Easy 15-Minute Fresh Sautéed Spinach with Garlic
Who knew sautéed spinach with garlic could taste so good? This quick and easy fresh spinach recipe is a delicious green side dish. It has an extra kick of flavor from olive oil, garlic, onion, a dash of crushed red pepper and lemon. Plus it can be ready in 15 minutes or less!
Servings 4
Calories 81kcal
Ingredients
- 1 lb. fresh baby spinach
- 1 1/2 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
- 2 teaspoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Heat oil in large pot over medium heat.
- Add onion and sauté 2-3 minutes until onion starts to turn translucent.
- Add garlic and stir a minute longer until garlic is aromatic but not brown.
- Add spinach, salt, and pepper and stir to coat spinach in oil. Continue stirring every 30 seconds until spinach is wilted (about 4-5 mins). Do not continue cooking once spinach is done wilting. Immediately remove from heat.
- Add lemon juice and red pepper flakes (if desired) and stir. Adjust salt level if needed. Transfer to a serving dish with a slotted spoon to drain out the juices and serve.
Notes
- Use a slotted spoon to move the spinach onto a serving plate or bowl since it releases a lot of excess water when cooking.
- If using mature spinach, chop any big spinach leaves that are larger than hand sized once or twice to make it easier to eat and remove stems.
- Always wash your spinach! Ideally use a salad spinner and cold water. This way you can rinse using the bowl part, then the colander portion and then spin it all dry. You can also rinse in a colander and pat dry with kitchen towels. Even pre-washed baby spinach should be rinsed but you won’t need to be as thorough with it.
- You can use this cooked spinach in any recipe that calls for frozen, just leave out the lemon and crushed red pepper.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and microwave before eating.
Nutrition
Calories: 81kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 237mg | Potassium: 663mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 10654IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 120mg | Iron: 3mg