Braised Spinach Recipes

BUTTER BRAISED SPINACH

Steps:

• Wash spinach well. With water clinging to leaves place in pot and cook, covered, on medium heat, for 5 to 7 minutes or until spinach is wilted.
• Drain well, rinse with cold water and squeeze out any moisture.
• Heat butter in skillet on medium heat until sizzling. Add spinach and sauté gently until spinach absorbs butter.
• Add cream and bring to boil. Cook until cream is reduced and spinach is a thick mass.
• Season well with salt and pepper.

BRAISED SEA BASS WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat the grill to high. Put the peppers, skin side up, on a baking tray, then pop them under the hot grill for about 10 mins until the skins blister and blacken. Drop them into a bowl, cover with some cling film and leave until cool enough to handle. Peel away and discard the skins, then roughly chop the peppers.
• Heat the oil over a low-ish heat in a sturdy roasting tin or in a shallow pan that has a lid and is large enough to fit both fish. Throw in the shallots and garlic and sweat briefly until soft. Stir in the tomatoes, peppers, capers, olives and half the basil leaves, then sweat for a few mins until the tomatoes soften. Pour in the wine and tomato juice. Stir and gently simmer for 10-15 mins, adding a splash of water if the sauce becomes a bit dry.
• While the sauce is simmering, slash each side of the fish a few times. When the sauce is ready lay the fish on top, season if you want to and cover with a lid (cover with foil if you are using a roasting tray). Leave to cook on a low heat for 12-15 mins until the flesh feels firm when pressed.
• While the fish is cooking, melt the butter in a large pan, then fry the spinach until wilted, season if you like and divide the spinach between two serving dishes. Lift the fish carefully from the pan and place on top of the spinach, neatly drizzle some of the sauce round the fish, scatter the remaining basil on top and drizzle everything with extra-virgin olive oil. Serve with some ribbon shaped pasta, like tagliatelle or pappardelle, with the remaining sauce in a bowl or side dish.

BRAISED SPINACH WITH GARLIC, ONION, AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Heat a large pot or Dutch oven (it has to be large to hold spinach before wilting) over medium-high heat.
• Heat 1-2 Tbsp olive oil, and saute onion until translucent.
• Add garlic, and continue cooking until onion just begins to brown around the edges, but garlic is not browning.
• Add spinach, with just the water clinging to the leaves, adding by handfuls as the spinach wilts and makes room for more, until all of the spinach is incorporated.
• If desired, drain the rendered juices from the pan before continuing.
• Season with nutmeg, lemon zest and juice, salt, and pepper, to taste, continuing to toss spinach until it is just wilted, but still bright green.
• Stir in toasted pine nuts, and drizzle with more lemon juice and olive oil if desired.

QUICK AND EASY SAUTEED SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the spinach to the skillet and cover; allow to cook 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic salt and cover again for another 5 minutes; remove from heat. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese to serve.

GARLIC SAUTEED SPINACH

Steps:

• Rinse the spinach well in cold water to make sure it's very clean. Spin it dry in a salad spinner, leaving just a little water clinging to the leaves.
• In a very large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil and saute the garlic over medium heat for about 1 minute, but not until it's browned. Add all the spinach, the salt, and pepper to the pot, toss it with the garlic and oil, cover the pot, and cook it for 2 minutes. Uncover the pot, turn the heat on high, and cook the spinach for another minute, stirring with a wooden spoon, until all the spinach is wilted. Using a slotted spoon, lift the spinach to a serving bowl and top with the butter, a squeeze of lemon, and a sprinkling of sea or kosher salt. Serve hot.

FAST AND EASY SPINACH WITH SHALLOTS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Stir in shallots and cook until transparent, about 5 minutes. Add spinach, sprinkle with salt and pepper; cook and stir 3 to 5 minutes until leaves are wilted and reduced.

HONEY AND VINEGAR-BRAISED SHORT RIBS WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat oil in heavy large pot over high heat. Sprinkle ribs with salt and pepper. Working in batches, brown ribs, turning occasionally, about 10 minutes. Return all ribs to pot. Add carrots, onion, celery and garlic to ribs; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add honey; cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add vinegar and boil until most of liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add broth, red wine, Port, thyme and bay leaf and boil 5 minutes. Cover; transfer to oven. Bake until meat almost falls off bone, stirring occasionally, about 2§ hours.
• Using tongs, transfer ribs to large bowl. Boil cooking liquid until slightly reduced, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Mix 1 tablespoon butter and flour in small bowl. Add to sauce; whisk to blend. Boil until thickened, 3 minutes. Mix in ribs. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Chill uncovered until cold, then cover and chill. Rewarm over medium heat before continuing.) Melt 2 tablespoons butter in another large pot over medium-high heat. Add spinach; cook until just wilted, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Divide spinach among plates. Top with ribs and sauce.

BRAISED SPINACH AND ONION (WITH VARIATIONS)

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine onions and chicken broth. Cook onion until stock has reduced to 1/4 cup, about 7 - 9 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove onions from heat. Set aside.
• In a large skillet spray with Pam. With some water still clinging to the spinach, add to skillet and cook until just wilted. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Squeeze out excess liquid and chop.
• Melt butter over low heat or in microwave. Add butter, spinach to the braised onions and combine. Salt, pepper to suit taste. Place in casserole dish.
• Bake in preheated 350 oven for 20 minutes or until heated through.
• Note: If using beet greens or swiss chard, use caution with pepper.