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The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving) | |
---|---|
84 | Calories |
8g | Fat |
3g | Carbs |
2g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 4 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 84 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 8g | 10% |
Saturated Fat 1g | 3% |
Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
Sodium 344mg | 15% |
Total Carbohydrate 3g | 1% |
Dietary Fiber 2g | 6% |
Protein 2g | |
Calcium 86mg | 7% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
For this recipe, you'll start with fresh spinach leaves. You can use baby spinach if you prefer. Find these in the grocery store or at a farmers market in season, or even better—from your garden. Be sure to wash the spinach well to remove any sand or grit.
Even if your family or guests often turn up their noses at this healthy green, they may discover how wonderful spinach is when cooked quickly and perfectly seasoned. It is as far from slimy boiled canned spinach as you can get. The fat and calories are also far less than in creamed spinach, which is often offered as a vegetable side for steak.
This simple Chinese-style spinach stir-fry with garlic pairs nicely with steak. You can also enjoy it with grilled chicken, rice, or noodles. It has a bit of sweet and a bit of spice to blend with the bite of the garlic.
Click Play to See This Spinach Stir Fry Recipe Come Together
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons peanut oil (or vegetable oil)
- 1 teaspoon garlic (minced)
- 1/4 teaspoon chile paste (or to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 10 ounces fresh spinach (rinsed and dried)
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- Optional: black pepper (to taste)
Steps to Make It
-
Gather the ingredients.
The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck -
Preheat the wok and add the peanut oil, swirling so that it comes about halfway up the sides of the wok.
The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck -
When the oil is hot, add the minced garlic, chile paste, and salt. Stir for a few seconds until the garlic is aromatic.
The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck -
Add the spinach and stir for 1 to 2 minutes, until the leaves are almost wilted.
The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck -
Stir in the sugar and toasted sesame oil. (Note: If you don't already have the sugar and sesame oil measured out, move the wok to a cold burner while you do so, and then return it to the heated burner).
The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck -
Sprinkle the spinach with a bit of black pepper if desired. Serve immediately.
The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
Tips
- You can make this recipe in either a wok or a frying pan, and the directions would be the same. You can use a heavy-bottomed frying pan interchangeably with a wok. If you use a nonstick frying pan, you can reduce the oil a bit.
- Garlic spinach will go with a wide variety of cuisines. You can refrigerate any leftovers and reheat them in the microwave. Leftovers can easily be added to noodle and rice dishes or used in an omelet the next morning.
- As always, how much seasoning to add comes down to personal preference. Feel free to reduce the amount of salt and/or garlic if desired, or to increase the amount of spinach to 12 ounces. Of course, if you’re a fan of garlic you can always add more.
What Does Wilt Spinach Mean?
When heat is applied to a tender, leafy green like spinach, it begins to break down and lose some of its water, also known as wilting. The spinach goes from crisp, perky leaves to a tender, cooked vegetable. Raw spinach is often used in salads, and cooked spinach can be found in soups, stir-fries, and other hot dishes.
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