Cooking With Spinach

Spinach Nutrition Know-How

• Spinach contains more than a dozen flavonoids, which fight inflammation and cancer.
• In addition to flavonoids and carotenoids, spinach provides vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, manganese, zinc and selenium, making it an excellent antioxidant.
• Researchers are beginning to discover links between the health of our nervous system and the unique phytonutrients in the chenopod plant family, which includes spinach, beets and chard.
• Cooking spinach releases lutein — a carotenoid that helps prevent macular degeneration — making the nutrient more available to the body.
• The high level of vitamin K in spinach helps maintain strong bones.

Kitchen Cooking Tricks

• In general, use larger, thicker leaves for cooking and smaller, more tender leaves for salads.
• The stems of small, young spinach are tender enough to eat, so there’s no need to remove them.
• Spinach reduces in volume by about three-quarters when cooked, so for every cup of cooked spinach you want to serve you’ll need about a pound of fresh.

Grocery Shopping and Storage Tips

• Crisp, dark-colored spinach — either the smooth variety or the thicker, crinkly Savoy — has the highest nutrient value. Avoid purchasing spinach that is limp, yellowed or slimy.
• Do not wash spinach before storing it. Keep it refrigerated in a plastic bag for up to five days.
• Wash spinach thoroughly, but do not soak it too long. Its water-soluble nutrients will leach into the water.
• Frozen spinach is a convenient option. Most frozen spinach has been boiled before freezing, which actually improves its carotenoid bioavailability (although it reduces other nutrients). Some spinach is frozen with stems on, some without.

Recipes

Spinach Oshitashi

This simple, elegant Japanese “salad” side dish is a great accompaniment to sushi rolls, grilled meats or tofu.

Makes | six bite-size salads

Ingredients

• 9 ounces fresh spinach leaves, stems removed
• 2 tbs. toasted sesame seeds
• 1 tbs. Bragg’s Liquid Aminos, or soy sauce
• 1 tbs. mirin (rice wine)

Directions

1. Prepare an ice bath to chill the spinach by filling a large bowl with water and about 2 cups of ice cubes.
2. In a steamer basket, steam the spinach lightly, for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, then quickly plunge spinach into the ice bath to stop the cooking process. Drain the chilled spinach and gently press out the excess water from the leaves.
3. Place spinach in a bowl and toss with 1 tablespoon of the sesame seeds, the liquid amino acids and mirin.
4. Garnish tossed salad with remaining sesame seeds and serve. (For a special presentation, roll seasoned spinach in a bamboo sushi mat to form a cylinder, slice into six sections, and garnish with the remaining sesame seeds.)

Spinach and Potato Frittata

Pair with a green salad for an easy dinner. You can adapt the frittata recipe by using other cheeses, or adding minced, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers and other ingredients.

Serves | six to eight

Ingredients

• 2 tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped
• 3 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into ½-inch cubes (about 3 cups)
• 5 ounces fresh spinach leaves, stems removed
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 8 eggs, beaten
• 8 pitted Kalamata olives, sliced
• 1/2 cup crumbled ricotta salata cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Heat olive oil in a heavy 8-inch skillet and sauté the onion until just beginning to soften. Add the potatoes and continue to cook until al dente (firm to the bite). Add the spinach to the skillet and stir briefly to wilt. Mix the salt and pepper with the beaten eggs and pour into the skillet, stirring gently to allow the egg to reach the bottom of the skillet.
3. With a rubber spatula, gently lift the egg as it cooks to allow more of the raw egg to reach the bottom of the skillet. When the egg is mostly set on the bottom and sides of the frittata, remove from heat and top with the sliced olives and cheese.
4. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the frittata is cooked through.
5. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Curried Garbanzo Beans With Spinach

Serve this tasty curry with brown rice and top with cilantro-mint chutney. (For the chutney recipe, see further down) If you love cilantro, you can add a handful of chopped fresh cilantro to the curry along with the spinach. If you don’t like cilantro, try parsley instead.

Serves | four

Ingredients

• 1 tbs. ghee or coconut oil
• 1 medium onion, minced (about 1 cup)
• 2 tbs. minced jalapeño pepper
• 2 tbs. minced gingerroot
• 1 tbs. whole cumin seeds
• 2 tsp. ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3 cups diced tomato
• 1/2 to 1 cup water
• 1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
• 5 ounces fresh spinach

Directions

1. Heat ghee in a large skillet or saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the onion, jalapeño, gingerroot and cumin seeds to the skillet and cook until all vegetables are softened. Add the coriander, turmeric and salt, and cook for another couple of minutes until fragrant.
2. Turn the heat up to medium-high, add the diced tomatoes, and cook until the tomatoes are soft and saucy. (Add water as needed, depending on the moisture content of the tomatoes.)
3. Add the garbanzo beans and cook to heat through. Add the spinach and stir to wilt.

Stuffed Chicken Breast With Spinach, Mushrooms and Parmesan Cheese

You can easily change up this hearty main dish. For a Greek flavor, sub in chopped Kalamata olives, feta cheese and chopped tomatoes for the mushrooms, garlic and Parmesan cheese. For Thai, toss the spinach with mushrooms, bean sprouts and a ginger-peanut sauce.

Serves | four

Ingredients

• 2 tbs. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
• 6 small cremini mushrooms, sliced thin
• 4 cups spinach
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a 6-inch-by-8-inch baking dish.
3. Make a crosswise slit in each chicken breast, about halfway through the chicken breast, to make a “pocket” for the stuffing.
4. Sauté the mushrooms in the remaining olive oil until soft. Add the spinach and garlic and cook until the spinach is wilted. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Fill each chicken breast with the spinach mixture and arrange the stuffed chicken breasts in the baking dish.
6. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until chicken is completely cooked through.
7. Serve the chicken with fresh salad greens.

Cilantro Mint Chutney

A simple, yet flavorful chutney filled with fresh and herby flavors that pairs perfectly with the Curried Garbanzo Beans With Spinach recipe from above. Can also be used as a dipping sauce with your favorite Indian food. 

Makes | about 1 1/2 cups 

Ingredients

• 1 small jalapeño, about 2 tbs., coarsely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1/2 yellow onion, about 1/2 cup, coarsely chopped
• 1-inch chunk fresh gingerroot, coarsely chopped
• 1 tomato, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup cilantro, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup mint leaves, coarsely chopped

Directions

1. Salt to taste
2. Blend all ingredients together in a blender until smooth. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.