The Ins And Outs of Cooking Spinach

Whether cooking spinach or eating it raw, it's important to learn how to clean and prep this yummy veggie. Why? Because although spinach is one of those vegetables that we all seem to despise as kids, somewhere along the way we fall in love with it.

The spinach season runs from March-May and again from September-October. Although you can usually find it all year round, it's at its best and prettiest during these months.

How To Select Spinach

Step 1: Choose organic spinach whenever possible since it is a card-carrying member of The Dirty Dozen that must be purchased organic due to its high pesticide content.

"But organics are dirty. Ewwww!"

Please remember, this is a GOOD THING! So many of us have gotten used to buying totally clean and perfectly sanitary produce. Believe it or not, that commercial produce you've been purchasing that looks so pretty is in all actuality weak and sad due to the poisonous pesticides and herbicides it has grown up with

Plus, organics are ALIVE and filled with nutrients, which is your purpose to eating in the first place, right? Don't worry, we'll clean that spinach to perfection.

When choosing Spinach, be sure to examine the leaves -- they should be large and full. Avoid bunches that have leaves that are riddled with tears and holes, which could suggest it is out of season, or has been mishandled.

How To Clean and Prep Spinach

Step 2:Fill a bowl (or a Salad Spinner, as I have done here) with clean, filtered water and add 2-3 Tablespoons of Lemon Juice, or any other edible acid, such as Vinegar. This will help to clean your Spinach more thoroughly. Don't skip this step -- it's very important as the acidic properties will help to kill any little critters that may be in your LIVE NUTRIENT PACKED spinach.

Step 3: Pinch off the leaves at the top of the stem. Discard stems.

Step 4: Soak the leaves in the water/lemon juice mixture for at least 5 minutes.

Step 5: Drain.

Step 6: Rinse. This veggie has a reputation for being fairly dirty, so you will most likely have to rinse and drain a couple more times until the water is clear.

Step 7: Spin dry. If you don't have a Salad Spinner, I highly recommend you get one as it will become indispensable to you.

Otherwise, you can drain thoroughly and lay out on paper towels to air dry. Or simply use it immediately.

Now you can begin the short process of cooking spinach or you can use it raw. However, you may want to chop it first. Here's a simple way to accomplish this.

Step 8: To chop: It's easier to chop the Spinach when it's gathered in a bit of a roll. So just grab a handful and roll it together -- it doesn't have to be perfect! Run the knife through the length of the roll of spinach. This will cut the roll in half the long way.

Step 9: Next, make cuts into the spinach along the width for bite-sized pieces.

Your Spinach is ready to go!

Cooking Spinach

Boiled Spinach
The best technique when you need to purée your spinach or when you want to mimic (thawed) frozen spinach...

Puréed Spinach
Used often in Indian food and for making baby food...

Sautéed Spinach
My 2nd-favorite way to enjoy this tender and tasty veggie...

Or Eat Your Spinach RAW
My all-time favorite way to eat raw spinach is in this amaaaazing Spinach Salad...

Spinach Vegan Flavor Matches

Create your very own vegan spinach recipe with some of your favorite ingredients from this list of foods that match perfectly with spinach.

Allspice
Bacon, meat-free (I like Fakin' Bacon. Eat sparingly; this is not a health food)
Bell Peppers, especially red
Braggss Liquid Aminos
Brown rice syrup
Butter, non-dairy (I like Earth Balance)
Cardamom
Carrots
Cheese, non-dairy
Chili peppers (such as jalapeno)
Chives
Cream, non-dairy
Cumin
Curry
Extra-virgin olive oil
Garlic
Ginger
Horseradish
Leeks
Lemon
Lemongrass
Mint
Mushrooms
Mustard
Nutmeg
Nuts (especially almonds, walnuts and pine nuts)
Olives
Onions, all
Oranges
Pepper, black
Raisins
Seeds (especially pumpkin)
S our Cream, non-dairy
Soy
Sucanat (or other dry sweetener)
Tarragon
Tomatoes
Vinegar (especially red and wine)
Yogurt, dairy-free

Psssst...Get ALL the Flavor Matches found throughout VeganCoach.com all in one place with this handy dandy e-book Your Guide To Vegan Flavor Matches.

CLICK HERE TO ASK A QUESTION
ABOUT COOKING SPINACH

• Raw spinach makes delicious salads, yes. But you can lightly wilt spinach in a small pan of water with a lid, then add to sandwiches and wraps, mashed potatoes, quiches, potato pancakes, just about any savory dish that could use a touch of the rich, hearty flavor of spinach.
• The smaller and flatter the spinach, the more tender. The larger and wrinkly the spinach, the more tough and bitter.
• Spinach builds blood due to its rich iron and chlorophyll content. It also helps with mooooove things along in the bowel department.

Discover the Nutritional Value of Spinach

World's Healthiest Foods.com

If You Like Spinach Try...

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