Spinach, Italian style

I love green vegetables, especially spinach. But I know many people don’t like its bitter flavor — and some are turned off by veggies in general. We all know the type.

So when my grandmother and I cooked spinach today — the Italian way — I knew I had to share the recipe. It’s a super-simple twist that uses Italian staples olive oil and garlic to bring a new burst of flavor to a familiar vegetable.

Start with a bag of frozen spinach (about 1 lb.). Cook it in the microwave for about half the time suggested on the package. Meanwhile, add olive oil to a pan (coat the bottom) and heat it on the stove, along with about four small cloves of garlic, sliced or minced, and some black pepper, red pepper flakes, and salt to taste. Toss in the spinach, coat it with the olive oil mixture, and cook it for the remainder of the time instructed (probably about 5 minutes). The spinach can be eaten immediately, or reheated later.

The garlic will add a great new dimension to the spinach — and it might even make it more palatable to veggie haters. You can also try this with broccoli or other green vegetables. Enjoy!

Photo: Boiled spinach in a plate / By Laurent Nguyen

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