Sauteed Spinach
A side dish that’s quick to prepare? CHECK. A side dish that’s loaded with nutrients? CHECK. A side dish that uses minimal ingredients? CHECK. A side dish that’s mild enough in flavor to pair with just about anything? CHECK. Sauteed Spinach checks all of these boxes and then some! For this reason, we simply adore this healthy veggie side.
Did you know that one cup of raw spinach is only 7 calories, contains nearly a gram of protein along with other vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, vitamin A, and folate? Equally as good, this vegetable is incredibly versatile. You can enjoy it raw, you can cook it, you can blend it into smoothies, you can bake it into chips - and so much more!
Today, we’re sharing with you a recipe so simple that it almost feels silly even calling it a “recipe” (but it’s also too good not to share!). Sauteed spinach is about as easy of a vegetable side as there is. With just 3 ingredients (plus some salt & pepper), you’ve got a superfood side dish that compliments virtually any protein out there! So, the next time that bag of spinach in the fridge is looking like it might be fixing to wilt but you don’t have time to turn it into a salad or a smoothie, just toss a pan on the stove and fire this one up in a matter of minutes!
For those following MRC Menus, this recipe makes ½ serving. You could absolutely double it and make one full serving out of it (we just find that sometimes 8 oz. of raw spinach can be A LOT). For those enjoying just the half serving, here are some other ideas for completing your veggie and healthy fat serving at your meal:
- Vegetable - Pair with a half serving of cauliflower rice
- Vegetable - Pair with a side salad
- Vegetable - Add a half serving of blistered cherry tomatoes
- Healthy Fat - Top with a half serving of toasted walnuts
- Healthy Fat - Top with a half serving of crumbled bacon
- Healthy Fat - ELIMINATE the olive oil (this will free up your healthy fat for another meal). Instead dry fry the garlic for about a minute, add broth to the pan, and saute the spinach in broth instead of oil. Note: you only need just enough broth to release the garlic and keep the spinach from sticking to the pan; so a few tablespoons should do the trick!
Our recipe below is written for 1 for convenience, but you can easily double, triple, or quadruple this recipe to feed 4. The preparation instructions remain the same whether you’re cooking for 1 or for 4. Just keep in mind that you may need a larger pot or add the spinach leaves in batches after a little bit cooks down. Ingredients for 4 can be found at the bottom of this recipe.
Ingredients for 1:
- 4 oz. spinach leaves
- 1/2 TBSP olive oil
- 1 clove of garlic, sliced or minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions:
- Heat a saucepan or pot over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the garlic and saute for 30-60 seconds, until fragrant.
- Add the spinach and cook for a few minutes until the spinach has wilted, stirring occasionally (or tossing with tongs works, too). Remove from heat, season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve warm.
Makes 1 Serving | Serving Size: entire recipe | One Serving Replaces: ½ vegetable, ½ healthy fat
Ingredients for 4:
- 16 oz. spinach leaves
- 2 TBSP olive oil
- 4 cloves of garlic, sliced or minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Looking for other ways to incorporate fresh spinach in your meals? Give these other healthy recipes a try!
- Roasted Pork Loin with Spinach, Peppers, and Mushrooms
- Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Avocado, Spinach, and Cheddar Scramble
- Spinach Artichoke Casserole
