Ingredients
This recipe, also known by its Spanish name, Espinacas a La Catalana, requires only a few simple ingredients. The pine nuts add a nice crunch and an earthy flavor that complements the spinach, while the dried fruit adds texture and a hint of sweetness. For this spinach Catalan recipe, you’ll need fresh spinach, raisins, extra-virgin olive oil, an onion, large garlic cloves, pine nuts, kosher salt, and black pepper.
How to Make Catalan Spinach
If you’re craving a quick appetizer or snack, it only takes 20 minutes to make this spinach tapas recipe. Here’s how to do it:
Spinach: If you don’t have any fresh spinach on hand, you can use frozen spinach instead. You can use a 1:1 ratio of frozen spinach to fresh spinach. Make sure to thaw your frozen spinach overnight in the fridge and squeeze out the excess juices before using it in the recipe. Onion: While I chose to use a medium onion for this recipe, you can substitute a shallot for a similar flavor. Pine nuts: I love the earthy, buttery taste of pine nuts, but I know they can be expensive and sometimes difficult to find at the store. If you’d like to substitute a different nut, I recommend sliced or slivered almonds. Dried fruit: Raisins aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I like the chewy texture and subtle sweetness they add to this dish. If you don’t have raisins or aren’t a fan of them, you can use dried cranberries or chopped dried apricots instead. You can also use golden raisins, which are a bit sweeter than regular ones. Optional addition: Some traditional spinach Spanish recipes also include a golden delicious apple in the dish. If you’d like to add in a small golden delicious apple for additional sweetness and flavor, I recommend chopping it up and sauteing it with the rest of the ingredients.
How to Store
If you have leftovers or wish to make a double recipe to serve later, you can store the dish in the fridge to have this yummy appetizer ready to go whenever the craving strikes. To store leftovers, let the dish cool to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. Store it in the fridge and enjoy it for up to four days.
Expert Tips
This Spanish spinach dish is pretty quick and easy to make, as it only requires a few basic cooking skills. Even so, I’ve compiled a few tips to help you achieve the best results on your first try. Here’s what you need to know:
Serve it with crusty bread: In Spain, this dish is traditionally served with crusty bread, roasted tomatoes, and roasted garlic. I personally love to pair this recipe with a sliced French baguette and a glass of red wine. Pair it with a grilled dish: The delicate flavors of this spinach dish pair nicely with grilled meat or fish. On a nice evening, fire up your grill and serve this spinach appetizer with my Grilled Mahi Mahi for a zesty, light spring or summer meal, or pair it with Marinated Shrimp for a crowd-pleasing spread.
Buy prewashed spinach: I think it is a time saver and worth the money.Salting the spinach: As the recipe states, ensure to season the spinach after it’s cooked. If you season spinach with salt while cooking, it may become too salty as it absorbs the salted water. Toast the pine nuts: If you have the time, toast pine nuts in an empty skillet until they turn lightly golden brown. It takes only a few minutes to do so but takes the dish to a whole other level.
Other Similar Small Dishes You Might Also Like:
Bread Dipping OilTurkish Muhammara RecipeMediterranean Style HummusCarrot HummusTurkish White Bean Salad
If you try this Catalan Style Spinach recipe or any other recipe on Foolproof Living, please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. And if you took some pictures, be sure to share them on Instagram using #foolproofeats so I can share them on my stories.
