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–+ servings
Sautéed Spinach with Pine Nuts and Garlic – vegetarian recipe
Stav Kogan

Sautéed Spinach with Pine Nuts and Garlic

This Sautéed Spinach with Pine Nuts and Garlic transforms a simple leafy green into a sophisticated, nutrient-packed side that's bursting with nutty, garlicky flavor. It's the perfect, elegant accompaniment to pasta, roasted veggies, or your favorite plant-based protein.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4 serving
Calories: 207

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 cup (35g / 1.23 oz) pine nuts
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml / 1 fl oz) extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 2 pounds (900g / 31.7 oz) fresh spinach, washed and stems removed
  • 1/2 teaspoon (3g / 0.11 oz) salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 lemon, cut into wedges for serving
  • To avoid gritty spinach, submerge the leaves in a large bowl of cold water, swish them around, and let them sit for a minute. The grit will sink to the bottom. Lift the spinach out of the water rather than pouring it into a colander.
  • Watch your garlic carefully! It can go from perfectly fragrant to burnt and bitter in a matter of seconds. Sauté it just until you can smell it, then immediately add the spinach to cool the pan down.
  • For a touch of sweetness and texture, add a tablespoon of golden raisins along with the pine nuts. For a little heat, sprinkle in a pinch of red pepper flakes with the garlic.

Method
 

  1. In a large, dry sauté pan over medium heat, gently toast the pine nuts, stirring frequently until fragrant and lightly golden, about 2-3 minutes. Immediately remove them from the pan and set aside to prevent burning.
  2. In the same pan, heat the extra-virgin olive oil over medium heat.
  3. Add the finely chopped garlic and cook until it sizzles and becomes fragrant, about 30-60 seconds. Be careful not to let it brown or it will become bitter.
  4. Add about one-third of the spinach to the pan. Use tongs to toss it in the oil until it begins to wilt. As it cooks down and creates space, add the remaining spinach in batches, tossing continuously.
  5. Once all the spinach has wilted, stir in the toasted pine nuts, salt, and a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper.
  6. Cook for another minute until everything is heated through.
  7. Transfer to a serving dish and serve immediately with fresh lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over the top.
  8. Don't be alarmed by the mountain of fresh spinach! It cooks down to about one-sixth of its original volume. A good rule of thumb is to plan for at least a half-pound of raw spinach per person.

Nutrition

Calories: 207kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 8gFat: 16g

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