Description
This easy sauteed spinach recipe with Garlic Lemon Gloss delivers a tender, bright side dish. It’s incredibly quick, super flavorful, and packed with goodness, perfect for any family dinner.
Ingredients
- 10 oz fresh spinach
- 3.5 cloves fresh garlic, minced (or 1 tsp jarred minced garlic)
- 0.5 tsp lemon zest
- 1.5 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 0.5 tsp salt, or to taste
- 0.5 tsp freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- Prep Your Greens: Thoroughly wash 10 oz (280g) of fresh spinach and pat it as dry as possible. Mince 3-4 garlic cloves.
- Heat & Infuse: In a large, 10-inch skillet, heat 2 Tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30-60 seconds until fragrant and lightly golden (be careful not to burn it; lower heat if browning too quickly).
- Wilt the Spinach: Add spinach to the skillet in batches if necessary. Cook, stirring frequently with tongs, until all spinach is wilted and tender (about 2-4 minutes), turning a vibrant green. (Do not overcrowd the pan.)
- Finish with Gloss: Remove from heat. Stir in 1-2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice and 0.5 tsp lemon zest. Season generously with 0.5 tsp salt and 0.5 tsp freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Notes
For a bolder garlic flavor, add an extra clove; for a milder lemon tang, use less juice. A small pat of butter (1 Tbsp) can be added at the end for richness. Do not overcrowd the pan to avoid steaming or overcook the spinach (it should be vibrant green and tender, not mushy). If using frozen spinach, thaw thoroughly and squeeze out all excess water before cooking. Garlic powder (0.25 tsp per clove) or bottled lemon juice can be used in a pinch, but fresh is recommended.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: General
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 80 g)
- Calories: 90 calories
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: sauteed spinach, garlic lemon, easy side dish, quick recipe, healthy greens, weeknight dinner, vegetable, lemon zest