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What goes with spinach? Learn the best ingredient pairings, meal ideas, popular flavor combinations, and other helpful tips.
Knowing what goes well with spinach gives you a starting point for putting meals together using the ingredients you already have on hand.
This helps inspire you to create something new or add your own spin by using something outside of these common flavor pairings. Learning to cook this way builds kitchen confidence.
First things first.
What Is Spinach?
Spinach is a leafy green plant in the Amaranth family along with beetroot and chard. There are three main types of spinach:
- flat-leaf – smooth, spade-shaped leaves that are tender and slightly sweet in flavor
- savoy – crinkly dark green leaves with a crisp texture
- semi-savoy – similar to savoy but not as crinkled in texture
Flat-Leaf Spinach
Flat-leaf spinach is the most popular spinach in the United States and is what you’ll find at supermarkets. It’s sold either loose or in a pre-washed package and is best eaten raw. Baby spinach is simply just flat-leaf spinach that’s been picked in the early stages of growth so the leaves are small, tender, and sweet.
Savoy Spinach
Savoy spinach is usually sold in fresh bunches near other refrigerated vegetables at the supermarket. It has a slightly bitter flavor which is why it’s best used for cooking instead of eating raw.
Semi-Savoy Spinach
Semi-savoy spinach leaves have semi-crinkly leaves (which makes them easier to clean than savoy) but have the same crisp texture. They’re also sold in bunches in the refrigerated section near the other vegetables and have the best flavor when cooked.
Helpful Tips
WHEN TO BUY
Spinach is in season year-round. Peep the seasonal produce guide to see what else is in season right now.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Look for fresh spinach leaves that have a dark green color and crisp texture. Avoid any bunches or containers with wilted, yellow-spotted, or slimy leaves.
STORAGE
Store fresh spinach in a container in the refrigerator or in the crisper drawer for 5-7 days.
HOW TO PREPARE
Spinach can be boiled, sautéd, steamed, stir-fried, or eaten raw. Although it can be blanched, it tends to lose most of its flavor in the water.
Make sure to wash spinach well. Even if it says that it’s been triple washed, it sometimes still has dirt that got left behind. Run it through a salad spinner to remove any extra sandiness.
What Goes With Spinach?
Vegetables
- chard, collard greens
- fennel
- garlic, ginger
- mushrooms (esp shiitake)
- onions (esp sweet)
- potatoes
- scallions, shallots, sorrel
Fruit
- apples
- lemon
- quince
- tomatoes
Spices
- cayenne, cumin, curry
- mustard seeds
- nutmeg
- paprika (esp sweet), pepper (black & white)
- red pepper flakes
- saffron, salt (kosher, sea)
Herbs
- basil, chives, dill, lovage, marjoram, mint, parsley, thyme
Nuts & Seeds
- almonds
- pecans, pine nuts
- sesame seeds
- walnuts
NON-DAIRY/DAIRY
Protein
- anchovies
- bacon
- chicken (esp grilled), crab
- eggs (esp hard-boiled)
- fish
- lamb (esp grilled)
- pancetta, prosciutto
- shrimp, smoked salmon
- tuna
Pantry Items
- chickpeas
- dijon mustard
- lentils
- olive oil
- pasta
- raisins
- soy sauce, stock, sugar (pinch)
- tabasco sauce
- vinegar: balsamic, apple cider, red wine, rice wine, sherry
Popular Spinach Food Pairings
- bacon + garlic + onions + apple cider vinegar
- bacon + walnuts
- cumin + garlic + lemon + yogurt
- fennel + parmesan cheese + portobello mushrooms + balsamic vinegar
- feta + lemon juice + oregano
- garlic + mushrooms
What to Make With Spinach
Spinach is a commonly used ingredient in French, Indian, Italian, and Japanese cuisines. It’s also a popular ingredient in sauces, dips, salads, and smoothies.
Recipes That Use Spinach
Spinach can easily be added to so many things to get extra greens in such as savory galettes, risotto, and pesto, as well as added to smoothies like my mango kiwi smoothie or in a variety of dishes such as healthy breakfast hash, butternut squash lasagna, dairy-free spinach artichoke dip, and frittatas.
More Ingredient Pairings
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