Recipes for Spinach

 

Spinny Dip
Spinach with Garam Masala
Spinach, Kiwi and Grapefruit Salad with Cilantro Sherry Vinaigrette
Greek Spinach Rice Balls
Tofu Spinach Pie
Tofu Manicotti
Middle Eastern Chickpeas with Spinach

Spinny Dip*

This green-and-white spinach dip can be made with dairy or non-dairy sour cream.

1 cup (lightly packed) spinach
8 oz can sliced water chestnuts
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp. Spike or veg. seasoning
1/4 tsp. nutritional yeast
Pinch of salt and pepper

Thoroughly wash spinach and pat dry. Drain the water chestnuts and chop into small pieces.

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Chill for an hour or two. *From Salt Spring Island Cooking. Published by Macmillan Canada.

Spinach with Garam Masala*

2 bunches fresh spinach
1 small onion, diced
2 tsp. canola oil
3/4 tsp. garam masala
1/2 tsp. coriander
1/4 tsp. garlic powder and salt
1/2 tsp. lemon juice
1/4 cup diced firm tofu

Steam spinach until just wilted. Sauté onion in oil until soft. Add spices and stir frequently.

In a food processor, puree cooked spinach, onion mixture and lemon juice until smooth.

Mix in tofu and bake in a 325 degree F oven for 10 minutes. *From Cooking Vegetarian. Published by Macmillan Canada.

Spinach, Kiwi and Grapefruit Salad with Cilantro Sherry Vinaigrette*

2 tbsp. fresh squeezed orange juice
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 tsp. sherry vinegar (use any flavorful vinegar)
1/4 tsp. Dijon mustard
Pinch salt
2 tsp. grated red onion
1 heaping tsp. minced cilantro leaves (optional)
1 medium grapefruit, chilled
2 medium kiwis, chilled

In a small bowl, whisk together the orange juice, olive oil, vinegar, mustard, and salt until well combined and creamy. Stir in the red onion and cilantro and set aside at room temperature.

Carefully wash the spinach, discarding the stems. Dry thoroughly and set aside in the refrigerator.

Peel the grapefruit an divide it into individual sections. Discard any seeds, and break the fruit into bite-size pieces. Set aside in the refrigerator. Peel the kiwis and cut crosswise into thin slices.

Arrange a bed of spinach on each of 4 chilled salad plates. Artfully arrange portions of grapefruit and kiwi on top of the spinach. Drizzle each salad with dressing. Enjoy! *From The Vegan Gourmet. Prima publishing.

Greek Spinach Rice Balls*

2 pounds fresh spinach
1 cup chopped leeks
2 tsp. olive oil
2 cups cooked brown rice
2 tbsp. finely chopped fresh dill (2 tsp. dried)
1 1/2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
salt and ground pepper to taste
1 cup plain or herbed bread crumbs

Steam the spinach until just wilted, 2 or 3 minutes. Drain, chop and set aside. Sauté leeks in the oil for about 5 minutes until softened or browned.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine the spinach, leeks, rice, dill and lemon juice.

Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir well, mashing the rice mixture against the sides of the bowl with the back of a large spoon until the mixture holds together.

Prepare a greased baking sheet. With dampened hands, pack a heaping 1/4 cup of the rice mixture into a firm, round ball. Roll the ball in the bread crumbs and place it on the baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the balls are heated through and crisp on the outside. *From Moosewood Low-Fat Favourites. Clarkson Potter Publishers.

Tofu Spinach Pie*

1 bunch fresh spinach
1 1/2 lb tofu
1 1/2 c onions
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 t sp. salt
1 9" pie shell

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In large pan over medium flame, cook spinach in canola oil, until spinach completely wilts (ie. it will shrink and turn a darker green).

In another pan, sauté onions and garlic until onion softens. Mix in the cooked spinach, sauté for a minute or two more. Crumble in the tofu.

Add lemon juice and salt. Pour mixture into pie shell. Bake at 400 degrees about 30 minutes, until pie shell is golden.

Serve the wild rice and salad and you've got a great veggie meal.
*From Tofu Cookery by Louise Hagler. Published by The Book Publishing Company.

Tofu Manicotti*

1 lb manicotti
2 lb tofu (firm or soft) -- patted dry and mashed
2 garlic cloves -- minced
1/2 cup soy milk
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tbsp. sugar
salt and pepper -- to taste
2 tbsp. parsley
1 cup chopped fresh spinach
4 cup Millina's spaghetti sauce
Prepare the manicotti according to package directions. Gently drain and rinse the noodles. Preheat the oven to 350 F degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, stir together the mashed tofu, garlic, soy milk, olive oil, lemon juice, sugar, salt, pepper, parsley and spinach, if using.
Line a 9 x 13-inch pan with 2 cups of the spaghetti sauce. Gently spoon the tofu mixture into each manicotti until they are all full. Place the filled manicotti noodles in one layer on top of the spaghetti sauce. Pour the remaining sauce over the stuffed noodles.
Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minute, or until the sauce bubbles. *From The Compassionate Cook by Ingrid Newkirk

Middle Eastern Chickpeas with Spinach*

Sauce:
1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt (could also use silken tofu) 1 small garlic clove, minced or pressed
1/2 tsp. dried mint
dash of salt
Beans:
1 medium onion, chopped
2 tsp. olive oil
2 tsp. ground coriander
1 tsp. ground cumin
pinch of saffron
1 1/2 cups canned chickpeas, with liquid reserved (16-ounce can) 10 ounces spinach, rinsed and coarsely chopped
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
salt and ground black pepper to taste
Combine the yogurt, garlic, mint and salt in a bowl and set aside to blend the flavours. In a skillet, sauté the onions in the oil on medium heat until softened. Add coriander, cumin, and saffron and continue to sauté for another 2-3 minutes, stirring often. Stir in the chick-peas and 1/4 cup of their liquid and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Add the spinach and cook, for 2-3 minutes until it is bright and wilted. Stir in lemon juice, salt and pepper. *Adapted from Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Favourites. Clarkson Potter Publishers.

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