Spinach is a green leafy vegetable rich in iron. They are not only suitable for Popeye, but can be enjoyed by everyone, both cooked and raw. You can add them to a salad or smoothie, you can cook them boiled, in a pan, and even puree them to get the most out of this simple and great-tasting vegetable. If you want to learn how to make spinach, keep reading this article.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Prepare the Spinach
Step 1. Choose good vegetables
Check out the whole batch of spinach available in the fruit and vegetable section of the grocery store, or go to a farmer's market to buy fresh, dark green leafy vegetables. Don't buy yellowed, wilted, dented, or mushy ones. It is vital that the spinach is fresh so it will last longer and you can turn it into a tasty meal. The spinach sold in the grocery store, for the most part, has already been stemmed and packaged in sealed bags. At the farmer's market, on the other hand, you will buy them in a nice bunch.
- The most common type is the one with smooth and flat leaves, perfect for cleaning without difficulty.
- Spinach of the Savoy variety tolerates cold better than other species. The leaves are very wrinkled and it is not easy to get rid of the soil.
- Baby spinach is a normal spinach that is harvested after 15-20 days of growth, while ordinary spinach is usually harvested at 45-60 days of age. The new ones are more tender and suitable for salads, while the regular ones are better suited to cooking.
Step 2. Store the vegetables in plastic bags and inside the refrigerator
This way you can keep them for 3 days. If you bought the spinach in a sealed package, be sure to close the bag with a clothespin after opening it so the leaves you didn't eat will stay fresh. If you don't plan on eating spinach right away, you can keep it until ready. You should never wash and dry them until before cooking, otherwise they will wilt.
Step 3. Remove the stems from the leaves
If the ones you purchased still have the stem, you should remove it with a kitchen knife or scissors. If you want to do a really neat job, use a curved knife. Although the stems are perfectly edible, they are quite hard and unsightly on the palate, the leaves are much better.
Step 4. Clean the spinach under running water to remove soil and dirt particles
Most of the time the leaves have some soil which, if not removed, leaves a sandy flavor to the dish. If you have purchased a sealed package of already washed spinach, you can rinse them to be safer, but you don't need obsessive attention as you would with the vegetables from the farmer's market. Here are some tips on how to wash spinach:
- Separate the leaves.
- Run your hand along the veins of the leaf and detach it from the stem. This is an optional step as some people like the stem.
- Put the leaves in a bowl full of water, rinse them and move them to then remove the water.
- Repeat this process until you have removed all the soil.
Step 5. Dry the spinach
You should wait until they are dry before cooking them, unless you want to boil them right away. Put them in a colander and let them drain for 10 minutes or pat the leaves gently with kitchen paper. Proceed with caution to avoid mashing the leaves and making them soggy. Once dry, you can start cooking them so they don't wilt.
Part 2 of 3: Cooking the Spinach
Step 1. Boil the spinach
The simplest way to cook them is to boil them. You can enjoy them plain, or boiling could be the first step of a longer preparation, for example you could create a puree. Here's how to boil spinach:
- Place the leaves in a large pot filled with boiling water.
- Cook them for 3-5 minutes.
- Drain them.
- Keep a container with water and ice handy to stop cooking and "retain" the bright green color (optional). Then drain the spinach again.
- Arrange them in a tray and season them with a drizzle of olive oil.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 2. In the pan
This is also a widely used technique to prepare them. You will need two bunches of spinach, olive oil, two minced garlic cloves (optional), salt and pepper to taste. Here is the procedure:
- Heat two tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat.
- Put the garlic and cook it for about 30 seconds or in any case until it becomes fragrant.
- Add a bunch of spinach and cook for a minute to wilt, flip it with kitchen tongs.
- Insert the second bunch of spinach and continue in the same way to let them wilt for another 2-3 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste
Step 3. Make a spinach puree
This dish also guarantees a rich, robust and delicious flavor. You can enjoy it on its own or accompany it with steak, chicken or another source of protein. Here's what you need to get: 720 g of spinach, 115 g of butter, 8 tablespoons of flour, half a medium-sized onion cut into cubes, three chopped garlic cloves, 480 ml of milk, salt and pepper to taste. The procedure:
- Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed pot.
- Add the flour and work the ingredients with a whisk.
- Cook the roux over medium heat for 5 minutes.
- Add the onion and garlic and mix for another minute.
- Pour in the milk and always mix with a whisk without stopping for 5 minutes.
- In a separate pan, cook the spinach, follow the instructions from the previous step (without garlic).
- Season the sauce with salt and pepper and then add the spinach.
- Mix the cream gently to combine all the ingredients.
Step 4. Baked
Baked spinach, like those in cream, is another rich and hearty dish. This method allows you to enrich vegetables with cheese. Here are the ingredients you will need: 70 g of chopped onion, 30 g of butter, two packs of spinach, 120 ml of cooking cream, 80 ml of milk, 5 tablespoons of grated Parmesan, 60 g of breadcrumbs, salt and pepper to taste. Here's how to proceed:
- Saute the onion in the pan with the butter for 2-3 minutes or until tender.
- Add the spinach, milk and cream.
- Remove the pan from the heat.
- Add 4 of the 5 tablespoons of Parmesan, the breadcrumbs, salt and pepper.
- Put the mixture in a greased baking pan.
- Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
- Bake without covering the pan for 40-45 minutes at 180 ° C or until the cheese is golden.
Part 3 of 3: Prepare Raw Spinach
Step 1. Prepare a spinach and strawberry salad
It is a simple but very nutritious combination that does not require any cooking. You only need the following ingredients: a package of spinach, 10 fresh strawberries, 60 g of shelled almonds, half a red onion, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, three tablespoons of sugar, salt and pepper. Here's how to proceed:
- Cut a red onion.
- Divide the strawberries into four parts.
- Combine the onion with the strawberries, almonds and spinach.
- To prepare the dressing, mix 60 ml of balsamic vinegar with the same amount of olive oil, three tablespoons of sugar, salt and pepper to taste.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and mix gently.
Step 2. Make a spinach salad with figs and feta cheese
It is a sweet salad perfect for a summer afternoon, a picnic or as a side dish to any dish. All you need to do is combine a pack of spinach with 60g of diced or chopped feta cheese, 10-15 quartered figs, 60g of pecans and 100g of grapes. Add just a little balsamic vinegar or a currant vinaigrette if you prefer something more imaginative. Your salad is ready with no need to cook it!
Step 3. Make a spinach smoothie
This vegetable adds a healthy and delicious touch to any type of smoothie, even fruit. Basically all you have to do is add the spinach to the usual ingredients and blend everything until smooth and creamy. Here is an idea for a pear and spinach smoothie:
- 360 ml of water or coconut water.
- 100 g of spinach.
- 1 ripe pear cut into small pieces.
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
- 1 teaspoon of minced ginger.
- 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed.
- 1 teaspoon of honey.
