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    Italian Spinach Recipe

    Published October 19, 2022. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    This easy-to-make Italian spinach recipe is served with lightly browned onions, garlic, and fresh tomatoes for a quick, delicious side dish. The flavors in this simple recipe are fantastic, and it can be served with just about anything.

    As I’ve gotten older, I try to ensure I eat as many vegetables as possible. However, I must admit that it can be tough to make them delicious, so I want to eat them. If you’re in the same boat, check out my tasty Mexican Street Corn or Roasted Asparagus.

    bowl of italian spinach


     

    Italian Spinach

    Italian Spinach is a simple recipe of sautéed spinach with onions, garlic, and tomatoes. It’s a very simple-to-prepare side dish, but it is wonderfully tasty. There are also many ways to make Italian spinach, and this recipe is the one I learned at the first restaurant I worked at.

    For more flavor in this recipe, I recommend taking the time to caramelize the onions a little longer and using fresh tomatoes. This is a great side dish to any meal, but I especially enjoy serving it with Potato Crusted Salmon and New York Strip Steak.

    Ingredients and Substitutions

    • Spinach – I prefer fresh baby spinach, but regular spinach also works.
    • Onion – You can use red, yellow, white, or sweet onion.
    • Garlic – A few garlic cloves help to enhance the flavor of this.
    • Tomatoes – You can use fresh tomatoes or hand-crushed canned whole, peeled tomatoes.

    How to Make Italian Spinach

    Heat up 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large sauté or frying pan over medium-high heat until it begins to smoke lightly.

    adding oil to a pan

    Add in the onions and garlic, and sauté for 2 to 4 minutes or until lightly browned.

    searing onions and garlic

    Once brown, add tomatoes and sauté for 2 to 3 more minutes.

    sautéing tomatoes with onions

    Lastly, place in the spinach and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until wilted.

    cooking spinach with tomatoes and onions

    Adjust seasonings with salt, pepper, and grated parmesan cheese, and serve.

    seasoning Italian spinach

    Make-Ahead and Storage

    Make-Ahead: These are meant to be eaten as soon as they are done.

    How to Store: Cover and keep the Italian spinach in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This will not freeze well.

    How to Reheat: Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a large frying pan over medium heat until it begins to smoke lightly. Next, add the desired amount of Italian Spinach to the hot pan and sauté until hot. Be careful, as the liquid from the spinach may cause the oil to catch fire. If that does happen, just remove the pan from the burner.

    Chef Billy Parisi

    Chef Notes + Tips

    • You can also add dry herbs such as 2 teaspoons of oregano, basil, thyme, or rosemary to the spinach when sauteing it.
    • Frozen spinach does not work well in this recipe.

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    Let's Cook - Chef Billy Parisi

    Italian Spinach Recipe

    5 from 5 votes
    This easy-to-make Italian spinach recipe is served with lightly browned onions and garlic, and fresh tomatoes for a quick delicious side dish.
    Servings: 4
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes

    Ingredients 

    • 1 tablespoon of olive oil
    • 1/2 peeled and julienne red onion
    • 3 finely minced cloves of fresh garlic
    • 2 vine-ripe or Roma tomatoes cut into wedges
    • 10 oz baby spinach, or 6 cups packed
    • sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • Heat up 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large sauté or frying pan over medium to medium-high heat until it begins to smoke lightly.
    • Add in the onions and garlic and sauté for 2 to 4 minutes or until lightly browned.
    • Once brown, add tomatoes and sauté for 2 to 3 more minutes.
    • Lastly, place in the spinach and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until wilted.
    • Adjust seasonings with salt, pepper, and grated parmesan cheese, and serve.

    Notes

    Make-Ahead: These are meant to be eaten as soon as they are done.
    How to Store: Cover and keep the Italian spinach in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This will not freeze well.
    How to Reheat: Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a large frying pan over medium heat until it begins to smoke lightly. Next, add the desired amount of Italian Spinach to the hot pan and sauté until hot. Be careful, as the liquid from the spinach may cause the oil to catch fire. If that does happen, just remove the pan from the burner.
    You can also add dry herbs such as 2 teaspoons of oregano, basil, thyme, or rosemary to the spinach when sauteing it.
    Frozen spinach does not work well in this recipe.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 67kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 3gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 60mgPotassium: 570mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 7159IUVitamin C: 30mgCalcium: 84mgIron: 2mg
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American, Italian