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Spiced Pakistani-Style Chicken Curry with Bell Pepper, Spinach & Rice, plated

Mealime recipe · lives on in MealPot

Spiced Pakistani-Style Chicken Curry with Bell Pepper, Spinach & Rice

  • 35 min
  • 2–6 servings
  • 632 kcal / serving

A cozy one-pan curry served with rice, featuring tender chicken, peppery tomato sauce, and wilted greens. The bright citrus and warm spices balance quickly for a satisfying weeknight dinner.

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Curries

Ingredients

  • 1 (5 oz) pkgbaby spinach
  • ½ cupbasmati rice
  • 8 fl ozchicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 lbchicken thighs, boneless skinless
  • ½ small bunchcilantro
  • 2 clovesgarlic
  • 1 (1 inch) pieceginger root
  • 1lime
  • 1red bell pepper
  • 1 (8 oz) cantomato sauce
  • 1 mediumyellow onion
  • limes
  • red bell peppers
  • yellow onions

From the pantry: black pepper, chili powder, cinnamon, ground, coriander, ground, cumin, ground, extra virgin olive oil, paprika, salt, turmeric, ground

Cookware

can opener · chef's knife · citrus juicer (optional) · colander · cutting board · garlic press (optional) · grater (optional) · measuring cups · measuring spoons · mixing bowls · nonstick skillet · small saucepan · stirring spoon

Directions

  1. Rinse the rice under cold running water using a strainer, then drain and place it in a small saucepan. Add the broth and bring to a boil.
  2. Wash and dry the produce; pat the chicken dry and cut into bite-size pieces. Juice one lime into a bowl and stir in the spices to make a marinade.
  3. Add the chicken to the spice lime mixture and toss to coat; set aside.
  4. Peel and mince the ginger and garlic. Chop the onion into small dice.
  5. Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat, then add the ginger, garlic, and onion. Cook, stirring often, until the onion softens.
  6. Add the marinated chicken to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until it starts to brown and is mostly cooked through.
  7. Trim, seed, and dice the bell peppers, then stir them into the skillet with the tomato sauce and a splash of water. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer until the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce thickens.
  8. Shave the cilantro leaves from the stems, mince, and set aside the leaves for garnish. Add a handful at a time of the spinach to the skillet, allowing each portion to wilt before adding the next.
  9. When the chicken is done, remove from heat and stir in half the cilantro. Spoon the curry over the rice and finish with the remaining cilantro.
  10. Serve the curry over the rice, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.

Two tips

  • Prep the rice ahead by starting it while you marinate the chicken. It can sit briefly off the heat without harm.
  • Swap spinach for kale if you prefer, keeping the rest of the ingredients the same.

Nutrition per serving

Calories
632 kcal
Protein
56 g
Carbs
62 g
Fat
19 g
Fiber
8 g
Sodium
339 mg

Estimates from the recipe's published nutrition data; they change with the version you pick above.

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Ingredient quantities, timing and nutrition are recorded from the original Mealime recipe ↗ (captured 2026-09-12). Photo: MealPot, an AI-rendered illustration of the finished dish. Description and directions written by MealPot.

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