How to cook frozen spinach

Frozen spinach is a way to preserve a perishable leafy vegetable for a long time without losing its nutrients. In this form, it can be purchased at the store, but in order not to doubt the quality of the product, it is better to do everything yourself. There are many recipes for dishes, the use of which will help a person to get enough, without harming the body, to get an energy reserve.

Can spinach be frozen?

Nutritionists advise eating the young plant in the spring, when it is grown in the most favorable environment with a less bitter taste and the lowest content of oxalic acid. Spinach is best stored frozen.

This must be done immediately after the collection and preparation of the product, because in any plant during storage, nitrates are converted into nitrites, which are harmful to health. Many freezing methods have been developed. From them you can choose the appropriate option for your favorite dishes.

The benefits and harms of frozen spinach

The benefits of spinach frozen without heat treatment have been appreciated for a long time.

The chemical composition of the leaves after their use has a beneficial effect on the human body:

• normalizes the bowels;
• helps people with iron deficiency anemia;
• vitamin C prevents vision loss due to age-related causes;
• including a frozen product in the cold season, a person strengthens the immune system, prevents colds;
• promotes weight loss;
• normalizes the condition of hair and skin;
• normalizes blood pressure and reduces the risk of stroke;
• prevent the formation of cancer cells.

Spinach is a “bomb” of trace elements and vitamins for the body.

How to freeze spinach for the winter

Before freezing spinach at home, it must be prepared. It is better to use a ceramic knife, as the product contains acid. Immerse the leaves completely in a bowl of water and rinse gently so as not to damage. Transfer to a colander, wait until all the liquid has drained.

Lay a kitchen towel and lay out the greens, let dry. You can speed up the process by blotting with a tissue.

Dry freezing for the winter

This option for freezing fresh spinach is the most popular and fastest. But it can be done in two ways:

1. Whole leaves. Collect them in piles of 10 pieces, twist them into rolls. Fix the shape by squeezing with your hand. Freeze on a board and put in a bag.
2. crushed product. Cut the leaves without a stem into strips of 2 cm, move them into a plastic bag, tamping a little at the bottom, twist them into a tight roll. You can also use cling film.

Store the prepared product in the freezer.

Freezing blanched spinach

You can blanch before freezing in the following ways:

• pour boiling water for 1 minute;
• dropping a sieve with leaves in boiling water for the same time;
• holding in a double boiler for about 2 minutes.

Proper cooling is key here. Immediately after processing under high temperature, the leaves are immersed in ice water, in which it is better to put ice.

Then squeeze, forming the same figures (balls or cakes). Spread out on a board and put in the freezer. Move the frozen product into a bag, close tightly and send for storage.

How to freeze spinach in the freezer in the form of mashed potatoes

Cooking frozen spinach in briquettes is easy. Cool the blanched product along with the stem on ice and transfer to a blender bowl. After grinding, lay out in silicone molds. Wait until completely frozen, remove from the molds and place the cubes in a bag. This option is very convenient for making various sauces.

How to freeze spinach at home with butter cubes

The option is almost identical to the previous one, only the forms must be filled in half. The rest of the place should take softened natural butter.

How to cook frozen spinach deliciously

If a fresh vegetable is cooked rather quickly, then a frozen product has some features that you need to get acquainted with.

How to cook frozen spinach

In this case, defrosting may not be necessary, but it should be borne in mind that whole leaves will take longer to cook. It will take approximately 15 minutes. Other methods will take much less time. During the preparation of soups, this should be taken into account and the component should be added before sautéing.

How to cook frozen spinach in a pan

Again, everything will depend on the product chosen. In any case, you will need to heat the pan with oil, put the frost and fry first with the lid open so that the moisture evaporates, and then bring it to readiness in the closed form.

How to cook frozen spinach in the oven

If you want to use frozen spinach as a filling for baking, you will need to first defrost the product in a pan with a little oil to get rid of the liquid. If leaves are used without blanching, then they should first be thawed and then boiled.

What can be cooked from frozen spinach

There are many recipes for frozen spinach. In addition to the chefs themselves, the housewives began to develop various delicious dishes in the kitchen, adding a healthy product.

Smoothies

An excellent vitamin drink with a fermented milk product.

Composition:

• kefir – 250 ml;
• spinach (frozen) – 50 g;
• Himalayan salt, red pepper, dried garlic – 1 pinch each;
• fresh parsley, purple basil – 1 sprig each;
• dried parsley – 2 pinches.

Cooking step by step:

1. Get a cube of frozen product in advance and hold at room temperature.
2. When it softens, add spices and chopped herbs.
3. Mix with a blender.

Pour into a glass and drink between meals or instead of dinner.

Baked cod with sun-dried tomatoes

Vegetables next to the fish in the form in this case will replace the side dish.

Grocery set:

• cod fillet – 400 g;
• frozen spinach – 400 g;
• sun-dried tomatoes – 30 g;
• lemon juice – 1 st. l .;
• Parmesan – 30 g;
• olive oil – 3 st. l .;
• garlic – 3 tooth;
• dried rosemary – 1 sprig.

All stages of preparation:

1. Rinse the fish fillet, dry with napkins and cut into portions.
2. Add freshly squeezed lemon juice, your favorite spices and table salt.
3. Brush with a little olive oil and grill on a grill pan for no more than 1 minute on each side.
4. Crush the garlic, fry in oil and discard. Put spinach in a fragrant composition, salt and simmer for about 5 minutes.
5. Soak sun-dried tomatoes in warm water for a quarter of an hour. Drain the liquid and chop the tomatoes into cubes. Add to stewed vegetables.
6. Prepare a baking dish by greasing it with olive oil. Put the vegetable mixture, sprinkle with half the grated cheese.
7. There will be fish pieces on top, pour a little oil and cover with the rest of the chopped parmesan.
8. Bake at 180 degrees for only 10 minutes.

This dish can be served hot or cold.

stuffed mushrooms

A simple but very healthy snack dish.

Ingredients:

• frozen spinach leaves – 150 g;
• fresh champignons – 500 g;
• garlic – 2 tooth;
• olive oil – 30 ml.

Prepare in the following way:

1. Wash mushrooms, remove damaged areas and dry.
2. Cut off the legs, chop and fry together with the defrosted leaves.
3. Before spreading the filling, grease the caps inside and out with garlic oil.
4. Bake in a hot oven for 20 minutes.

Serve sprinkled with herbs.

Lazy Vareniki

Prepare:

• frozen cubed spinach – 4 pcs.;
• cream – 4 tbsp. l .;
• curd – 400 g;
• egg – 2 pcs .;
• flour – 6 tbsp. l.

All stages of preparation:

1. Rub the curd product with flour, salt and 1 egg. The mass should be homogeneous.
2. Put spinach cubes in a ceramic cup with a little water. Place in the microwave to defrost.
3. Squeeze out the juice and puree with cream.
4. Divide the rested dough into 2 equal parts.
5. Mix the green mass into one piece and make a sausage.
6. Put it on another piece rolled out and greased with protein. twist.
7. Keep in the freezer for about 20 minutes to make it easier to cut.
8. Cook like regular dumplings.

Arrange on plates with butter and chopped herbs.

Spicy chicken with spinach

Rice can be served as a side dish to this fragrant dish.

A set of products:

• chicken breast – 500 g;
• tomato slices – ½ tbsp.;
• frozen spinach in a package – 400 g;
• onion – 1 pcs .;
• cream – 120 ml:
• garlic – 3 tooth;
• fresh ginger, ground zira, coriander – 1 tbsp. l.;
• paprika, turmeric – ½ tsp. l.;
• vegetable oil – 2 tbsp. l .;
• hot pepper – 2 pc.;
• water – 1,5 tbsp.

Walkthrough:

1. Pass the chopped onion in vegetable oil until soft.
2. Add chopped garlic and ginger, fry for a couple of minutes.
3. Mix with coriander, zira, paprika, 1 tsp. salt and turmeric. Leave on fire for a minute.
4. Chop the peeled hot peppers, canned tomatoes, cinnamon, cream and water.
5. Add spinach in thawed and squeezed state.
6. Simmer sauce covered for about 5 minutes.
7. Cut the fillet into large pieces and shift to the sauce, salt (1/2 tsp).
8. Cover and bring to readiness.

Remove the cinnamon stick before serving.

Frozen Spinach Diet

Spinach is very popular among people who monitor their health and figure. There is a wonderful collection of recipes.

Spinach Bean Soup

A light first course that will fill you with energy.

Composition:

• frozen spinach leaves – 200 g;
• large carrots – 2 pc.;
• medium-sized tomatoes – 3 pcs.;
• celery root – 200 g;
• celery stalk – 1 pc.;
• raw beans – 1 tbsp.;
• olive oil – 1 st. l .;
• Onion – 2 units;
• garlic – 1 clove.

Algorithm of actions:

1. Prepare 1 onion, 1 carrot and 100 g celery. Put in a saucepan, cover with water and boil the vegetable broth. Pull out the products, they are no longer needed.
2. Cook beans separately.
3. Place a large deep frying pan on the stove and heat with oil.
4. Pass the onion until transparent.
5. Add chopped celery with carrots.
6. Pour in the broth, put chopped garlic with dill and tomatoes, which were previously peeled, doused with boiling water, mashed into a puree.
7. Darken under the lid for a quarter of an hour.
8. Pour beans and chopped vegetable leaves.

After 10 minutes, the soup will be ready.

Mushroom cream soup with spinach

Composition:

• spinach (frozen) – 200 g;
• champignons – 300 g;
• water – 1 l;
• butter – 60 g;
• potatoes – 300 g;
• onion – 3 pcs .;
• garlic – 4 cloves.

Step-by-step cooking:

1. Wash potatoes, peel and cut into large cubes. Boil together with garlic and 1 onion. Throw away the last ones when ready.
2. Heat up a large saucepan, melt the butter.
3. Saute chopped onions and mushrooms. At the end, add the frozen cubes of blanched spinach and bring to readiness, not forgetting to add spices and salt.
4. Add boiled potatoes and blend with a blender until almost homogeneous.
5. Pour in the water left after boiling the potatoes.
6. To mix.

Infuse for about 10 minutes and serve with herbs.

Light creamy side dish of frozen spinach

The recipe for stewed spinach with cream is very simple and is suitable for a light snack.

Ingredients:

• frozen spinach – 0,5 kg;
• sugar – 1 tsp;
• cream (low-fat) – 3 tbsp. l.

For gravy:

• flour – 2 Art. l .;
• milk – 1;
• butter – 2 tbsp l.

Detailed recipe:

1. Defrost spinach leaves (not blanched), boil and chop with a blender.
2. Fry the flour in a dry frying pan, pour in the milk in parts to make it easier to mix, keep on low heat until the sauce thickens.
3. Add vegetable puree, salt, cream, granulated sugar and spices.

When the mass boils, set aside and cover. After 5 minutes you can start eating.

Pasta in cream sauce with spinach

A hearty dinner, which in small quantities will not harm your health.

Ingredients:

• onion – 3 pcs .;
• frozen semi-finished spinach – 400 g;
• butter – 30 g;
• cream – 200 ml;
• pasta – 250 g.

Detailed description:

1. Lay out a bag of frozen green vegetables and leave at room temperature.
2. Pass the onion in a pan with melted butter.
3. Add spinach and fry until it becomes soft.
4. Pour in the cream and leave on fire after boiling for a few minutes. Salt, you can add pepper, fresh herbs and nutmeg.
5. Boil pasta separately.

Mix pasta with sauce before serving.

Frozen spinach casserole with potatoes and chicken

Grocery set:

• potatoes – 500 g;
• carrots – 100 g;
• chicken breast – 300 g;
• frozen spinach cubes – 200 g;
• eggs – 3 pcs .;
• Butter – 40

All stages of cooking frozen vegetable casserole:

1. Peel and boil potatoes with carrots. Make vegetable puree with eggs, salt.
2. Heat the frozen spinach in a frying pan under the lid, evaporate the moisture.
3. Mix with minced chicken.
4. Grease a baking dish with a piece of butter.
5. Pour in half of the mashed potatoes and spread evenly.
6. Apply the filling completely.
7. Cover with the rest of the puree.
8. Preheat the oven to 180˚ and bake the casserole for 40 minutes.

Cut into portions and serve with sour cream.

frozen spinach calories

It should be borne in mind that the calorie content of the frozen product in this case will increase and amount to 34 kcal per 100 g.

Conclusion

Frozen spinach is the best option for storing a vegetable at home, especially since it is quite simple to make. It should be added to food to maintain the balance of nutrients in the body.