Italian Sautéed Baby Spinach

Italian Sautéed Baby Spinach recipe is a super fast and easy side dish perfect next to all kinds of meats. Made with minced garlic, olive oil and parmesan cheese. Such a fun way to eat your greens.

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In my years of supporting clients with their weight loss goals, two of the biggest challenges with vegetables were the need for quick preparation and boredom with eating the same veggies over and over.

I always completely understood because I can’t tell you how easy it was for me to slip into a pattern of always buying and preparing the same veggies.

If I didn’t stay on top of my menu planning, I would become insanely bored and then I would cheat like nobody’s business.

Also, who isn’t constantly on the go nowadays?

Some of my favorite veggie based recipes, that I can always count on for being quick and healthy are Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich, Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry, Egg Roll In a Bowl, Veggie Loaded Taco Casserole and this Wilted Spinach Recipe. 

 

How To Make Sautéed Spinach with Garlic and Parmesan 

1. Add oil to a large frying pan. Place over medium/low heat. 
2. Add minced garlic and red chili pepper flakes (optional). Cook until garlic becomes aromatic and starts to bubble, about 2-3 mins. 
3. Add in 1/3 of spinach and sauté until just beginning to wilt.
4. Continue working in batches sautéing until all spinach is wilted. 
5. Turn off heat and stir in parmesan cheese. Salt and pepper to taste. 

What to Serve With Italian Sautéed Baby Spinach

This Spinach Side Dish goes great next to all kinds of meat dishes such as:

• Best Rib Eye Steak Recipe
• Mom’s Classic Meatloaf 
• Greek Chicken
• Cherry Chicken
• Rosemary Lamb Chops
• Crispy Baked Pork Chops  

How to Make a Sautéed Spinach Recipe That Isn’t Bitter

Here are a few tricks to help avoid bitter spinach:

• Use Baby Spinach– Since baby spinach is harvested earlier than regular spinach it tends to be sweeter, tender and smaller in size, allowing it to cook faster.
• Don’t Over Cook– Cooking until just wilted helps to control bitterness.
• Use Citrus– To brighten up the side dish use a little lemon or orange juice.

Wilted Spinach Calories

If divided into four servings, there are approximately 206 calories per serving. 

Low Calorie Sautéed Spinach

To lower the calories to 93 calories per serving (recipe divided into 4 servings), lower the olive oil to 2 tablespoons and eliminate the parmesan cheese. Replace the removed oil with 2 tablespoons water or lemon juice. 

What To Do With Leftover Italian Spinach 

Use leftover spinach by serving cold with grilled fish or chicken, or add at the last minute to pasta dishes such as Tomato Caper Pasta, Simple Angel Hair Pasta or Gnocchi Asparagus and Mushroom Skillet. 

More Fun Spinach Recipes 

Simple Creamy Farfalle Pasta with Spinach

Easy Weeknight Spinach Pesto Gnocchi

Festive Orange Spinach Salad

Bacon Belly Button Pasta Salad