Catalan Sautéed Spinach

This is a simple and healthy side dish that can be ready in 25 minutes. It features spinach sautéed with garlic, golden raisins, and pine nuts, giving it a delicious contrast of flavors and textures. You can also use other greens like chard, kale, beet tops, or bok choy.

This recipe is inspired by the cuisine of Catalonia, a region in northeastern Spain that has a rich culinary heritage. The Moors introduced many ingredients and spices to Catalonia, such as almonds, citrus fruits, eggplant, spinach, cumin, nutmeg, saffron, and black pepper. Catalan dishes are known for combining sweet and savory elements and using unique spice blends.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 cup of onion, diced
• 1/2 an apple, diced (optional, but adds a nice touch)
• 4 to 6 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon of chili flakes
• 1/4 cup of golden raisins (or regular raisins, currants, cranberries, or even dried apricots)
• 1/4 cup of toasted pine nuts (or slivered almonds)
• 1/4 cup of sherry wine or white wine (or use broth instead)
• 8 cups of spinach (or other greens), washed and chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and apple and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden.
2. Add the garlic, chili flakes, raisins, and pine nuts and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
3. Add the wine or broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes.
4. Add the spinach or other greens in batches and toss to wilt. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Enjoy as a side dish or as a main course with some bread or rice.

What to Serve with Catalan-Style Sautéed Spinach

This dish goes well with many proteins, such as:

• Citrus Baked Salmon with Fingerlings
• Chicken Piccata
• Roasted Salmon with Pomegranate
• Braised Chicken with Fresh Figs
• Pan-Roasted Chicken with Grapes
• Hemp Crusted Tofu with Celeriac Puree

You can also find more recipes on Feasting at Home, a food blog with healthy, seasonal, plant-powered recipes.