Chana Saag Recipe (Chana Palak)

Updated: May 10, 2024, By Swasthi

Chana Saag is a delicious vegetarian Indian curry made with mixed leafy greens, aromatic spices and chickpeas. This protein, fiber and vitamin filled dish makes a wonderful lunch or dinner option for the family. Bored of serving restaurant style Chana Masala? This comforting Saag and Chana variation will make you eager to cook a chickpea dish again. It is deceptively simple but tastes divine. This simple, quick and delightful dish makes weekend meals satisfying and special.

Saag is literally any curry dish that has cooked greens as the star ingredient. This could be any leafy green from spinach and mustard leaves to fenugreek leaves (methi) and beet greens. If you’re familiar with Punjabi food, you’ve probably heard of a particular food synonymous with the Punjabi culture – saarson da saag and makki di roti (mustard leaves and corn rotis).

This nourishing Chana Saag is one such variation, though not popular in the Indian households, like Saag Paneer you will find this on the restaurant menus outside India. Most Indian curries or stews have a base sauce or gravy. Some like the simple saag or my chana saag, use a spiced curried greens and tomato base to add richness and tang to the dish.

About Chana Saag

Chana Saag is an Indian dish where cooked chickpeas and leafy greens are immersed in a tomato-onion gravy that has been steeped with aromatic Indian spice powders. It makes a good meal prep option as you can cook the different elements in advance and then bring them to a simmer on the day you serve. You can batch cook this tasty side to rice or rotis for potlucks and family get-togethers.

This chickpea and spinach side can be cooked on the stovetop or the Instant pot and takes 40 minutes to prepare and serve. Serve this with plain basmati rice, butter naan, plain paratha or roti.

My Recipe

What makes my recipe unique is the tadka or tempering that I often add to take this recipe to the next level. You can, of course, skip this step without losing out on the authentic taste.

I do recommend using the fresh and organic greens (spinach in this case) if you can find. Saag (mixed leafy greens) not only provide the vibrant green color to the curry but maximize the amount of nutrients in this dish. Frozen spinach is an excellent option when you’ve run out of fresh greens. Use either baby spinach or the bigger leaves, or better still, a mix of both.

More Spinach recipes
Saag Paneer
Palak paneer
Spinach curry
Hara bhara kabab
Palak paratha

Photo Guide

How to Make Chana Saag (Stepwise Photos)

Prepare the chana (chickpeas)

1. Rinse and soak 1 cup of Kabuli chana for at least 8-10 hours, preferably overnight. Drain the water and rinse the chana well. If you’re using previously cooked or canned chickpeas (around 3 cups), skip this step.

2. Add 1 cup of water to the chickpeas and cook it in the pressure cooker until you hear 3 to 4 whistles. The cooked chickpeas should be tender and soft, but not mushy. If you’re using the instant pot, cook it for 16 to 18 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally.

cooked chana for saag

Make the saag (curried spinach)

3. Add 1½ tablespoons of oil in a deep pan or saucepan on high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and add 1¼ teaspoon (¾ inch) of finely chopped ginger, 2 minced cloves of garlic, and 1 to 2 slit green chilis. Sauté for 30-60 seconds. Reduce the amount of green chili if you don’t want a hotter dish.

saute onions chilies and garlic

4. Add 1 cup of finely chopped onion (1 large onion) and sauté until it’s fully cooked and turns golden brown.

5. Add 4-5 cups of rinsed and roughly chopped spinach or palak.

6. Sauté for 3 minutes, until the leaves have just wilted & the raw smell has gone completely. Remove from heat and transfer to a bowl or plate to cool.

7. Now transfer the cooled saag ingredients to a blender. You may want to set aside one of the green chilies at this stage. Taste test and add later. Add ¼ cup of coriander (cilantro leaves).

8. Blend to a coarse or smooth paste, according to your preference. I prefer a smooth paste for the chana saag.

Make the chana palak curry

9. While the saag cools, prepare the rest of the dish. Chop the tomatoes. I deseed the tomatoes before chopping. Heat 1½ tablespoons of oil in the same pan. Reduce the heat to medium and add 1 cup (2 medium) chopped tomatoes and 1 teaspoon of salt, or as per your taste.

10. Sauté the tomatoes for 4-5 minutes, until they turn mushy and soft. Stir frequently to ensure the food doesn’t burn. Now add ¾ teaspoon garam masala.

11. Add cooked chana. Add 1½ cups of water (chana water and extra liquid).

12. Cover pan with lid and let the chana simmer for 4 to 5 minutes. This allows the spice flavors to mix with the chickpeas. Reduce heat to low and add the blended saag mixture.

add pureed saag with cooked chana

13. Stir well to combine and cook the chana saag for 1 -2 minutes or until the curry starts to bubble. Taste and adjust seasonings. Overcooking at this stage will darken the saag. Remove from heat and pour into a large serving bowl.

cooking saag with chana

Make the tempering (optional)

14. Heat a small saucepan and melt 1 tablespoon of ghee or butter on low heat. Add 2 dried red chilies and 1 to 2 chopped garlic (1 tablespoon). Pan fry on low heat for 1 minute or until the garlic turns light golden brown. Add ½ teaspoon of hing (asafetida) and turn off the flame. Do not overcook garlic as it tastes bitter.

tempering spices in ghee

15. Drizzle this tempering over the chana saag and serve it with cooked rice, roti, paratha or butter naan. Drizzle some lemon juice.

chana saag curry

Expert Tips

  • Use green chilies with caution. Saute 2, blend one & set aside another. Use the other one only if required later. You may just chop and add it later.
  • For add ½ cup of methi or fenugreek leaves. You’ll be sauteing the methi in oil and before cooking tomatoes. This helps remove the slightly astringent flavor of fenugreek leaves.
  • If you don’t have picky eaters at home, you can simply skip sautéing and pureeing onions with spinach. Instead saute the chopped onions before the tomatoes. This also adds some texture to your saag.
  • Don’t have the time to soak and cook chickpeas? Use 3 cups of canned chickpeas in a pinch. If you’re adding the liquid from the can, go easy on the salt and reduce the amount of water mentioned in my recipe.
  • For extra saag (gravy) in the recipe, reduce the chana to 3/4 cup or 2 cups cooked.
  • Use the tangier chole or chana masala instead of garam masala.
  • Make it vegan by subbing the ghee and butter in the tempering with oil.

Related Recipes

Recipe Card

chana saag

Chana Saag Recipe (Chana Palak)

5 from 49 votes
Chana saag also known as chana palak is a delicious and healthy Indian dish made with various leafy greens, chickpeas and spices. Make it in the instant pot or on the stove top.
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Servings4
AuthorSwasthi
Diet : Gluten Free, Vegetarian

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

  • 1 cup chana (dried chickpeas or 3 cups soaked/cooked)
  • 4 to 5 cups spinach (palak)
  • ¼ cup coriander leaves /cilantro (15 to 18 grams)
  • 1 cup onions (fine chopped, 1 large, 160 grams)
  • ¾ inch ginger sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves sliced
  • 1 to 2 green chilies (Serrano or Thai chilies, slit, adjust to heat level tolerance)
  • tablespoons oil (divided)
  • 1 cup tomatoes (fine chopped, 2 medium, 250 grams)
  • ¾ teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • cups water (more if needed)

To temper (optional)

  • 1 tablespoon ghee or unsalted butter
  • 2 dried red chilies (like Kashmiri for low heat)
  • 1 to 2 garlic cloves chopped
  • teaspoon hing /asafoetida


Instructions

Preparation

  • Rinse and soak chana overnight. Later drain them and rinse well. Pressure cook them with 1 cup water for 3 to 4 whistles until soft and tender. To cook in instant pot, pressure cook for 16 to 18 minutes and let the pressure release naturally.
  • Pour 1½ tablespoon oil to a pan and heat it. Saute ginger, garlic and green chilies for a minute.
  • Add onions and saute until golden and fully cooked. Then stir in spinach and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, just until wilted. Transfer to a plate and cool this completely.
  • Later transfer the cooled ingredients to a blender and add coriander leaves. You may want to set aside one of the green chilies, taste test and add it later. Make a fine or coarse paste as per your liking. We prefer smooth paste.

How to make Chana Saag

  • While the greens cool, heat another tbsp oil in the same pan. Add tomatoes and salt. Saute and cook until soft and mushy.
  • Add garam masala, cooked chana and 1½ cups liquid (chana cooked water plus more water).
  • Cover and simmer chana for 5 minutes. Then reduce the heat and transfer the saag paste to the pan.
  • Stir well and cook just for a minute or 2 until chana saag begins to bubble.
  • Taste test and adjust salt and more garam masala if required. Turn off the heat and transfer to a serving bowl.

Tempering (optional, but recommended)

  • On a low heat, melt 1 tbsp butter or ghee in a small pan. Add dried red chilies and chopped garlic. Fry on a low heat until garlic turns slightly golden but not brown. Add hing and turn off.
  • Quickly pour the tempering over the chana saag.


Notes

  1. Skip sautéing and pureeing onions with spinach. Instead saute the chopped onions later before the tomatoes. But the taste of the saag is different with this method.
  2. Do not increase the quantity of coriander leaves in the recipe. Use only tender stalks and avoid mature ones as they tend to leave a soapy flavor.
  3. If you are using spinach it is just fine to cook for a shorter period of time as mentioned in the recipe. But all leafy greens are not the same. They need longer cooking else they can upset the stomach. So if using other greens cook them longer.
  4. You can use half cup methi leaves. Saute them in little oil before adding the tomatoes.

Video

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Chana Saag Recipe (Chana Palak)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 276 Calories from Fat 135
% Daily Value*
Fat 15g23%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Monounsaturated Fat 7g
Cholesterol 10mg3%
Sodium 735mg32%
Potassium 1244mg36%
Carbohydrates 31g10%
Fiber 8g33%
Sugar 9g10%
Protein 9g18%
Vitamin A 4458IU89%
Vitamin C 141mg171%
Calcium 263mg26%
Iron 9mg50%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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About Swasthi

Iโ€™m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthiโ€™s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me

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5 stars
Thank you. This recipe worked like a charm.

Hello!
Can I use kashmiri chili powder instead of dried chili? If so, how much would you use?

5 stars
Made chana saag with 50/50 spinach and kale. Turned out delicious. I made a tadka with red chili powder to up the heat levels. Everyone liked it

Hello, this recipe looks really good, looking forward to trying it. When using frozen spinach, how much would I need?
Thank you!

5 stars
When you say green chili or red chili; what are you referring to? Made the mistake using arbol chili the first recipe I tried; when it should’ve been kashmiri chili. Delicious but an entire different heat ?

5 stars
Loving all your recipes. Made the chana saag and my family says they can eat it every week.

5 stars
Excellent! Just made this; extremely simple, surprisingly good with so little spicing. Will definitely put this on regular rotation.

5 stars
Quickly became one of my fav. I make it every other week since I found this recipe and my husband loves it a lot as well

Can i substitute ginger garlic paste for ginger and garlic in this recipe?

5 stars
Wonderful recipe . I have made it a few times for guests or just for myself and always look forward to making it again. I omit the coriander leaves and incorporate the tempering as beginning of the chick peas cooking.

5 stars
Seriously….. This is an amazingly wonderful recipe. I used canned beans, but everything else was made as written. Thank you!!

5 stars
I have become a big fan of yours sawasthi. All the recipes I have tried turn out so well. Last night’s chana spinach was no exception. V impressed. Where do you live?

5 stars
Delicious as always! I added chopped kale with the spinach, then added the chopped tomatoes and garam masala and after everything was soft I added a bit of hot water from my boiled split chickpeas and blended it smooth with an immersion blender. Then I added the Chana dal and let it simmer together for a bit. Served with millet boiled with finely chopped cauliflower. Used your tempering but after plating also sprinkled a tiny bit of mustard seed powder on the plates to make sure we got all the health benefits from the cruciferous veggies. You’re the best!

Good evening Swasthi, tried this tonight. Great result with the green gram curry, south indian veg curry, and jeera rice. All of your recipes for the family dinner tonight. Thank you so much.

5 stars
Loved this. Great recipe. Surprisingly even my kids loved it. Thank you

5 stars
Swasthi. Love your blog very much. Tried this chana saag and it was delicious. please share more new recipes. Thank you

5 stars
Fantastic recipe! My family loves your palak paneer and it has been the most favourite way to eat spinach ever since I first made it. This one looks lovely too. Will be trying out this weekend. Thank you for being generous with your tips.