Sauteed Spinach and Garlic

 

Sauteed Spinach and Garlic

From Canyon Ranch NOURISH 2009

See also Lemon Spinach

To remove every speck of grit from fresh spinach, float it in a clean sink with plenty of cold water.  Swish and drain.  With very muddy spinach, do this twice.  Don’t forget to wash bagged spinach, too.

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

 

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

2 tsp minced garlic

1 pound spinach, washed and torn into large pieces

¼ tsp sea salt

¼ tsp freshly ground pepper

1)    Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-low heat.  Saute garlic until just beginning to turn golden brown.

2)    Add the spinach and cook briefly until wilted.  Season with the salt and pepper.  Divide evenly among four plates.

Although a nutritionl analysis of spinach shows it is a good source of calcium, it isn’t well absorbed because it  is bound to oxalic acid.  There are several other reasons to eat spinach, though, including beta-carotene, lutein, folic acid, vitamin C and fiber.