Sautéed Spinach Recipe
A flavorful Catalan Style recipe for sauteed spinach with golden raisins and pine nuts. Use spinach, chard, beet tops or baby kale, or a mix. Vegan.
How to Make the Best Sautéed Spinach
This Catalan-style sautéed spinach is a delightful departure from ordinary wilted greens. Inspired by traditional Spanish cuisine, this recipe elevates simple spinach with the unexpected sweetness of golden raisins, the buttery crunch of toasted pine nuts, and a hint of heat from chili flakes. It’s a perfect example of how a few thoughtful ingredients can transform an everyday vegetable into something truly special.
What makes this dish so versatile is that you’re not limited to spinach alone. Feel free to use chard, beet tops, baby kale, or any combination of leafy greens you have on hand. The cooking time will vary slightly depending on your choice—tender spinach wilts in just a couple of minutes, while heartier greens like kale may need a bit longer.
The splash of sherry wine adds depth and sophistication, though you can easily substitute white wine or vegetable broth if you prefer. Serve this alongside grilled fish, roasted chicken, or as part of a Mediterranean-inspired mezze spread. It’s vegan, ready in just 25 minutes, and guaranteed to become a regular in your side dish rotation.
Sautéed Spinach
A flavorful Catalan Style recipe for sauteed spinach with golden raisins and pine nuts. Use spinach, chard, beet tops or baby kale, or a mix. Vegan.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
Seasonings
Instructions
Cooking the Spinach
- Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add onion and apple and stir until tender, about 3-4 minutes.
- Lower heat to medium, add garlic and chili flakes, and saute a few more minutes, until fragrant.
- Add raisins and wine, sauteeing until the wine mostly cooks off.
- Add greens, stirring to wilt. Spinach will cook in a couple minutes, while sturdier greens will take longer.
- Season with salt and pepper. Continue sauteeing until desired tenderness.
- Taste, adjust salt and chili flakes, and if you like, add a pinch of sugar (for more sweetness), nutmeg and white pepper.
Notes
- This recipe works beautifully with a mix of greens—try combining spinach with chard or beet tops for variety.
- Toast your pine nuts in a dry pan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until golden for the best flavor.
- The optional apple adds a subtle sweetness that pairs wonderfully with the savory elements.
