Spinach
Cooked spinach delivers an earthy flavor, perfect in many dishes.
Flavor profile
Aroma: fresh, grassy
Good to know
Origin: Persia (modern-day Iran)
Forms: fresh, frozen, baby
Storage: Refrigerate fresh spinach in a sealed bag, consuming within a few days.
How to use spinach
Spinach's Gentle Fall
Heating breaks cell walls, softening texture and shedding oxalic acid.
Spinach Smooth Operator
Blend spinach for nutrients without overpowering your smoothie.
What goes with spinach
- Garlic. Garlic's sulfur tones counter spinach's earthy notes.
- Paneer. Spinach's earthy greens and paneer's mild milk flavor make palak paneer, a classic.
- Cream. Cream's fat coats spinach, softening its bite.
- Feta. Salty feta seasons mild spinach, as in Greek spanakopita.
- Nutmeg. Nutmeg adds warmth to spinach's earthy flavor.
- Lemon. Lemon's acidity perks up spinach, providing a bright contrast to its earthy taste.
- Pine Nut. Spinach's mildness counters pine nut's natural sweetness.
- Ricotta. Spinach's earthiness provides a leafy counterpoint to ricotta鈥檚 cream.
- Chickpea. Spinach's mineral, slightly bitter greens balance chickpea's creamy starch.
- Lentil. Spinach adds mineral greenness to earthy lentils in dal.
Mistakes to avoid
- Too much heat turns spinach leaves to mush.
- Leftover water messes with flavor and texture.
Ideas for tonight
- Spinach salad with nuts
- Creamed spinach
- Spinach and cheese omelette
Spinach: questions
What does spinach taste like?
Cooked spinach delivers an earthy flavor, perfect in many dishes., with an aroma that is fresh, grassy.
What goes well with spinach?
Spinach pairs best with garlic, paneer, cream, feta, nutmeg. Garlic's sulfur tones counter spinach's earthy notes.
How do you use spinach in cooking?
Spinach's Gentle Fall: heating breaks cell walls, softening texture and shedding oxalic acid.
How should you store spinach?
Refrigerate fresh spinach in a sealed bag, consuming within a few days.
What is the most common mistake with spinach?
Too much heat turns spinach leaves to mush.
