Since his first appearance in 1929, Popeye, the Sailor Man, has done a huge amount of work to improve the brand image of one of our least favorite greens: spinach.
We get it; spinach is full of iron, manganese, magnesium, and vitamins. According to Popeye, it’s the secret of his strength. While it’s fair to say that eating a can of spinach is unlikely to support muscle growth, the green leaf can fight oxidative stress, support eye health, reduce the risk of breast and prostate cancer, and decrease blood pressure. So it makes sense to make spinach an essential part of your 5 veggies a day.
However, if you’ve been trying to eat spinach on most days, you’ve probably come to the unfortunate conclusion that spinach salad can get dull. Popeye might seem to enjoy his spinach straight out of the can. But, for most people, the great leaf fails to excite our taste buds. How can you make spinach delicious and enjoyable again?
Dive Into The World Of Indian Spices
Spinach tastes a little flat. Unlike peppery rocket or fragrant basil, spinach lacks a flavorsome compound to shine in a dish. However, with the help of carefully selected spices, you can turn the green leaf into a delightful meal. Take a look at the Indian cuisine that creates a tasteful palak paneer with creamy spinach sauce full of flavor.
Indian cooking typically involves onions, garlic, and ginger as a baseline for most recipes. This dish is no exception, as onions, garlic, and ginger are sautéed and combined with a blend of spices, including cumin, coriander, and mustard seed. Spinach is added to the mix before blending with yogurt to create a bright green sauce. The result is a rich, healthy recipe that looks as exciting as it tastes.
Make Your Own Spinach Quiche
Quiches are the quintessential autumnal food. They’re comforting and can pack a lot of goodness in every bite. Unlike pies encased in delicious pastry, quiches effectively combine an egg custard mix on top of a pastry shell. They are open, making them lighter and healthier. Plus, anyone struggling to use fall harvest can turn pumpkin, butternut squash, and even sweet potato into a yummy quiche filling.
Combine anything with the egg mixture and a little cheese, and you can make a yummy meal for one in a mini pie maker or for the whole family in the oven. Because quiches are the ideal experimentation meal, you can mix to your heart’s content. Quiche aficionados have plenty of smart spinach-based recipes:
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Spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, feta, and black olive for a Greek quiche
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Spinach, cured salmon, broccoli, chives, cream cheese for a Nordic taste
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Spinach, bacon, cheddar for a twist on the quiche lorraine
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Spinach, walnut, blue cheese, chicken for a rustic quiche
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Spinach, chorizo, potatoes, smoked paprika for a Spanish quiche
Frankly, the sky is the limit!
Try Korean Side Dishes
Squid Game introduced us to the Korean candy staple, Dalgona. But the most popular Korean food is banchan. Banchan are side dishes, which accompany white rice on a table. Side dishes can be vegetarian, egg-based, or contain fish and meat.
Sigeumchi Namul, the Korean spinach side dish, is a popular and easy dish that turns the bland leaf into a delicious treat. The recipe is easy as you only need to blanch the spinach and then season it with salt, minced garlic, sesame oil, and sesame seeds. Your taste buds will thank you!
Add It Into Your Favorite Pasta
The problem with spinach is that it can lack flavor. Even when you can’t add flavor, you can still make the most of its nutritional properties. Adding spinach to your dough, such as pasta dough or even pizza dough, will add a vibrant green color to your dish. You can still season the dish as you usually would without losing any of the benefits of having spinach in it.
Add It To A Smoothie
Adding a handful of spinach leaves to your smoothie will give it a fun green color. But, contrary to common belief, you can make a delicious smoothie that will not taste like spinach. Add kiwi, coconut milk, and mango for a tropical take. Pair it with peanut butter, apple, orange, and Greek yogurt for a high-protein breakfast.
Make It Part Of A Sauce
Last but not least, blanched spinach can complete a creamy sauce without being the main ingredient. With mushroom and game, it adds a new dimension to a creamy nutmeg sauce. Blended inside a homemade pesto, it adds more vitamins to your pasta dish. And sprinkled inside a tomato stew, it creates pockets of color.
It’s time to bring your spinach game to the next level. Elevate your dishes with a healthy dose of greens that packs a punch of flavors and health benefits!
What’s your favorite way to dress up spinach? Let us know in the comments below!
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