Wondering what to do with spinach? This guide covers how to pick it, cook it, store it, and swap it, plus 913 recipes to put it to work.
What is spinach?
Spinach is an edible flowering plant in the family of Amaranthaceae. It is native to central and southwestern Asia.
Nutrition
Spinach has a high nutritional value and is extremely rich in antioxidants, especially when fresh, steamed, or quickly boiled.
It is a rich source of vitamin A (and especially high in lutein), vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, magnesium, manganese, folate, betaine, iron, vitamin B2, calcium, potassium, vitamin B6, folic acid, copper, protein, phosphorus, zinc, niacin, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids. Recently, opioid peptides called rubiscolins have also been found in spinach.
Polyglutamyl folate (Vitamin B 9 or folic acid) is a vital constituent of cells and spinach is a good source of folic acid, but boiling spinach can more than halve the level of folate left in the spinach, but microwaving does not affect folate content.
Vitamin B9 was first isolated from spinach in 1941.
Iron
Spinach, along with other green leafy vegetables, is considered to be a rich source of iron.
The iron in spinach is poorly absorbed by the body unless eaten with vitamin C and calcium. The type of iron found in spinach is non-blood (non-heme), a plant iron, which the body does not absorb as efficiently as blood (heme) iron, found in meat.
Calcium
Spinach also has a high calcium content. However, the oxalate content in spinach also binds with calcium, decreasing its absorption. Calcium and zinc also limit iron absorption. The calcium in spinach is the least bioavailable of calcium sources. By way of comparison, the body can absorb about half of the calcium present in broccoli, yet only around 5% of the calcium in spinach. Oxalate is one of a number of factors that can contribute to gout and kidney stones.
Types of Spinach
Savoy has dark green, crinkly and curly leaves. It is the type sold in fresh bunches in most supermarkets. One heirloom variety of savoy is Bloomsdale, which is somewhat resistant to bolting.
Flat/smooth leaf spinach has broad smooth leaves that are easier to clean than savoy. This type is often grown for canned and frozen spinach, as well as soups, baby foods, and processed foods.
Semi-savoy is a hybrid variety with slightly crinkled leaves. It has the same texture as savoy, but it is not as difficult to clean. It is grown for both fresh market and processing. Five Star is a widely grown variety and has good resistance to running up to seed.
Types of spinach
Specific kinds of spinach and the recipes that use them.
Frozen spinach is spinach that has been washed, blanched and then flash frozen.
Frozen vegetables have some advantages over fresh ones, in that they are available when the fresh counterpart is out-of-season, they have a very long shelf life when kept in a freezer, and that they often have been processed a step or more closer to eating.
In many cases, they may be more economical to purchase than their fresh counterparts. Since they are already cooked, and will likely be cooked more once they enter the household, they are believed to be more sanitary than fresh vegetables.
Baby spinach is just regular spinach picked young, before the leaves toughen up.
The leaves are small and tender, sweet rather than mineral, with stems thin enough that you never have to trim them. Most of what you buy comes triple-washed in a bag or clamshell, ready to eat straight from the package. That convenience is the whole point.
Where mature spinach can be gritty and needs stemming, baby spinach goes from bag to bowl with no prep at all. The flavor is sweeter and grassier, without the bite older leaves develop. For everything else about the green, see spinach.
Here’s another healthy breakfast recipe that we’ve created for Fertility Road magazine. For those that are short on time in the morning, this quick and simple smoothie recipe is the perfect fertility boosting breakfast option.
A vibrant, nutrient-packed salad featuring fresh spinach, crispy bacon, tender hard-boiled eggs, and peppery radishes, all tossed in a creamy garlic-cheese dressing with a zesty lemon kick. Perfect as a hearty side or light main dish
A hearty, layered casserole combining tender macaroni, savory tomato sauce, creamy spinach-cheese filling, and melted cheddar. Perfect for family dinners or meal prep. Much easier than a lasagna with just as much punch.
Eggs are simply poached with chickpeas and spinach. This can be a hearty breakfast or a quick and easy light meal. Super simple and one-pan preparation makes it perfect for a snappy weeknight meal or weekend brunch.
Fresh spring spinach simply dressed with olive oil and umami-packed ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan and pine nuts with pasta to make it a simple yet sophisticated picnic friendly salad.
If you’re looking for a green smoothie recipe that’s nutritious and delicious then this is the one for you. It’s made with only 3 ingredients and the grapes give this healthy drink a real sweet taste, unlike other green smoothies that can sometimes taste quite bitter.
It makes the perfect healthy breakfast or snack!
These Eggs Florentine Cheese Cups are a satisfying, savory breakfast treat that combines the richness of cheddar and cottage cheese with the hearty flavors of spinach and ham. Freeze and reheat for a quick breakfast during the week.
Very good, made this omelet sandwiches for breakfast, and I really liked it. Quite easy to put together, and it tasted delicious. I drizzled some hot sauce before eating it over the lettuce, yum!
Spinach lasagne layers a creamy ricotta-parmesan-spinach filling with no-boil noodles and tomato sauce, all under bubbling mozzarella and Monterey jack. A vegetarian classic that skips the noodle-boiling step.
Grilled Cornish hens with a honey-cumin plum rub tucked under the skin, served on baby spinach with grilled plums and balsamic vinaigrette. A showstopping summer grill dinner.
Baked eggs nestled in a bed of spinach and cheese with texture from carrots and water chestnuts - it's a low-calorie twist on Florentine you won't want to miss! Great for a weekend breakfast that uses items one has hanging around in the pantry.
Loaded vegetable burger with corn, mushroom, peppers, spinach, carrot, and potato bound with egg white. Served with mint yogurt sauce. Vegetarian patties.
Layered egg and spinach casserole baked with crispy corn tortillas, smoky bacon, tomatoes, and melted cheese. A satisfying brunch casserole or easy weeknight dinner ready in about an hour with warm, savory, south-of-the-border flavors.
Quick, easy and delicious. The creamy potato salad was a great side dish to serve with dilly salmon, and we had all the goodness our bodies needed as well. A perfect dinner on a busy weekday.
Homemade spinach pasta dough from scratch with flour, eggs, cooked spinach, and olive oil. Kneaded by hand and cut into any shape, yielding 1 1/4 pounds of fresh green pasta.
Creamy spinach and tomato pasta sauce built from fat-free cream cheese, frozen spinach, and chopped tomatoes. A 5-ingredient weeknight dinner that comes together while the pasta cooks.
Very good! The recipe was fairly easy to make. I used miso paste and a very flavourful vegetable stock base, which gave the soup a great depth of flavour. Served soup with brown rice, and it was delicious yet filling and packed with goodness.
Easy spinach artichoke dip: spinach and artichokes baked into a three-cheese, Alfredo-based dip until hot and gooey. A warm, crowd-pleasing party appetizer for chips and bread.
Italian gnocchi with spinach and white beans topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan. Comes together quickly and hits all the right notes. An easy and delicious vegetarian dinner to make for your family.
Easy oven turkey meatballs baked then simmered in garden-style pasta sauce with carrots and mushrooms. A leaner take on spaghetti and meatballs that hides spinach right in the meatball.
Sausage and lentil soup that's even better the next day. Browned sausage, vegetables, and herbs simmered into a hearty broth, with lentils added near the end so they stay tender, not mushy.
These hearty, plant-based Lentil Sweet Potato Veggie Burgers combine earthy lentils, nutty rice, and sweet potatoes with savory mushrooms and spinach. Perfect for a wholesome meal, they’re easy to prepare and grill to a crisp, golden finish. Serve with fresh greens or your favorite toppings for a satisfying, nutrient-packed burger.
Spinach and long white radish soup: a clear beef broth scented with juniper and tarragon, loaded with daikon, potato, and spinach, brightened with lemon and turmeric. An unusual, fresh spring bowl.
This is such a flavorful salad, the vinaigrette brings all the flavors together, and the spinach, dried cranberries and cheddar cheese are perfectly delicious with this tasty dressing.
Bibimbap is my all-time favorite Korean dish, I have no problem to make it and eat it everyday :) I made this recipe a few days ago, this time I added homemade bean sprouts as well, and served it with three different kinds of homemade kimchi (cucumber, daikon and cabbage kimchi) and a fried egg as always. Delicious, that's the only word I can say every time :)
Adapted this recipe from Emeril of Foodnetwork. Bread pudding not only can be a dessert, but also a savory main dish. This bread pudding is cheesy, tasty and packed with flavors. Spinach, artichokes and swiss cheese with milk and eggs make this bread pudding delicious yet wholesome.
Tasty, easy to prepare, brandy recipe for boneless pork chops. Best with 1" thick chops, a leafy spinach salad with walnuts, rasberry vinaigrette dressing with a dash of balsimic vinegar, and a glass of dark earthy Merlot. One of my favorite discoveries.
One of the recipes we found to use up the homemade leftover chili, it came out amazingly good, nice and crispy on top, very cheesy; the chili and other several kinds of sauteed fresh vegetables were delicious mixture, which gave the lasagna huge amount of flavor.
Home made basil and spinach lasagna with home made red and white sauce, with the thousand layers juice sauce and tasty lasagna, it is a great recipe when you have company coming or a holiday dish for your family.
A Calzone is a turnover that originates from Italy. It is made of ingredients similar to pizza folded over and shaped like a crescent.
The typical Calzone is stuffed with tomato and mozzarella, and may include other ingredients usually associated with pizza toppings.
This recipe is a pleasant compromise between a salmon loaf and a spinach souffle. It does not have a strong flavor or texture of spinach, as do some cooked spinach dishes.
