How to Prepare Fresh Spinach

Fresh spinach can be so tasty and invigorating…I can’t help but think of Popeye whenever I think of spinach!

The difference is that Popeye ate his spinach out of a can, while I prefer to prepare spinach fresh…

In fact, I bet many people who don’t like spinach are used to that soggy, slimy spinach they ate out of a can as kids.

When prepared fresh, spinach has tender leaves and naturally savory flavor. It goes wonderfully in wraps, dips, soups and just about anything else.

You can find fresh spinach at the health food store or farmers market. Like with the other greens, look for young, small leaves… We’re not the only ones that like spinach so check for areas where bugs might have had a snack.

And please resist any temptation to buy canned spinach…it is simply not the same!

Not that you’ve purchased your fresh spinach, here’s how to prepare it…

First, wash the spinach thoroughly and trim off the ends. You can stop here and just eat it raw if you wish…it’s actually delicious! (You may want to cook it before eating it, though, if the acidity irritates your tongue like it may do with chard.)

If you want to steam your fresh spinach, don’t cook for longer than 5 minutes and use as little water as possible. To cook in a skillet, on medium heat, add a little safflower oil and don’t cook for longer than 3 minutes.

You can chop fresh spinach up and eat it in a salad or prepare a fresh spinach wrap. I think spinach is wonderful with things like tomatoes and cucumbers.

If you haven’t liked spinach in the past, try preparing it fresh. You may turn over a new leaf (pardon the pun) and find that you really enjoy fresh spinach!