Ingredient Vegetable Greens Spinach Sautéed Spinach with Lemon, Garlic & Parmesan 5.0 (2) 2 Reviews The thinly sliced lemons in this versatile side dish add a dressy element to sautéed spinach with garlic, but they are not there just for looks! Sautéing lemon slices captures flavors from both the juice and the rind for an easy side dish that works any day of the week. When cooking larger quantities of spinach, add it in batches, letting the spinach wilt a little before adding more to avoid overcrowding the pan. By Renu Anshie Dhar Renu Anshie Dhar Renu Dhar has more than a decade of cumulative experience cooking as a personal chef and culinary instructor. As a personal chef, she developed over 1,000 personalized recipes and meal plans for her clients. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on May 6, 2024 Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Emily Lachtrupp is a registered dietitian experienced in nutritional counseling, recipe analysis and meal plans. She's worked with clients who struggle with diabetes, weight loss, digestive issues and more. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying all that Vermont has to offer with her family and her dog, Winston. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Save Rate PRINT Share Close Credit: Photographer: Stacy K. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf Active Time: 15 mins Total Time: 15 mins Servings: 4 Nutrition Profile: Sesame-Free Diabetes-Friendly Healthy Pregnancy Soy-Free High-Fiber Vegetarian Egg-Free Gluten-Free Jump to Nutrition Facts Photographer: Stacy K. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 cup thinly sliced lemon 4 medium cloves garlic, thinly sliced 1 pound fresh spinach (about 16 cups) 2 teaspoons lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese Directions Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add lemon slices; cook, undisturbed, until the slices are bubbling, about 1 minute. Flip the slices; cook until bubbling and lightly browned on the edges, about 1 minute. Transfer to a plate, reserving the oil in the pan. Photographer: Stacy K. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf Add garlic to the skillet; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Increase heat to high; add spinach and cook, stirring often, until wilted, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in lemon juice and pepper; top with Parmesan and the sautéed lemon slices. Photographer: Stacy K. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf Frequently Asked Questions Is spinach good for you? Spinach is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that support eye, skin and bone health. You might have healthier blood pressure by regularly eating spinach, too. Spinach provides plant protein, fiber, iron, calcium, potassium and vitamins A and K. Is garlic healthy? Regularly eating garlic has been linked to a strong immune system, more stable blood sugar and lower cholesterol and blood pressure. These benefits are thanks to the powerful plant compounds that are packed into those little cloves. Is Parmesan cheese good for you? Cheese, in general, is a high-protein food that also offers other nutrients, including calcium, phosphorus, potassium and vitamin B12. Cheese also provides probiotics for a healthy gut. Some cheeses are higher in sodium, including Parmesan. But because it’s got such a pungent flavor, you don’t need much to taste it. It is important to note that not all Parmesan cheese is vegetarian. If you follow a vegetarian eating pattern, check the label to make sure that vegetarian rennet was used to make it. Can I make sautéed spinach ahead of time? You can make this dish the day before and reheat it, but it won’t be nearly as good as the day you make it. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days—but know that cooked spinach degrades quickly, and with each passing day, there is a risk of getting sick. If the cooked spinach you are storing changes color, looks slimy or smells bad, toss it. What should I serve with sautéed spinach? Sautéed spinach is a perfect side dish for chicken, pork, beef, seafood and even eggs. It also pairs well with other vegetables like roasted fingerling potatoes, grilled portobello mushrooms, squash, and slices of red, yellow and orange bell peppers. How do you keep sautéed spinach from being too watery? One of the easiest ways to prevent watery sautéed spinach is to buy it prewashed, so you don't add water to the leaves before cooking them. If you are using fresh, unwashed spinach, make sure it’s thoroughly dry after washing it. We wouldn’t recommend using frozen spinach, but if you have to, then try to get out as much of the water as you can. You want to have the least amount of moisture on the leaves so it easily evaporates in the hot pan. Cooking the spinach in batches and stirring the leaves around while they’re cooking will help with the evaporation. Additional reporting by Carrie Myers, M.S. and Linda Frahm EatingWell.com, May 2024 Save Rate Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 119 Calories 7g Fat 9g Carbs 7g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 4 Serving Size 3/4 cup Calories 119 % Daily Value * Total Carbohydrate 9g 3% Dietary Fiber 3g 11% Total Sugars 1g Protein 7g 15% Total Fat 7g 9% Saturated Fat 2g 12% Cholesterol 11mg 4% Vitamin A 596µg Vitamin C 42mg 47% Vitamin D 0µg Vitamin E 3mg 20% Folate 235µg Vitamin K 582µg Sodium 322mg 14% Calcium 236mg 18% Iron 3mg 19% Magnesium 102mg 24% Potassium 730mg 16% Zinc 1mg 11% Vitamin B12 0µg Omega 3 0g Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate. * Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.) (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.