Cooking

7 ways to get through your day, with the goodness of spinach

When I think of spinach, I can’t help but also think of the cartoon, Popeye the Sailor Man. I was part of a generation where he reinforced the notion that the green goodness of spinach was healthy for us and represented strength and making good choices.

I’ve always been someone that has enjoyed eating spinach. This vegetable has commonly been referred to as a superfood and I include baby leaf spinach in salads. I also really enjoy it in cooked meals as it provides a depth that really adds interest to many meals. One of my mums famous dishes is her Egyptian Molokhia, a hearty and healthy stew served over rice. Some also refer to it as a soup, and it was a common meal in our household. Try it for yourself!

For me, spinach, garlic, onion, tomatoes and lemons are great companions, working together to deliver the most amazing and intense flavour combinations. Like peas in a pod, they work hand in hand and just epitomise comfort food.

Spinach is so versatile and can be eaten from breakfast, through to dinner. Below I have gathered a few breakfast, lunch and dinner options to get you through your day, with a nutritious and delicious spinach dish.  

Here are 7 ways to make spinach taste great:

1. Breakfast – There’s no better way to start the day, than with a healthy and nutritious breakfast that includes fresh spinach, providing you with energy to tackle the day ahead. This Breakfast toast with sunny-side-up eggs and lots of greens looks delicious. I’ve never thought to include snow peas at breakfast, but I plan to try it. I’ve often had this breakfast with smoked salmon on sourdough bread and served with hollandaise sauce. Yum!
2. Smoothies – It’s amazing how satisfying a smoothie can be. Quick to make and delicious to drink, check out these Celery inspired smoothies. In particular, the ‘Orange celery smoothie’ combines spinach, celery, beetroot, orange and a few other simple ingredients to deliver a nutritious boost to kickstart your day. Freeze them for a healthy snack on hot summer days - even the kids love them.
3. Light lunch – Simple meals are often the best and this Greek-style mushrooms with halloumi from White Prince Mushrooms really speaks to me. What’s not to love with spinach, mushrooms, semi-sundried tomatoes and grilled halloumi? You’ll be raiding your fridge for ingredients after seeing this one.
4. Spicy Salad – If you enjoy a little spice in your life, my colleague Harry shared his mother’s recipe for Baby spinach (Palak) salad. Featuring a combination of vegetables and fruit, this salad from India is full of spicy flavour. It reminds me of the salads my mum used to make where fruits would also feature and it’s sure to impress.
5. Rice paper rolls – Looking at Chef Glen Barratt’s recipe for Rainbow rice paper rolls with red wombok kimchi has inspired me to try creative cooking. With it’s colourful and edible flowers, do yourself a favour and take a look at how pretty this dish is. They make amazing finger food too.
6. Easy dinnerpie – This Quick and easy frittata with feta and zucchini is one I have made many times, taking the authors tip and using spinach as one of the main ingredients. It’s a winner in my house and the kids love it in their lunchboxes. You can make it as a large pie for dinner, or cook it in muffin tins for easy lunchbox snacks. Either way, it’s a dish that won’t disappoint.
7. Simple salad – I love ginger and this Spinach, mango & avocado salad with ginger dressing from family growers Schreurs and Sons based in Melbourne, delivers with a quick and easy salad that is simply divine!

I could go on and on about spinach and all the recipes you could try. It’s an amazing vegetable. For more great recipe ideas, type your vegetable or cuisine in the search bar or check out Salapedia.