For the month of November we are featuring the almighty spinach! It’s no wonder Popeye raved about this veggie, it’s delicious and good for you.
The four basic types of spinach are Savoy, Flat, Semi-Savoy and Baby. Savoy has dark green, crinkly and curly leaves, and is the type sold in fresh bunches or prewashed bags. Flat-or smooth-leaf spinach has broad, smooth leaves that are easier to clean than Savoy, This type is often grown for canned and frozen spinach, as well as soups, baby foods, and processed foods. Semi-savoy is a hybrid variety of flat-leaf and Savoy, with slightly crinkled leaves. It has the same texture as Savoy, but it is not as difficult to clean. Baby spinach is of the flat leaf variety and is usually no more than 3 inches long.
Spinach should have crisp leaves with a dark green colour. Avoid spinach that is wilted or yellowed. Spinach is available in bunches, plastic containers, bags, frozen or canned.
If you purchased spinach in a bunch, remove any rubber bands or twist ties before storing. Wrap loosely in paper towel and store in a perforated plastic bag. Spinach purchased in a plastic container or bag can be stored as purchased.
Spinach will need to be washed well. Packaged spinach is usually prewashed but it is still best to wash it again. Fill a bowl with cold water swish the leaves around until clean. This may have to be done a couple times to ensure that all the sand is removed, especially with Savoy spinach. If the spinach stalks are thick, best to remove them before using.
Spinach is delicious in a salad but just as good added to a casserole. Don’t be surprised when you’re cooking spinach though, due to its high water content it shrinks quite a bit. Before adding cooked spinach to a dish, you should try to squeeze out as much of the water as you can.
Spinach is in season from May to October but is available in-store all year round. A cup of spinach has only 7 calories. It’s a good source of Vitamin A, is extremely high in Beta-carotene and Vitamin K.
Here are some of our favourite spinach recipes:
Slow cooker mushroom and spinach stew: This recipe fills your slow cooker with a deliciously simple stew that’s perfect for dinner!
Pasta with lots of green veggies and boursin sauce: This is a way to fill your table with lots of healthy flavours in a total hurry.
Mushroom and spinach braid: A fun way to showcase more veggies to your family with pizza dough!
Spinach and tomato huevos rancheros: Fresh vegetable salsa with a hint of heat is a wonderful way to enjoy eggs. Easy to make for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
What are your favourite spinach recipes?
