovers into giving spinach another try.

For more Indian recipes, check out this real-time Indian cooking lesson featuring some of my favorite Indian dishes.

mango curry
A complete Indian meal with mango curry, chana masala, and gobi matar.

Thanks for checking out our spinach curry recipe, and all of our recipes. Be sure and sign up for our mailing list and never miss a new Chef Buck cooking video, and also click a button below and share the dishes with your friends. We appreciate all the kind comments and support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!
–Chef Buck

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Creamed Spinach Recipe for Winners

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creamed spinach recipe

Spinach is so good, and good for you, even if you add a little less healthy stuff to transform it into a decadent creamed spinach recipe. I use creamed cheese for this spinach dish, but any meltable cheese will work. You can leave the meat out if you prefer. However, I find that adding even just a hint of meatiness makes the best creamed spinach.

Ingredients for Creamed Spinach

15 oz SPINACH fresh or frozen
1 small/med ONION chopped
2-4 cloves GARLIC finely chopped
2 Tbsp BUTTER
2-3 oz leftover COOKED MEAT
½ cup softened CREAM CHEESE
Some HALF N HALF
1-2 Tbsp OIL for cooking
SALT and PEPPER to taste

How to Make the Best Creamed Spinach Recipe

IF using frozen spinach, allow to thaw, then heat spinach through in a skillet and drain.

IF using fresh spinach, add a splash of water to the skillet and heat, then add the spinach leaves and cook down until spinach has wilted and most of the excess water has evaporated, then set spinach aside in a colander to drain.

A nice colander is a handy tool in the kitchen. Check current prices for a Kitchen Colander on Amazon.

creamed spinach recipe

Return the skillet to the stove and heat oil on medium heat, and then add chopped onions and cook about 2 minutes. If using some meat, add now. I like a bit of leftover pork, but any tid-bit you have in the fridge that will add a bit of flavor will work. Stir the meat with the onions for another minute.

Add in the garlic and butter and stir until the butter has melted. Add in the softened cream cheese and stir another minute. You can use a freshly shredded parmesan cheese instead, but if so, wait until after the milk is added and heated through.

In the colander, squeeze out any excess water remaining in the cooked spinach, as much as you can, then add the spinach back into the skillet and mix into the ingredients.

Add in half ‘n half as desired. Start with a ½ cup half ‘n half and then add an additional ¼ cup at a time to reach the consistency you like. Heat the milk through, but don’t boil, and reduce the heat as needed; you want the liquid to steam just on the edge of simmering. If using freshly shredded cheese instead of creamed cheese, add, stirring until smooth.

When the creamed spinach reaches the consistency you like, remove it from the stove, because it’s done, dude. It’s a great side dish for almost any meal, especially chops or steak.

Give this creamed spinach recipe a try and let me know what you think. For another crazy delicious spinach recipe, try this Indian favorite, Chole Palak.

chole palak chickpea spinach

Thanks for checking out this creamed spinach recipe. Be sure and sign up for our mailing list so you’ll never miss a Chef Buck cooking video. Also click a button below and share the dishes with your friends. We appreciate all the kind comments and support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!
–Chef Buck

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Chole Palak Chickpea and Spinach Recipe

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chole palak

Chole Palak is an Indian-style spinach and chickpea recipe that’s super flavorful and a breeze to make.  With a few ingredients in the cabinet, this tasty dish is always just a few minutes away.

What You Need to Make Chole Palak

SPINACH  (13 oz can or frozen, or 3 cups chopped fresh)
CHICKPEAS  (15 oz can, rinsed and drained)
TOMATOES  (diced, 14 oz can—or 2 fresh tomatoes
HOT PEPPER  (1 or 2, minced)
GINGER  (1 Tbsp, minced)
OLIVE OIL  (2-3 Tbsp)
CUMIN SEEDS  (1 tsp)
ASAFOETIDA  (¼ tsp)
CORIANDER  (1 Tbsp)
CHILI POWDER  (1 tsp)
TURMERIC  (½ tsp)
GARAM MASALA  (1 tsp)
SALT (to taste)
Check out current prices for Indian Spices on Amazon.

chole palak chickpea spinach
Chole Palak is a popular Spinach and Chickpea dish

How to Make Chole Palak

Heat olive oil on medium high heat and add cumin seeds and asafoetida.  The seeds should sizzle when they hit the pan and will brown and crack quickly.  Add the tomatoes, ginger, and peppers.  Mix well and then add the coriander, chili, and turmeric powder. 

Mix and allow the tomatoes to cook down 3-4 minutes.  Add the spinach and salt and stir well.  Add ¼ – ½ cup water—I like less water, but add as desired throughout the recipe.  Cover and let cook 3-4 minutes. 

Uncover and mix in chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans).  Add another ¼ cup of water, reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook for 5-6 minutes.  At this point the chickpeas will be soft enough to smash easily with a fork, which you don’t have to do, but I prefer the consistency of the dish if I mush about half of them. 

Add the garam masala and stir another minute or two, also adding more water if desired.  And that’s it! Enjoy! When I prepare an Indian meal, I almost always serve this dish; it’s easy, healthy, and delicious, so why not? Give chole palak a try, let me know what you think, and bon appétit!

For another fantastic dish, try Baingan Bharta, an Indian-style Eggplant Recipe.

baingan bharta eggplant

Thanks for Watching our Chole Plak Recipe Video!

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We include affiliate links for products on our website. Making a purchase after clicking on our links and we may earn a commission which helps us produce more videos and drink more coffee :^) We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, which is an affiliate advertising program. It provides a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites, so we can make more videos.

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