Spinach is a dark green leafy vegetable wonder that people—especially kids—either love or hate. I was firmly in the love camp even before ever tasting spinach, thanks to all those afternoons spent watching Popeye the Sailorman after school. So imagine my profound surprise and disappointment when I finally had the chance to down a healthy portion of uncooked canned spinach, Popeye-style, because I thought that was the only proper way to eat it. Let’s just say I’ve come a long way since then.
Spinach is such a versatile vegetable, enjoyed cooked or raw, and is packed with so many things that are good for you. It’s usually available all year, but its peak season is right about now, when beautiful bundles of these green leaves adorn tables at many local farmers markets.
So let’s talk about this nutritional powerhouse today! Tell us:
Do you have any favorite tips for growing, buying, storing, or cooking spinach?
I love throwing a handful of spinach into my morning smoothies, and find that using a bit of fresh apple cider helps mask the sometimes-metallic taste when I accidentally add too much spinach. I also love creamed spinach, and though it’s typically a side dish, I’ll happily make a meal of it. Same goes for spinach just lightly sautéed with good oil and lots of garlic. And spinach salad? I can feast on that for days.
How about you? Any favorite spinach recipes? Or tips on the best way to store this delicate vegetable? Have any advice for growing or buying spinach? Funny or memorable stories about the first time you had it? Were you, like me, completely duped by Popeye? Come share below!
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Patricia @ ButterYum on 4.18.2015
We love eating fresh baby spinach in salads, but I almost always have a box or two of frozen spinach on hand to make bite-size cheesy spinach egg cups (I’ll post the recipe on this site soon). They’re so good.
kay43026 on 4.17.2015
I had spinach growing up…but only in the summer, fresh from my mother’s garden. She always made a hot bacon dressing and used lots of bacon & hard cooked eggs. Even though I now use spinach in my morning smoothies, frittatas, in pasta dishes and creamed as a side dish…a spinach salad with a hot dressing is still my favorite way to eat it.
I buy the triple-washed in a plastic container. If the spinach stems are too long/big I’ll rip them off and just use the tender leaf part.
Eliza J on 4.16.2015
I did not even remotely like spinach as a child. As an adult I love it in salad and definitely a good sized handful in a smoothie I make every morning to take to work with me. When I was younger the only spinach at the grocery store was the big leaf spinach….the smaller spinach is so good raw and in special recipes ~ the bigger leaves are great for steaming. Spinach is awesome and so good for you!
Shawna C on 4.16.2015
I always have baby spinach on hand. I make salads out of it (balsamic vinagrette, strawberry or apple chunks, grape tomatoes, roasted almonds, dried cranberries, cooked chicken if I’ve got it) and chuck it into soups and pasta and use it as a pizza topping. My kids like it raw and unadorned so I don’t have to sneak it into things, but I also chop it fine and incorporate it into ground-meat dishes like burgers, meatballs, and meatloaf.
Sue In FLA on 4.16.2015
I use spinach both raw and cooked, but I always wash it at least twice before we eat it. I don’t rely on the package “triple washed” label or ready to eat. I know it is washed when I wash it.
Lucia K on 4.16.2015
Spanikopita, yum. Flaky filo leaves brushed with melted butter and or good olive oil, filled with spinach, feta (or cottage cheese), egg, maybe some green onion and a bit of dill, s&p and baked till set and golden brown. IMHO, spinach doesn’t get any better than this.
easy recipes on 4.16.2015
Wow, OSOM
rinabeana on 4.16.2015
I love Great Gatsby Salad (or Tina’s Spinach Salad, as it’s known in my family). It may seem like a strange combination, but it’s delicious! My husband can’t get enough of it.
https://tastykitchen.com/recipes/salads/great-gatsby-salad/
We also love to make a spinach salad with sliced strawberries, crumbled feta cheese, and toasted walnuts (good with a raspberry vinaigrette).
As others have said, I love throwing a bunch of spinach in a soup, too.
bethb on 4.16.2015
I also buy baby spinach in the “clam shell” (organic) and it keeps well in the fridge. I use it every day mixed with romaine and other veggies for salads at lunch and add it to soups as well. It is a delicious addition to lentil, minestrone, tomato bisque, and many other soups. It’s also delicious sautéed with a little garlic and lemon olive oil. Such a versatile, delicious, and nutritious vegetable!
C. L. ( Cheryl ) "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser on 4.15.2015
I just love baby spinach and purchase it weekly from our fresh open air produce market. One favorite is Creamed Spinach Fettuccine (In my recipe box). Many types of Spinach bakes, Spinach salads using fruits. A great spinach salad with hard-boiled egg wedges and creamy bacon dressing. It is so reasonably priced and readily available I do not grow it in my gardens.
I’m on the Spinach lovin” train!!! Have a great day everyone.
AngAK on 4.15.2015
We like to throw a handful of spinach leaves into our pasta noodles. they wilt from the heat of the pasta and any sauce you put on it and makes the pasta extra nutritious. and colorful!
Mary M on 4.15.2015
I always have baby spinach in my refrigerator: I have it in a salad, mixed with other greens for supper every night. I’ve read that the baby spinach in the plastic “clam shell” packaging stores longer than the bagged because the rigid packaging protects the delicate leaves from bruising- it seems to be true.
ANother easy way to get more veggies in my diet: when I’m having a quick can of soup for supper, I microwave the soup to hot and then add a generous handful of baby spinach to the bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let it sit on the counter for a few minutes and the carry-over heat of the soup wilts the spinach perfectly, allowing it to still have some “crunch”, and making a simple bowl of soup more filling.
lauren on 4.15.2015
I love spinach….and just recently found out i’m allergic to it