I love alliteration, don't you? There's also much to love about this simple sauteed spinach. First, it's so quick. About 10 minutes and done. Second, BACON! Okay, there's not actual bacon in it. But sauteing the onions with smoked paprika sure does remind me of bacon. It even (almost) looks like bacon. This is a win-win for heart healthy cooking!
No more drab, tasteless, steamed spinach. This spinach is perky and vibrant, and it's a great accompaniment to most anything. Plus, I don't know about you, but fresh greens in winter just don't do it for me. This is a great compromise! Awesome spinach nutrition in a smoky, warming side dish.
How to make this recipe
Start by mincing your garlic and dicing the onion. It's completely fine to use minced garlic in a jar. I do! Some people don't like the taste, and it's possible that pre-minced garlic may have lost some of its health-promoting properties. Fresh garlic is probably best, but pre-minced comes in second.
Next you will saute the garlic and onions in a bit of oil until the onion is soft and translucent.
Now the next part goes a bit quick. Toss the spinach in the pan and put the lid on. It's okay to crush it down with the lid. It's going to cook down anyway. Leave the lid on for a minute or so, before taking it off and stirring everything together. Put the lid back on for another minute, and stir again. Continue doing this until the spinach is just wilted. You don't want it to cook much more past that.
Turn off the heat and add the smoked paprika and lemon juice. Stir it all together, and serve it immediately!
Using an acid, like lemon juice, is a great way to add a lot of flavor without salt. Acids tend to play on our taste buds in a similar way. Use it to your advantage!
You'll want to serve this immediately. It can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for a few days; just know that the color will change and it won't look as vibrant. Still perfectly tasty, though!
Can I Eat Spinach If I Take Coumadin?
The concern with spinach and coumadin is the vitamin K content of spinach. It's an excellent source! But vitamin K and coumadin don't play nice together. So can you eat spinach if you take coumadin?
The short answer is yes. The longer answer is you need to make sure you consume a consistent amount of vitamin K daily if you are taking coumadin (warfarin). Make sure to keep your prescribing doctor in the loop if your intake goes up or down, since your medication may need to be adjusted.
Read more about Vitamin K and Heart Health.
If you make Simple Smoky Sauteed Spinach, let me know in the comments! You might also love Garlic Roasted Green Beans and Roasted Beets & Carrots with Creamy Garlic Dill Sauce!
📖 Recipe
Simple Smoky Sauteed Spinach
This is one of the quickest side dishes there is! Excellent for rushed weeknights. Even people who "aren't fans of spinach" will enjoy this one!
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoon Olive Oil
- 3 Garlic cloves, minced
- ½ Large Yellow Onion, diced small
- 12 oz Fresh Spinach
- 1 ½ teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- ½ Lemon, juiced
Instructions
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Heat oil in a large skillet. Reduce heat to medium, and add garlic and onion. Saute until soft and translucent.
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Add the spinach and cover the pan with a lid.
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After a minute or so, remove the lid and stir.
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Continue covering for a minute and stirring until the spinach is completely wilted. It won’t take more than 5 minutes.
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Turn off the heat. Add the smoked paprika and lemon juice. Toss to combine.
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Serve immediately.
Carla Pilla-Daniels says
Excellent combination of flavors and so easy to prepare. I added some grilled tofu I had leftover and made it a meal!
Laura Yautz says
Oh, grilled tofu sounds like an excellent addition! Thanks for sharing, Carla. I'm glad you liked it!