Simple Sautéed Spinach

From EatingWell: September/October 2008 — Subscribe Now!

Sautéed spinach (or any greens) with garlic and a squeeze of lemon (or vinegar) is a simple formula that lets spinach shine and will never go out of favor.

6 servings, about 1/2 cup each

Active Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Nutrition Profile

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
20 ounces fresh spinach, (see Note)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Preparation

Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until beginning to brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Add spinach and toss to coat. Cover and cook until wilted, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and add lemon juice, salt and crushed red pepper. Toss to coat and serve immediately.

Tips & Notes

Note: Baby spinach is immature or young spinach—it's harvested earlier than large-leaved mature spinach. We like the sturdy texture of mature spinach in cooked dishes and serve tender, mild-flavored baby spinach raw or lightly wilted. Baby and mature spinach can be used interchangeably in these recipes (yields may vary slightly); be sure to remove the tough stems from mature spinach before using.
Weights & Measures:
10 ounces trimmed mature spinach=about 10 cups raw
10 ounces baby spinach=about 8 cups raw

Nutrition

Per serving: 68 calories; 5 g fat (1 g sat, 4 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 4 g carbohydrates; 3 g protein; 2 g fiber; 172 mg sodium; 540 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (180% daily value), Folate (46% dv), Vitamin C (45% dv), Iron & Potassium (15% dv).

Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1 fat