Sautéed spinach

A whole bag of spinach becomes one serving in four minutes.

  • Lazy AF
  • Vegan
  • Gluten-free
  • Mediterranean
  • Side
  • Vegetables
  • Low carb
  • Keto
  • Superfood
Hands-on
7 min
Total time
10 min, show breakdown
  • Prep 3 min
  • Cook 4 min
  • Clean up 3 min
Pans
1
Ingredients
4
Cost/serving
$2.40

Per serving

Calories
120
Protein
4.6 g
Fiber
3.4 g
Net carbs
3.4 g
Fat
9.6 g

High in (% Daily Value per serving): Vitamin K 608%, Vitamin A 78%, Folate 73%, Vitamin C 50%, Vitamin E 29%, Magnesium 28%, Iron 23%, Riboflavin (B2) 22%, Vitamin B6 20%

Full nutrition facts, vitamins and minerals. All nutrition is estimated; check your own labels.

Already vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free.

Ingredients for 1

Tap an ingredient for other units and forms.

  • 150 g baby spinach

    Same amount as: 5¼ oz, about 5 cups.

  • 2 tsp olive oil (9 g)

    Same amount as: 10 mL.

  • 1 clove garlic, smashed (3 g)

    Same amount as: 1 tsp fresh minced garlic, ½ tsp jarred minced garlic, ⅛ tsp garlic powder.

  • 1 tsp lemon juice (5 g)

    Same amount as: 5 mL, ⅛ lemon squeezed from fresh lemons.

  • salt, to taste

Find alternative ingredients

Quantities are for 1 serving. For more than 300 g of spinach, use your biggest pan and add it in more rounds.

Nutrition Facts

1 serving per recipe

Serving size 1 plate (167 g raw)

NutrientPer serving% DV*Whole recipe
Calories120
Total fat9.6 g12%
Saturated fat1.3 g7%
Cholesterol0 mg0%
Sodium274 mg12%
Total carbohydrate6.7 g2%
Dietary fiber3.4 g12%
Total sugars0.8 g
Net carbs†3.4 g
Protein4.6 g9%
Vitamin D0 mcg0%
Calcium154 mg12%
Iron4.2 mg23%
Potassium854 mg18%
Vitamin A704 mcg78%
Vitamin C45 mg50%
Vitamin E4.3 mg29%
Vitamin K730 mcg608%
Thiamin (B1)0.12 mg10%
Riboflavin (B2)0.29 mg22%
Niacin (B3)1.1 mg7%
Vitamin B60.33 mg20%
Folate292 mcg73%
Vitamin B120 mcg0%
Magnesium120 mg28%
Zinc0.83 mg8%
Selenium1.9 mcg4%

Estimated, not verified. These numbers are calculated from typical ingredient data and haven't been checked against a lab or your brands. Check the labels of what you buy and confirm anything that matters to you, especially sodium, sugar and allergens.

* % Daily Value shows how much one serving adds to a 2,000-calorie day. † Net carbs is not on US labels; it is total carbs minus fiber, allulose, erythritol and half of other sugar alcohols. "To taste" amounts are counted as written. Counted items (eggs, cloves, spoons) use the rounded amount shown in the ingredient list. Vitamins and minerals are from raw ingredients; cooking lowers some, especially vitamin C and folate. How this is calculated.

Steps

  1. Slice the garlic thin.

  2. Heat the oil in the pan on medium for 1 minute. Add the garlic and stir for 30 seconds.

    Done looks like: Garlic smells strong and is just turning pale gold.
  3. Add the spinach a big handful at a time, turning it with the spatula until each handful wilts.

  4. When it has all collapsed (about 2 minutes), turn off the heat. Add the salt and lemon juice.

    Done looks like: Dark green and glossy. No dry leaves left.

Equipment

Large frying pan or skillet, 30 cm (12 in) $25–60

What to look for

  • Wide flat base so food cooks in one layer
  • Stainless steel or cast iron for high heat

Skip: Woks on flat electric stoves; they do not heat evenly there.

Silicone spatula $5–12

What to look for

  • One-piece (no seam where the head meets the handle)
  • Stiff enough to scrape, safe on non-stick

Skip: Wooden spatulas for non-stick pans; they work but do not scrape as cleanly.

What goes wrong

WhatCauseFix
Watery puddleCooked too long, or too much spinach for the pan.Tip the pan and leave the water behind when you serve.
Bitter garlicGarlic went brown.Add the spinach as soon as the garlic turns pale gold.

Notes

Allergies: removing an allergen from the recipe does not remove it from your kitchen or from other products. Check labels for "may contain" warnings.