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Baby Spinach with Garlic and Olive Oil

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How to Make the Best Baby Spinach with Garlic and Oil


The spinach in my garden has been growing by leaps and bounds.  After a few short weeks I was ready to harvest the first crop from my newly planted raised vegetable bed to make my favorite baby spinach with garlic and oil side dish.

Baby Spinach
Baby Spinach

Doesn't it look pretty?  Armed with my trusty kitchen shears, off I went to snip my bounty.


Harvesting Baby Spinach


Wow, I thought.  All these little leaves really add up! 


Baby Spinach from the Garden
This Looks Like a lot of Spinach

Not so much.  That large colander full of spinach leaves was only 7.25 ounces by weight.  That's an average sized bag from the grocery store.


Baby Spinach
Baby Spinach

It's enough for me to make a tasty serving of baby spinach with garlic and olive oil.  Yes, this is a simple dish, but I can't think of a better way to use a fresh harvest of baby spinach.  If you don't have spinach growing in your garden or in a large pot on your deck you can easily find it at your local grocery store.

Baby Spinach with Garlic and Olive Oil

Baby Spinach with Garlic and Oil
Sauteed Baby Spinach Ingredients
Serves 1-2 adults

  • 8 ounces of spinach, washed and drained
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • pinch red pepper flakes
  • pinch grated nutmeg
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions
First rinse your spinach well in a bowl of cool water.  Since I had just picked mine from the garden I rinsed and drained it three times.

You'll want to remove most of the moisture from the spinach leaves.  The best way to dry your spinach is with a salad spinner.


Use a Salad Spinner
Spin the Spinach Dry

You have one of these salad spinners don't you?   If not, put one on your wish list because once you have one you'll wonder how you managed without one for so long.   There are many kinds of salad spinners available, but I'm partial to the OXO salad spinner.  I've had mine for a long time and it still works perfectly.

Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.  Add the red pepper flakes and garlic.  Cook for approximately one minute being careful not to brown the garlic.  Add the spinach all at once.   Using two spatulas, toss the spinach  to distribute the oil and garlic.  Cover the pan for one to two minutes until the spinach wilts.  Stir and sprinkle with a pinch of nutmeg.  Stir to distribute the nutmeg.


Wilted Spinach
Wilted Spinach

Serve and enjoy.



Baby Spinach Ready to Eat


You don't need a garden to enjoy sauteed baby spinach.  Visit your local grocery store or farmers market.  Spinach is in season so it is a great time to enjoy it.

My first spinach of the growing season...Y-U-M-M-Y!

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Comments

  1. ginMay 15, 2011 at 8:10 AM

    Oh Donna this looks divine! I am always looking for new things to do with my spinach and I even think I can get my husband to eat this! Plus, I'm forwarding this post to my mom, who has a garden full of spinach as well. I know she'll appreciate a new recipe with her favorite veggie!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Meg O.May 15, 2011 at 1:07 PM

    This looks incredible, and even more so since it is from your garden!! I would love to do something like that when I eventually get a house.

    ReplyDelete

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