How to Cook Spinach

It’s Popeye’s favourite food and, with all its health benefits, it’s one of ours too. Even though spinach is versatile and easy to cook, there’s a few tips and tricks you can use to ensure you’re getting the best out this great vegetable every time.

The first thing you need to do is to cut off the spinach roots. Clip those long stems from the spinach leaves with a pair of kitchen scissors. Most of the soil and grit comes from there, so doing this at the beginning will make the washing process much simpler.

In order to avoid rinsing each spinach leaf individually under the tap, which can be quite annoying when we’re handling large quantities, grab a handful of spinach and plunge it into a large basin with cold water until fully submerged. Give the leaves a gentle shake, and soak for between five to ten minutes to allow the remaining dirt to settle to the bottom of the basin.

There's nothing worse than grit in spinach! Pick the spinach leaves out of the cold water by hand; do not drain them because the settled dirt will mix in with the leaves. Place the spinach leaves in a colander and set aside and when ready to use pat dry with a paper towel.

Once the spinach is washed, wilt it in just 2 tablespoons of water with the lid on. Drain the cooked spinach and add some Stork Margarine to serve. If you prefer to steam it, the procedure is pretty much the same, but you should allow it to cook for 3-4 minutes. You can also enjoy spinach raw in salads or added to stir fries. For a great tasting creamed spinach, cook in a frying pan with some onions, milk, a Knorr Vegetable Stock Pot, a dash of cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg.

To create a wonderful creamed spinach soup, cook some finely diced onion and some chopped garlic cloves in a little olive oil on medium heat until the onions are softened, which will take about 2-3 minutes. Turn the heat on medium low and add the washed and dried spinach. Sauté the spinach with the onions and garlic for 2-3 minutes but don’t overcook otherwise your spinach will lose colour.

Add some cream and one Knorr Chicken Stock pot to the spinach and bring it to the boil. When it comes to the boil remove quickly from the heat and transfer to a blender for the perfect, flavour packed soup.

For an idea of how spinach can be used to accompany your favourite dish, take a look at our recipe for Garlic and Rosemary Roast Chicken with Creamy Spinach. The crispiness of the chicken skin is perfectly complemented with soft, creamy spinach made with cream cheese, Knorr Vegetable Stock Pot, crushed garlic and onion. Delicious!