Recipe Sifter

Malfatti (Italian spinach and ricotta dumplings) with Parmesan, nutmeg, and melted butter. Lighter than gnocchi and ready in 30 minutes. The key is squeezing every drop of water from the spinach.

Rolled spinach tea sandwiches with lemon-dill butter and fresh black pepper. Elegant no-cook finger food made with crustless white bread, perfect for parties.

Italian-style sauteed spinach with olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, and a pinch of sugar. A simple side dish cooked in the water clinging to the leaves, with optional Parmesan.

Mushroom Florentine casserole layers chopped spinach, cream of mushroom soup, and sliced mushrooms with a crunchy savory topping. A 5-ingredient weeknight side that bakes in 20 minutes.

Lightened-up single-serving Boston clam chowder built on chicken broth and low-fat milk instead of cream, with leek, celery, red potato, canned clams and a handful of shredded spinach folded in at the end. Ready in about 30 minutes.

Crisp spinach salad tossed with water chestnuts, mung bean sprouts, hard-boiled eggs, and crispy bacon in a sweet-tangy dressing. Make the dressing a day ahead to let the flavors meld.

Overnight layered salad with chicken, spinach, lettuce, cheddar, and radishes sealed under a tangy mayonnaise-mustard dressing. Make it the night before and toss to serve.

Oysters au champagne is a classic French appetizer: fresh oysters poached in champagne and oyster liquor with garlic butter, plated over a bed of wilted spinach, and cloaked in a silky roux sauce.

Oysters Rockefeller, the New Orleans classic appetizer with fresh oysters on the half shell topped with a rich spinach, scallion, and anchovy butter and broiled hot.

Beer-battered fried oysters served in their shells over spinach chiffonade with mango remoulade. A tropical Cajun-Creole appetizer that turns heads at any cocktail party.

Parmesan cheddar grits pudding baked with spinach, green onions, cream, and eggs until golden on top. A rich Southern casserole that's part grits, part savory custard.

Mushroom and spinach casserole sautees fresh mushrooms in butter, then bakes with creamed spinach, cream of chicken soup, and a buttery crouton crust. Crowd-pleasing party side or potluck bake.

Pasta salad with chopped spinach, daikon, red grapes, and a guar-gum-thickened raspberry-honey-mustard dressing. A fat-free dressing that coats like oil without the calories.

Pasta shells Florentine stuffed with a spinach, mozzarella, cottage cheese, and Parmesan filling seasoned with nutmeg, baked under spaghetti sauce. A vegetarian stuffed shell dinner that's easy to assemble ahead of time.

Pasta with spinach pesto made from fresh spinach, pine nuts, Parmesan, garlic, and olive oil pureed smooth. A milder, more affordable twist on traditional basil pesto that freezes well for up to 6 weeks.

Creamy spinach pesto dip with Parmesan, walnuts, basil, and garlic blended with sour cream. No cooking required, ready in 5 minutes flat.