Easy Steps for How to Cook Spinach
There are excellent reasons why you should cook spinach for a meal. First, these leafy greens are highly nutritious offering numerous health benefits. Second, they are low in calories. Lastly, spinach tastes really good!
Methods Used to Cook Spinach
There are various methods to cook spinach, each offering a unique flavor and texture.
One popular technique is sautéing, where fresh spinach is quickly cooked in a small amount of oil or butter, allowing it to wilt while retaining its vibrant color.
Steaming is another effective approach, preserving the nutrients and bright green hue of the leaves.
For a more robust flavor, spinach can be incorporated into soups or stews, where it adds depth and richness.
Each of these techniques is described below.
How to Select Fresh Spinach Leaves
When selecting quality spinach, look for vibrant green leaves that are crisp and free from wilting or yellowing.
The leaves should be firm to the touch, indicating freshness, and should not have any signs of decay or insect damage.
Additionally, choose spinach that has a smooth texture. This often signifies that it has been harvested at the right time.
It is advisable to avoid any bunches that feel slimy or have a strong, unpleasant odor, as these are indicators of spoilage.
Organic spinach is less likely to contain pesticide residues.
How to Prepare Fresh Spinach for Cooking
To prepare spinach, thoroughly wash the leaves under cold running water to remove any dirt or grit. After rinsing, gently pat the spinach dry with a clean kitchen towel or use a salad spinner to eliminate excess moisture.
If the spinach has thick stems, consider trimming them to ensure a more tender texture during cooking.
Cook Spinach Dishes with These Recipe Ideas
Here are some simple and quick dishes for cooked spinach that utilize cooking methods mentioned above. Spinach is a versatile ingredient and can be complemented with different flavor enhancers, such as garlic, olive oil, lemon, butter, and cream.
How to Cook Spinach Sautéed with Garlic
Who said spinach had to be boring. Garlic sautéed spinach is particularly good due to its harmonious blend of flavors and textures. When sautéed, spinach leaves retain a tender yet slightly crisp texture that contrasts beautifully with the aromatic richness of garlic.
As the garlic is gently cooked, it releases its essential oils, infusing the spinach with a warm, savory essence that elevates the dish.
From grilled meats to pasta, it can complement a wide range of main courses and couldn’t be easier to prepare.
Recipe for Sautéed Spinach with Garlic
Ingredients:
- 5 oz. fresh spinach (1/2 bag or approx. 2-1/2 cups)
- 2 tsp. olive oil
- 1 clove garlic minced (see tips below)
- lemon wedge for squeezing (optional)
- Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Once the oil is shimmering, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Be careful not to let it burn.
- Add in the fresh spinach leaves and stir continuously for about two minutes until it wilts.
- Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper to taste. Squeeze lemon juice over spinach if using.
Tips:
Preparing the garlic: To prepare garlic for sautéing, begin by selecting fresh cloves and removing their papery skins. You can read more on how to prep garlic for cooking here.
Gently crush each clove with the flat side of a knife to facilitate peeling, then chop or mince the garlic according to your recipe’s requirements. This process enhances the flavor release during cooking, ensuring a rich and aromatic addition to your dish. Finally, be mindful of the cooking time, as garlic can burn quickly, leading to a bitter taste.
How to Cook Spinach by Steaming
If you’re looking for a healthy and nutritious way to cook spinach, steaming is the perfect method. It helps to preserve its nutrients and vibrant color. Most importantly, it helps to retain the valuable nutrients found in spinach.
The steaming technique involves placing fresh spinach leaves in a steamer basket over boiling water, allowing the steam to gently wilt the leaves while retaining their flavor and texture. The result is a tender, bright green vegetable that can be served as a side dish or incorporated into various recipes, providing a healthy addition to meals.
Simple Steamed Spinach Recipe
There’s nothing hard about this recipe and it comes together in minutes.
Ingredients:
- Desired amount of spinach
Instructions:
Prepare spinach as noted above.
- Place a small amount of water into a pan and insert a steamer basket into the pan. Make sure that the water does not touch the basket.
- Bring the water to a boil and add spinach to the basket. Cover the pan with a lid.
- Steam the spinach for approximately 3 to 5 minutes. The leaves should be wilted and tender.
- At this point, the spinach is ready to serve immediately. Alternatively, you may wish to incorporate the spinach into a specific dish or add desired seasonings for additional flavor.
How to Steam Spinach Without a Steamer
Steaming with a Pot and a Lid
Steaming with a Colander or Sieve
Cook Spinach in Microwave
To steam spinach in the microwave, place the washed spinach (still wet from rinsing) in a microwave-safe bowl.
Cover the bowl with a microwave-safe lid or plate. Microwave on high for 1 to 3 minutes, depending on the amount of spinach, until wilted and tender.
How to Boil Spinach
To boil spinach leaves, first wash the spinach as described above. Then, add the cleaned spinach to a pot of boiling, salted water. Cook for 1-5 minutes until the leaves are wilted and bright green. Finally, drain the spinach to remove excess water and serve it.
To boil frozen spinach, place the frozen spinach block directly into a pot of boiling water and cook for 10-12 minutes, or until tender. Drain thoroughly.
Alternatively, you can add frozen spinach to a sauté pan with a little water and cook, covered, until it’s warm enough to use in a recipe.
Seasoning for Spinach
When you cook spinach using the steaming method, you can enhance its flavor by adding ingredients such as garlic, lemon juice, or a sprinkle of nutmeg.
Sautéing minced garlic in olive oil before adding the spinach can impart a rich aroma and depth of flavor.
A dash of lemon juice not only brightens the dish but also adds a refreshing acidity that complements the earthiness of the spinach.
Additionally, a hint of nutmeg can provide a warm, subtle spice that elevates the overall taste profile.
Cook Spinach in Soups and Stews
Spinach is a tasteful and healthy addition to add to one-pot meals, such as soups, stews and stir fries. Since this particular green is delicate and cooks quickly, you want to be careful not to overcook it. Adding it into your soup or stew towards the end of the cooking process will help to preserve its vibrant green color and nutrients.
Adding fresh spinach: Once your soup or stew base is simmered, and other ingredients are cooked, add the spinach in handfuls, stirring it into the hot liquid. Allow the spinach to wilt for a few minutes until tender, about 30 to 60 seconds.
If you prefer, you can turn off the heat and let the residual heat of the soup or stew wilt the spinach.
Adding frozen spinach: If you are using frozen spinach, you will want to reduce the amount by half to avoid overpowering the soup with the flavor of the spinach.
Add the frozen spinach directly to the hot soup or stew without thawing. Stir unit it melts and incorporates into the dish.
Adding spinach to your soups and stews is an easy and delicious way to increase their nutritional value and add a vibrant green color. Experiment with different spinach varieties and enjoy this healthy addition to your meals!
Is Raw Spinach Better Than Cooked?
Health Benefits Whether You Cook Spinach or Eat it Raw
Whether you choose to cook spinach or eat it raw, it is a highly nutritious leafy green vegetable, packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It’s a good source of vitamins A, C, and K, folate, and minerals like magnesium, potassium, and iron. It also contains beneficial plant compounds that may protect against various health issues like heart disease, certain cancers, and eye problems.
With that said, spinach is also quite popular. As reported by a nutritionist from Cleveland Clinic, the average American today eats close to 1.5 pounds of spinach every year. He also suggests that its fan base could have gotten its start more than 60 years ago complements of Popeye, the spinach-eating sailor.