For most people, I’m sure spinach isn’t something that gets them all pumped up and excited.
Me on the other hand… I’m a little different. I’ve been waiting all week to show you guys how to saute spinach with garlic, raisins and pine nuts.
I went to a pretty nice steakhouse with my youngest kid recently and I ordered the garlic spinach for us to share. For the main dish we each got big ribeye steaks. We also got the mac & cheese.
I figured I should get at least one healthy side dish to go with the big fat ribeyes and mac & cheese.
When the food got delivered to the table I noticed something different about the garlicky sautéed spinach in the fancy oval plate. It was studded with little plump raisins and crunchy pine nuts.
I liked what I saw. It was interesting.
When I tasted it I was surprised at what a good combination it was. The garlicky flavor of the spinach went great with the sweetness of the raisins and the buttery texture of the pine nuts.
This restaurant took simple sauteed spinach and brought it to another level.
This weekend I had a couple bags of baby spinach in my fridge. I also had a box of raisins and a container of pine nuts in the cabinet.
It was time for me to make this crunchy and sweet sautéed spinach recipe.
Here’s how to saute spinach with garlic, raisins and pine nuts. Let’s go!
Here’s What You’ll Need to Saute Spinach with Garlic, Raisins and Pine Nuts
This is a really easy sauteed spinach recipe. All you need are a few simple ingredients. You should be able to find everything at your local grocery store.
For exact measurements you can check out the recipe card below.
Spinach
When I made it I used baby spinach. It’s easy because it comes in the bag already cleaned and ready to go.
Remember… it’s going to look like a lot of spinach when you start cooking.
The pan will be overflowing with fresh spinach leaves. But as it cooks down the spinach will wilt and shrink down.
Olive Oil
I also have a good bottle of extra virgin olive oil in my pantry. For this dish and any sauteed spinach dish, I recommend using good olive oil because the wilted spinach soaks up all of the flavor.
Garlic
I used lots of fresh garlic in this recipe. I always have a few heads of fresh garlic in my kitchen.
If you’re tempted to use the minced garlic that comes in a jar… don’t! Fresh garlic is very important in this recipe.
Raisins
I would suggest using golden raisins in this sauteed spinach recipe. I didn’t have golden raisins in the house when I made it, so I used regular raisins.
It was still really good, but I think golden raisins would have elevated it a little bit.
Pine Nuts
These are pretty easy to find at most supermarkets. They are small, crunchy and add a great texture to the soft spinach.
Seasoning
I always suggest using Kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper when cooking.
How to Saute Spinach with Garlic, Raisins and Pine Nuts
Here’s how I did it. It was really quick and easy. It’s a great way to add the perfect side dish to your main meal.
I started off by putting some olive oil in a large skillet. I put the pan on medium heat and let the oil heat up.
I added a good amount of thin sliced garlic to the hot oil and let it toast up. In 1-2 minutes the beautiful smell of garlic started to fill the house.
Then I added the spinach to the pan. The spinach was piled really high in the pan and started to overflow. If I do it again I might use a dutch oven to hold all of the spinach.
I hit the spinach with a sprinkle of salt and some black pepper and let it cook down. The salt really helps the spinach to wilt.
I tossed the spinach around to let it soak up the flavor of the garlic and olive oil. You can use tongs or a wooden spoon to do this.
Then I added the raisins and the pine nuts to the pan. I stirred them into the spinach.
I also added a little water to the pan.
The steam helps the spinach cook down. I cranked the heat up to medium-high so the excess water evaporated from the pan.
When the spinach was fully cooked I transferred to a serving bowl.
This is a really easy recipe and an awesome way to add a little flavor complexity to a classic side dish.
How to Saute Spinach, Garlic, Raisins and Pine Nuts: FAQs
Do you have to use baby spinach in this recipe?
No. You can use mature spinach in this spinach and garlic recipe. Make sure if you use large raw spinach leaves you wash them really well. They tend to have sand and dirt on them when you get them at the supermarket.
Can you use frozen spinach in this recipe?
Yes. By using frozen spinach you’ll make this easy spinach recipe even easier. Just add the frozen spinach to the pan like you would fresh spinach.
What are some good things to serve with this sauteed spinach?
This simple side dish will go great with just about anything. Serve it with pork chops, steaks, chicken dishes and seafood. You can also serve it as a side dish with lasagna to make a complete meal.
Here are Some Other Sautéed Vegetables You Should Check Out:
- Sauteed Spinach with Garlic, Lemon and Parmesan
- Sautéed Green Beans with Tomatoes and Pancetta
- Haricot Verts with Wine and Butter
- Brussels Sprouts with Garlic and Olive Oil
How to Saute Spinach with Garlic, Raisins and Pine Nuts
Ingredients
18 ounces of fresh baby spinach
4-5 cloves of fresh garlic
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon of raisins
1 tablespoon of pine nuts
Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Get a large frying pan and coat the bottom with olive oil.
- Put the pan on medium heat and let the oil heat up.
- Thinly slice the garlic and add it to the pan. Let it cook for a couple minutes until it becomes fragrant.
- Add the raw spinach to the pan and add salt and pepper.
- Stir spinach around the pan until it cooks down. Add a tablespoon of water to create some steam.
- Add raisins and pine nuts. Continue to stir and cook until all of the excess moisture in the pan evaporates.
- Transfer the contents of the pan to a serving dish.
- Enjoy!
