When you Microwave Spinach, you get a tasty, nutritious side dish in minutes!
I often wonder why my skin has not turned green yet. After all, I rarely skip a day of eating spinach. Most mornings, you can find it in my smoothie or sautéed and piled on top of some over-medium eggs. If I do not consume spinach at breakfast, you can place odds that I will have a spinach salad at lunch or cooked spinach with dinner. That’s why I love this microwave spinach recipe: it makes it possible to have a healthy side dish on the table in almost no time flat.
Ever wonder about the different types of spinach you might find in the produce aisle at the grocery store? I did a little digging. The three varieties most regularly sold in groceries in the U.S. are flat-leaf spinach, crinkled-leaf (savoy), and semi-savoy hybrids. Baby spinach leaves often fall under the flat-leaf variety, at least at my local stores. Microwaving time is less for delicate baby spinach leaves than for full-grown leaves.
If you’re searching for a quick spinach recipe, this is what you want. Although you may get visions of Kermit singing “It’s not easy being green,” I guarantee you it’s pretty easy to eat green.
Is Microwave Spinach Healthy?
Spinach is loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, including vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K1, iron, fiber, and folic acid. It’s also a super low-calorie food comprised of over 90% water, making it great for volume eating. That’s why you can pack a skillet full of raw spinach leaves and be left with next to nothing after they cook down.
This simple side dish is also great for a number of diets, including Paleo, Whole30, low-carb, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan.
What’s The Best Cooking Method For Spinach?
If your goal is to preserve the nutrients in your spinach, you’ll want to stick with steaming or microwaving. Sautéing and blanching are good methods as well, but you’ll want to avoid leaving the greens on the heat for too long. The key is to just cook the spinach through and then remove it. Boiling your spinach can leach out many of the water-soluble vitamins within (like vitamin C), so you get less nutritional bang for your buck.
How Do I Store Leftovers?
It’s best to eat spinach right away after microwaving it, but you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. If you want to freeze the cooked spinach, let it cool completely in the fridge before portioning it into freezer-safe containers or plastic baggies. You can then use the frozen spinach in other recipes in the future.
Serving Suggestions
Microwave spinach can be served with just about anything as a simple, healthy, and quick side dish. Plate it up alongside entrées such as this Juicy Grilled Chicken Breast, some Air-Fryer Fish, or an Oven-Cooked Top Sirloin Steak. You can round out the plate with some nutritious sides for a full meal, like these Roasted Brussels Sprouts And Sweet Potatoes or some Roasted Zucchini And Squash. Eating healthy never tasted so good!
Ingredients
- 10 ounces fresh spinach
- 2 teaspoons garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 lemon wedge for squeezing
Instructions
- Rinse the fresh spinach thoroughly under cold water.
- In a microwave-safe dish, combine the washed spinach (do not dry it), minced garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss well to coat the spinach evenly.
- Cover the dish with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap. Microwave on high for 3 minutes, or until the spinach is wilted and hot.
- Drain any excess liquid. Squeeze lemon juice over it, and serve.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
Great !
Thanks Laura!