Spinach with Pine Nuts and Raisins

This is a deliciously simple side dish or snack. I love how the buttery flavor of the pine nuts and the sweetness of the raisins contrast with the slightly bitter taste of the spinach!



Nutrition Facts:
Spinach packs a powerful nutrition punch! 3.5 oz of raw spinach contains over 300% RDA of Vitamin A, 460% RDA of Vitamin K, 49% RDA of Folic Acid, and 47% RDA of Vitamin C, all for 25 calories! It is also a rich source of Vitamin E, magnesium, manganese, iron, vitamin B2, calcium, potassium, vitamin B6, copper, protein, phosphorus, zinc, niacin, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids (ALA).

Ingredients:
8 oz spinach
1 tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves (chopped or crushed)
1 cup mushrooms (chopped)
1/4 cup pine nuts
1/4 cup raisins (I used golden raisins here)
Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:
In a dry saute pan toast the pine nuts and raisins until golden. Set aside.
By the way, just a side note, the toasted pine nuts and raisins make a great snack as is or as an addition to any trail mix you may already have on hand!



In another hot saute pan with olive oil add garlic and mushrooms, cook on high until they start to brown. Turn the heat down to medium low and start adding one handful of spinach to the pan at a time until it starts to wilt, and then keep adding spinach until it is all in the pan and wilted. Add the toasted pine nuts and raisin and salt and pepper to taste. *Another option is to sprinkle feta or goat cheese over the top.


I used the everyday seasoning in a grinder from Trader Joe's. The ingredients are sea salt, mustard seeds, black peppercorns, coriander, onion, garlic, paprika and chilli pepper. It's a nice way to enhance flavor without too much slat.



This can be served as side dish or by itself as a snack. I have also put it in my hummus veggie wraps. Yummy! Enjoy this wonderfully nutritious dish totally guilt free!




How are we doing with our first nutrition challenge of the year? If you haven't started, it is never too late! Aim for 5 handfuls everyday of fruits and vegetables! This is a positive goal. Instead of focusing on what you can't have or shouldn't eat, focus on what you can have!

3 comments:

  1. Wow, that looks great. We're going to try it tonight.

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  2. We didn't have any pinenuts or raisins, but we had slivered almonds and dried cherries. This was great.

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  3. Wow, the almonds and cherries sound wonderful! Nice creativity, I like it!

    ReplyDelete