Spinach Recipes ♥ Alphabet of Vegetables

Tired of the same-old spinach? Find new inspiration in this collection of seasonal (and dare I say, sexy?) Spinach Recipes ♥ AVeggieVenture.com, savory to sweet, salads to sides, soups to supper, sandwiches to smoothies, simple to special. Many Weight Watchers, vegan, gluten-free, low-carb, paleo, whole30 recipes.
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Spinach 101: THE BASICS
Pronounced [SPIN-itch]. Spinach is a "leafy green" and also a bitter green.

The Origins of Spinach. Spinach is thought to have originated in the Middle East. It was grown in Spain as early as the the 8th century and the Spaniards brought it to the New World. Spinach contains oxalic acid, providing the slightly bitter taste prized by some and despised by others. Spinach's dark green leaves may be either curled or smooth.
The Season. Spinach is a "cool season" crop, its growing season is "late winter" through "late spring." In climates with long summers, a second crop is planted in "late summer" for harvest before winter. Luckily for those of us who aren't gardeners (or in our off-seasons), fresh spinach is a year-round staple in modern grocery stores.
Fresh Baby Spinach. I love-love-love bags of already-washed fresh baby spinach from the grocery store. Both the leaves and stems are small and tender, perfect for salads. Baby spinach is best eaten raw, it just "melts" into a gooey mess with only a touch of heat. Who's tried the red spinach from Trader Joe's? So pretty! It's less convenient, of course, but do rinse even pre-washed spinach and other salad greens just before serving, they'll be so much fresher! Do dry the leaves, either by patting with paper towels or running through a salad spinner.
Fresh "Mature" Spinach. Grocery stores also carry bags and bundles of spinach with larger leaves. For simplicity, let's call it "mature" spinach, shall we? Some times even mature spinach is quite tender, it can also be eaten raw though you might want to cut the leaves into easier-to-manage ribbons. But mature spinach is the right spinach for cooking. In fact, it will cook in just a minute or two if you drop it into something hot like soup or hot pasta. Some mature spinach has quite-thick, almost collard-thick and chewy leaves, choose this form of spinach for slow-cooking spinach or long-cooked southern-style greens. Cooked spinach, at its best, is dark and velvety.

Chop Off Those Stems? Spinach stems can be a little tough. Three ways to handle this. First, I suppose is to just accept the tough texture and (when cooked) some times stringy appearance. Second, you can just cut off the stems and put them into the compost bowl. Trouble is, the stems can account for as much as half the weight; this means that even after accounting for shrinkage, you need to buy twice as much as you think – yikes! The third option is to cut off the stems, chop them up, them cook them by themselves first or with a little onion, say, then add the spinach leaves and finish cooking.
Frozen Spinach. Frozen spinach comes in small boxes and larger bags. I'm a big fan of frozen spinach but the quality does really vary. I have better luck (fewer stems, higher quality) with the bags. Be aware that frozen spinach is frozen but does need cooking, not just heating. I keep thawed and squeezed frozen spinach in the fridge, that means it's always on hand to throw into a stir-fry, an omelet, etc. Also know that a 16-ounce bag of frozen spinach, once thawed and squeezed, yields only nine or ten ounces of useable spinach. I haven't done the math but it sure makes me question the "value" of frozen spinach.
Florentine = Spinach. For my fellow Word Dancers! Did you know that when a recipe includes the word "Florentine" it means it contains spinach?! Cool, eh?! The story goes that Catherine de Medici, the Italian-born queen of France in the 1500s was crazy for spinach and in queenly fashion, insisted on spinach at every meal. She was born in the city of Florence, so spinach dishes came to be known as "Florentine".
Spinach = Super Food. Spinach is a nutritional powerhouse. It's a great source of antioxidants, Vitamin A, folic acid and even plant-based protein. Catherine might have been onto something! And Popeye too!
Greens = Financial Success It's an old tradition in the American South to cook greens at New Year's. Do that, the old-timers say, to guarantee financial success in the year ahead.
The Incredible Shrinking Spinach. A pound of raw spinach makes for one big pile of spinach leaves! But once trimmed of stems and tough ribs and cooked, even briefly and whether sautéed or steamed or microwaved, it cooks down to almost nothing, maybe two servings. Shrinkage is also the reason to add a large amount of spinach to a soup or stew, say, in batches.
Growing Spinach. We are growing spinach for the first time this year! This page is a great resource. More later!
Special Diets. Spinach is gluten-free, paleo approved, South Beach friendly, Weight Watchers friendly and Whole30 approved. (Naturally, specific preparations matter to each of these eating regimens.)
Natural Pairings. Spinach is so versatile! But I especially love spinach paired with eggs, you'll find several recipes below. It's also a natural match with cream and soy sauce.
Sources. Personal experience and accumulated learning, also the most-wonderful On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen by Harold McGee and Vegetable Love by Barbara Kafka.

OTHER FAVORITE FORMS of SPINACH
Spinach is spinach (there are, of course, different varieties) but it's just one form of the healthy food we generically call "leafy greens". See leafy greens for a list of the many forms of often-interchangeable greens.

SPINACH NUTRITION INFORMATION

What's your favorite spinach recipe? or what spinach recipe did you hope to find here? I'm always looking for new ones, especially healthy spinach recipes. Leave me a quick note in the comments or via recipes@kitchen-parade.com! ~Alanna




HEY SPINACH LOVERS! WHAT SOUNDS GOOD?
~ A Few Highlights ~


SPINACH: BASIC HOW-TO TIPS & TECHNIQUES
How to make creamed spinach without causing a heart attack
How to make pesto with spinach instead of basil
How to flash cook spinach to eat later

NOT ALL SPINACH IS EQUAL: CHOOSE THE RIGHT COOKING TECHNIQUE
Baby Spinach – Small, tender leaves too tender for cooking, best eaten raw.
"Mature" Spinach – Cook larger, just slightly less tender spinach leaves very briefly by steaming; sautéing; even just by tossing into other hot ingredients (e.g., hot pasta or hot eggs or hot soup).
Heavy-leaved Spinach – Heavy leaves can withstand long-cooking like southern-style greens.
Frozen Spinach – Thaw and squeeze first, needs actual cooking not just heating.

HOW TO WASH SPINACH
Bags of prewashed spinach – Refresh the spinach with a quick rinse in a salad spinner, especially if eating raw
Loose spinach – Often can be used as-is or quickly refreshed in a salad spinner
Spinach bundles – Must be washed well, lots of grit attaches to the leaves! Soak the spinach in warm (not hot) water for a few minutes to loosen the dirt. For extra-dirty leaves from the farmers market, especially curly spinach, rinse each leaf under running water and then soak and drain again. For small bundles, I use the basket and base of the salad spinner, soaking the spinach and draining the water two or three or some times even four times until the water is clear. For large bundles, I use a large colander inside a large stainless steel bowl.

FAVORITE RECIPE COLLECTION
No collection yet, this is my reminder!

NEW to Spinach? TRY THESE FIRST
Kitchen Parade recipes
Spinach Salad with Fruity Vinaigrette, Fresh Fruit & Maple-Glazed Pecans

A Veggie Venture recipes
Easy Spinach Nests
Lasagna Soup with Fresh Spinach
Orzo with Spinach
Sweet Potato Curry with Red Lentils, Roasted Peppers & Spinach

CLASSIC RECIPES for Spinach
Kitchen Parade recipes
Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing
Spinach Soup with Perfect Hard-Cooked Eggs

A Veggie Venture recipes
Healthy Creamed Spinach
Spinach Casserole
Spinach Ricotta Gnocchi with Creamy Tomato Sauce

READER FAVORITES!
Kitchen Parade recipes
Chicken Burgers with Fresh Spinach, Feta and Garden Tzatziki Sauce
Shrimp with Tomatoes, Spinach & Feta

A Veggie Venture recipes
Asian Greens
Creamy Spinach with Artichokes
Crustless Quiche with Greens & Garden Vegetables
Easy Spinach Nests
Greek Greens (Flash Cook to Eat Later)
Green Smoothies

PERSONAL FAVORITES
Kitchen Parade recipes
Asian Chicken Salad
Shrimp with Tomatoes, Spinach & Feta
Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Vinaigrette

A Veggie Venture recipes
How to Make a Spinach Omelet
Lentil, Pepper & Spinach Supper
Orzo with Spinach
Spin Dip Baked Eggs

FAVORITE SIMPLE SEASONAL SUPPERS
Winter Chickpeas with Tomatoes, Spinach & Feta
Spring Chicken Burgers with Fresh Spinach, Feta and Garden Tzatziki Sauce
Summer Asian Chicken Salad
Fall Turkey Florentine

BEST Spinach Recipes for THANKSGIVING
A Veggie Venture & Kitchen Parade recipes
Leafy Greens for Thanksgiving

BEST Spinach Recipes for MEATLESS MONDAY
Kitchen Parade recipes
Greens & Grits

A Veggie Venture recipes
African Pepper, Tomato & Spinach Stew
Sweet Potato Curry with Red Lentils, Roasted Peppers & Spinach

BEST Spinach Recipes for WEIGHT WATCHERS
Kitchen Parade recipes
Chicken Greek Salad

A Veggie Venture recipes
Healthy Creamed Spinach
How to Make a Spinach Omelet
Satisfying Lunch in One Point
Spinach with Roasted Pepper
Spring Garden Vegetable Soup with Asparagus, Artichokes, Peas & Spinach



SPINACH SPECIALTIES


Spinach CASSEROLES
Kitchen Parade recipes
Bacon & Egg Breakfast Bake
Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole
Roasted Veggie Enchilada Casserole

A Veggie Venture recipes
Creamy Spinach with Artichokes 30min/75min – WW2 – PP2 – NetCarb4
Gratin of Greens 20min/2hrs – WW3 – PP3 – NetCarb3
Greek Spinach-Asparagus-Potato Gratin (Spinaki me Sparaggia Orgraten) 2hrs/3hrs – WW5 – PP6 – NetCarb6
Noodles with Sour Cream 15min/50-75min – WW10 – PP11 – NetCarb37
Spinach & Artichoke Gratin 45min/65min – WW1 – PP2 – NetCarb3
Spinach Casserole 15min/60min – WW6/WW7 – PP6/PP8 – NetCarb7

FRIED Spinach Recipes
No recipes yet, this is my reminder!

PICKLED Spinach Recipes
No recipes yet, this is my reminder!

RAW Spinach Recipes
Please see Spinach in SMOOTHIES & Spinach in SALADS, just scroll down

ROASTED Spinach Recipes
No recipes yet, this is my reminder!

PRESERVING Spinach for LATER
A Veggie Venture recipes
Greek Greens (Flash Cook to Eat Later) 15min/20min

MAGICAL MARRIAGES: Spinach with EGGS, a FAVORITE COMBINATION
A Veggie Venture recipes
Baked Eggs in Cream with Spinach 15min/45min – WW5 – PP5 – NetCarb2
Creamed Eggs with Spinach 20min/20min – WW5 – PP5 – NetCarb8
Easy Spinach Nests 10min/25min – WW5 – PP5 – NetCarb5
How to Make a Spinach Omelet 15min/15min – WW4 – PP4 – SP5 – NetCarb2
Spin Dip Baked Eggs 20min/30min – WW4 – PP5 – SP6 – FS4 – NetCarb5




SPINACH in EVERY COURSE
~ Even Breakfast! Even Dessert! (Um.Sorry.Not.Dessert.YET.) ~


Spinach for BREAKFAST
Kitchen Parade recipes
Bacon & Egg Breakfast Bake
Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole

A Veggie Venture recipes
Baked Eggs in Cream with Spinach 15min/45min – WW5 – PP5 – NetCarb2
Easy Spinach Nests 10min/25min – WW5 – PP5 – NetCarb5
How to Cook Eggs in a Coffee Cup in the Microwave 10min/10min – WW6 – PP6 – NetCarb10
How to Make a Spinach Omelet 15min/15min – WW4 – PP4 – SP5 – NetCarb2
Spin Dip Baked Eggs 20min/30min – WW4 – PP5 – SP6 – FS4 – NetCarb5
Spinach Pancakes 20min/20min – WW1 – PP2 – NetCarb11

Spinach in SMOOTHIES
A Veggie Venture recipes
Green Smoothies 10min/10min – WW2/WW3 – PP3/PP4/PP5 – NetCarb21/26/33/36
Make-Ahead Smoothies 10min/10min – WW3 – PP2 – NetCarb16

Spinach in APPETIZERS
Kitchen Parade recipes
Herbed Goat Cheese
Spinach Dip
Spinach Puffs

A Veggie Venture recipes
Spinach, Artichoke & Bacon Dip 20min/1hr – WW1 – PP2 – NetCarb2
Spinach Dip with Standing Veggies 15min/1day – WW1 – PP1 – NetCarb1
Spinach Pinwheels with Pears & Dried Cranberries 55min/24hrs – WW1 – PP1 – NetCarb5
Weight Watchers Spinach Dip 15min/2hrs – WW2 – PP2 – NetCarb2

Spinach in BREADS
A Veggie Venture recipes
Spinach Pancakes 20min/20min – WW1 – PP2 – NetCarb11
Spinach "Jelly Roll" Pancake 10-20min/40-50min – WW3 – PP3 – NetCarb16

Spinach in SALADS
Kitchen Parade recipes
Spinach Salad with Fruity Vinaigrette, Fresh Fruit & Maple-Glazed Pecans
Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing
Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Vinaigrette

A Veggie Venture recipes
Red & Green Warm Spinach Salad 40min/40min – WW3 – PP4 – NetCarb4
Satisfying Lunch in One Point 5min/5min – WW1
Spinach with Cottage Cheese and Canned Beets
Tuscan Bean Salad 15min/15min – WW4 – PP5 – NetCarb13

Spinach in SIMPLE SIDE DISHES (HOT)
Kitchen Parade recipes
Ontario Greens

A Veggie Venture recipes
Asian Greens 15min/30min – WW0 – PP1 – NetCarb2
Cabbage with Winter Pesto 5min/20min – WW2 – PP4 – NetCarb15
Creamy Spinach or Beet Greens with Roasted Beets 10min/15min – WW3 – PP3 – NetCarb11
Greek Greens (Flash Cook to Eat Later) 15min/20min
Greens & Stems with Mustard 15min/20min – WW0 – PP1 – NetCarb2
Greens with Sour Cream 25min/25min – WW4 – PP5 – NetCarb9
Healthy Creamed Spinach 15min/15min – WW2 – PP2 – NetCarb5
Lemon & Honey Glazed Spinach 20min/20min – WW1 – PP2 – NetCarb6
Lemon Spinach 10min/20min – WW4 – PP5 – NetCarb3
Lime Spinach 10min/20min – WW1 – PP1 – NetCarb3
Orzo with Spinach 10min/30min – WW3 – PP4 – NetCarb14
Quick Spinach with Currants & Pine Nuts 10min/10min – WW2 – PP2 – NetCarb2
Spinach Curry 15min/15min – WW1 – PP2 – NetCarb10
Spinach with Nutmeg 5min/15min – WW0 – PP2 – NetCarb6
Spinach with Roasted Pepper 10min/15min – WW1 – PP1 – NetCarb4

Spinach in SOUPS
Kitchen Parade recipes
Lucky Black-Eyed Pea Soup
Meatball Soup with Broccoli Rabe
Salmon Chowder
Sausage & Kale Split Pea Soup
Spinach Soup with Perfect Hard-Cooked Eggs
Turkey Orzo Soup with Lemon & Spinach

A Veggie Venture recipes
Curried Red Lentil Soup 30min/24hrs – WW4 – PP5 – NetCarb26
Homemade Minestrone Soup 35min/1hr – WW2 – PP3 – NetCarb18
Lasagna Soup with Fresh Spinach 30min/45min – WW3 – PP4 – NetCarb13
Spring Garden Vegetable Soup with Asparagus, Artichokes, Peas & Spinach 20min/24hrs – WW1 – PP2 – SP3 – NetCarb6
Yellow Squash Soup with Spinach: Early Autumn Leaves in Soup 25min/40min – WW1 – PP2 – SP2 – NetCarb8

Spinach in SANDWICHES, WRAPS & MORE
Kitchen Parade recipes
Chicken Veggie Quesadillas

A Veggie Venture recipes
Spinach Burgers 15min/90min – WW4 – PP5 – SP4 – NetCarb1
Veggie Burritos with Cilantro Sauce 30min/30min – WW3 – PP4 – NetCarb19

Spinach in MAIN DISHES (SALAD SUPPERS)
Kitchen Parade recipes
Asian Chicken Salad
Chicken Greek Salad
Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing
Tropical Salad Supper with Tropical Pork Tenderloin

Spinach in MAIN DISHES (VEGETARIAN)
Kitchen Parade recipes
Crockpot Lasagna
Greens & Grits
Personal Pan Lasagna
Roasted Veggie Enchilada Casserole
Winter Pesto with Pasta

A Veggie Venture recipes
African Pepper, Tomato & Spinach Stew 10min/15min – WW3 – PP4 – NetCarb11
Chickpeas with Tomatoes, Spinach & Feta 25min/45min – WW4 – PP6 – NetCarb25
Creamed Eggs with Spinach 20min/20min – WW5 – PP5 – NetCarb8
Crustless Quiche with Greens & Garden Vegetables 35min/60min – WW3 – PP4 – NetCarb6
Lentil, Pepper & Spinach Supper 20min/50min – WW3 – PP3 – NetCarb13
Low-Carb Skillet Supper 10min/25min – WW5 – PP2 – NetCarb8
One-Pot Pasta with Greens, Olives & Feta 20min/30min – WW6 – PP5 – NetCarb7
Spinach & Feta Quiche 55min/2hrs – WW7 – PP8 – NetCarb22
Spinach Ricotta Gnocchi with Creamy Tomato Sauce 60min/4hrs – WW5 – PP6 – NetCarb13
Sweet Potato Curry with Red Lentils, Roasted Peppers & Spinach 30min/1/4/8hrs – WW4 – PP5 – NetCarb31
Veggie Burritos with Cilantro Sauce 30min/30min – WW3 – PP4 – NetCarb19

Spinach in MAIN DISHES (WITH MEAT)
Kitchen Parade recipes
Asian Chicken Salad
Chicken Burgers with Fresh Spinach, Feta and Garden Tzatziki Sauce
Chicken Greek Salad
Chicken Veggie Quesadillas
Italian Sausage with Grapes & Greens
Shrimp with Tomatoes, Spinach & Feta
Tropical Salad Supper with Tropical Pork Tenderloin

A Veggie Venture recipes
Spinach Burgers 15min/90min – WW4 – PP5 – SP4 – NetCarb1
Swagman Stew 25min/4hrs – WW6 – PP6 – NetCarb10
Turkey Florentine 25min/60min – WW8 – PP9 – NetCarb9

Spinach in SAUCES
Kitchen Parade recipes
Green Mayonnaise
Winter Pesto with Pasta

Spinach in SWEETS & BAKING
No recipes yet, this is my reminder! Who knows?! I have my eye on a spinach cake!

RECIPES using CANNED or FROZEN Spinach
Kitchen Parade recipes
Bacon & Egg Breakfast Bake
Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole
Spinach Puffs

A Veggie Venture recipes
Healthy Creamed Spinach 15min/15min – WW2 – PP2 – NetCarb5
Spinach Casserole 15min/60min – WW6/WW7 – PP6/PP8 – NetCarb7
Spinach, Artichoke & Bacon Dip 20min/1hr – WW1 – PP2 – NetCarb2
Turkey Florentine 25min/60min – WW8 – PP9 – NetCarb9



MOVING BEYOND THE STOVE & OVEN


Spinach on the GRILL
A Veggie Venture recipes
Grilled Beets, Greens & Beans

Spinach in the MICROWAVE
No recipes yet, this is my reminder!

Spinach in the SLOW COOKER
Kitchen Parade recipes
Crockpot Lasagna

A Veggie Venture recipes
Sweet Potato Curry with Red Lentils, Roasted Peppers & Spinach 30min/1/4/8hrs – WW4 – PP5 – NetCarb31

Spinach in the STOVETOP SMOKER
No recipes yet, this is my reminder!



A Veggie Venture is home of spinach lover fiend and 'veggie evangelist' Alanna Kellogg and the
famous asparagus-to-zucchini Alphabet of Vegetables.
© Copyright Kitchen Parade 2005 – 2018




Alanna Kellogg
Alanna Kellogg

A Veggie Venture is home of "veggie evangelist" Alanna Kellogg and the famous asparagus-to-zucchini Alphabet of Vegetables.

Comments

  1. Than you for the education and recipes for spinach. It was on sale at the grocery store and I bought alt of frozen chopped since it is weight watchers friendly and good for you.I look forward to making some of the recipes you have listed.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks, Shelia! It’s definitely a continuing obsession of mine! FYI this week I remade the Lentil, Pepper and Spinach Supper and it was SO good, I think it would be good with frozen spinach too, just be sure to thaw it well and squeeze out all that excess liquid. Let me know what works for you! PS And good luck with your WW journey!

    ReplyDelete

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Thank you for taking a moment to write! I read each and every comment, for each and every recipe, whether a current recipe or a long-ago favorite. If you have a specific question, it's nearly always answered quick-quick. ~ Alanna