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Spinach Ideas? Help!
Started
by Nikki
on August 10, 2012
I've been vegan for a little over 3 years and I'm trying now to be a healthy vegan. I want a more whole diet with less processed yuckiness in it than I'm accustomed to. Generally, this isn't too difficult. My usually diet consists of mostly tofu and rice anyway, so it's not too big of a change.
Anyway, my question is, does anyone have anymore creative (read: simple) ways to use frozen spinach. It's too soft to add to my salads, so I want some good ways to incorporate it into my diet. I already toss it into my breakfast burritos (made with tofu, garden picked veggies, and maybe a couple bacos), which is great.
As a side question, any better ways to keep it from being all soggy? I don't buy fresh because it gets expensive because I can never eat it fast enough, so frozen is my best option. It's cut leaf, if that makes any difference.
Thanks!
Hi Nikki, I've never cooked with frozen spinach before but I guess once thawed you can use it the same as fresh. I like it best flash fried: I add a little olive oil to the pan and cook chopped garlic and onions and once cooked add the spinach just long enough for it to soften but not be completelyh wilted/soggy and then add salt and pepper. I like the combination of cooked spinach and mushrooms to add on quinoa, couscous, pasta dishes, etc. I also like to throw spinach into mexican dishes: in a daiya quesadilla or scrambled with tofu and other veggies and wrapped as a burrito.
Hey Nikki!
Firstly, not sure how you thaw your spinach, but a good way to start (if you don't already do this) is strain it really, really, really well in a fine mesh strainer, then wrap it in a paper towel, followed by a tea towel and SQUEEZE your little heart out! You'll be amazed at how much water comes out. This keeps it from being so soggy and now you can actually flake it apart.
I use fresh spinach mainly, but some suggestions for getting a little variety could include: adding it to smoothies, on top of pizza, pastas, rice dishes, bean dishes, frittatas, skillets, soups, stews... I'd say throw that stuff on everything!
You might even create a nice habit with spinach that you'll get yourself using a full batch of the fresh stuff before it goes bad.
Hope that helps you use it up a little more and get some awesome green variety into your already stellar diet.
I buy fresh spinach & separate it into small freezer bags because me & my daughter are the only ones to eat it out of a house of four. It keeps just as long & isnt compacted <3 spinach! but all the above idea are exactly what i do, especially burrito's!
I use frozen spinach in smoothies all the time (and Kale too as Katerina suggested). I also throw it in pasta sauce, saute it, put it on pizza, put it in soup and chili.
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