Spinach remains a divisive vegetable that many reluctantly consume purely for its nutritional value, yet it can taste absolutely delicious when prepared correctly. Boiling spinach in water is the most typical cooking approach, however Arman Liew, a cookbook author and founder of The Big Man’s World, has suggested sautéing it in a modest amount of butter instead for optimal results. Arman explained: “I’m convinced anyone can learn to love spinach-even if your name isn’t Popeye. When lightly sautéed for a few minutes at high heat, you get tender, wilted spinach that retains its leafy texture. Plus, a little butter never hurt anyone.”
Spinach contains oxalic acid which can render it chalky-tasting when consumed raw in salads, whilst boiling in water causes breakdown that can create considerable bitterness. Nevertheless, preparing spinach with fat such as butter assists in mellowing the inherent bitterness, whilst pairing it with acidic components like lemons helps enliven the taste, reports the Express.
Sautéing spinach with appropriate seasoning delivers a mildly sweet and earthy flavour profile, whilst softening the leaves to achieve a silkier consistency rather than creating a soggy disaster.
It’s worth noting that boiling spinach causes numerous vitamins to escape into the water, meaning sautéing preserves greater nutritional content whilst dramatically improving taste.
How to make spinach significantly more flavourful
Ingredients
- Two bunches of spinach
- One lemon (or bottle of lemon juice)
- One tablespoon of butter
- One tablespoon of olive oil
- One clove of garlic (minced)
Instructions
Start by placing the butter and olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat, then wait for the pan to become hot.
As soon as the butter has completely melted, introduce the spinach, minced garlic, and season with salt and pepper.
Allow the spinach to cook for two to three minutes until it has fully wilted. Once the spinach is ready, remove it from the heat and sprinkle a dash of lemon juice over it.
This will significantly enhance the taste of your spinach. If you wish to add more flavour to this tantalising dish, you can serve it with parmesan cheese, bacon, spring onions or shallots.