K’s Kitchen: Spinach becomes star of dish
By Kathryn Reed
Lately I’ve been having a hankering for fresh spinach. Anyone who grew up watching “Popeye” knows it will make you stronger.
While I haven’t noticed any bulging biceps, I do know this green leaf is good for me. It is full of iron, which in turn gives me energy. It has a number of other health benefits too because it is full of vitamins.
But like any food, its nutritional value also has a lot to do with how it is cooked or what is added to it. Spinach salads are great for you depending on the dressing. Cooked spinach goes in the bad category with too much butter or cream.
I like buying a large quantity and doing a variety of things with it.
The recipe below would probably be a side dish for most people, but as a vegetarian it was my entrée. If using brown rice, it will take longer to cook. I’ve also messed up following the directions, so it’s OK if the rice is cooked in the broth. The amount of spinach will depend on your preference or how much you have.
Spanakoriso (spinach and rice)
1 pound, or less fresh spinach
1 C uncooked rice
2 medium onions, minced
8 garlic cloves, minced
2 bay leaves
2 C vegetable broth
2 T tomato sauce
½ C olive oil, or less
Salt and pepper
Sauté onions, garlic and rice in olive oil until the onions are soft and golden.
Add tomato sauce and stir.
Add bay leaves, salt and pepper. Mix well and then add broth. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes.
Add spinach and cook another 25 minutes.
Sounds good, Kae. So I can find this in the frozen food section of what store?
Or would it be in the Deli department? I don’t need to have everything frozen.
Kae, Uncooked spinach is great in a salad. I’ve grown it for two years now. My Mom used to boil it up and it was gross! Copper you might be able to find freh spinach at Grass Roots altho it might be hard to find fresh this time of year. OLS
Hey, Guys, the fresh vegetable dept of any grocery store will have lots of fresh spinach. Look in the bagged salad section. It comes prewashed even, so you don’t have to work at getting all the sand out! Easy peasy, all year ’round!
Dogula, You’re right, just checked the fridge and there’s a boxed of pre cut boxed lettuce with some baby spinach in it that Catlapper bought.
Also your name came up in conversation yesterday with one of the neighbors, about how much you get picked on here. Even tho I don’t agree with the whole libertarian thing, I don’t like anybody being ridiculed and insulted no matter what their political position is.
Do I like far right conservatives? No. But I try to put my dislike and disagreement into a tone that does’nt offend, insult or result to getting down to personal attacks.
Be good and get ready for planting! Old Long Skiis
Thanks, OLS. I think in real life we’d be friends, even if we don’t agree on everything. Who does??
Enjoy your spinach!
I look forward to trying this. I’ve had good success with cooking rice (usually brown) in quantity — undercooking it slightly actually. I then freeze it in Ziploc bags in meal sized quantities, where if forms the basis of lunch or a dinner side once or twice a week. This recipe could easily be based on my pre-cooked rice.
Thank Kae, it sounds yummy. Will try it. Thank you for all you do to keep us healthy with a full tummy.