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Espinacs a la catalana

Name: Espinacs a la catalana
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: Spanish
Ingredients: 40 g raisins; 800 g fresh spinach; 3 tbsp olive oil; 2 cloves garlic; 40 g pine nuts; 0.5 tsp salt

Spinach with raisins and pine nuts

Espinacs a la catalana: spinach sautéed with raisins, pine nuts and garlic

This dish carries the sweet-and-savoury taste of medieval Catalan cooking: spinach wilted with plump raisins and toasted pine nuts, sometimes with a little pork fat or anchovy, though olive oil is just as traditional. Families cook it in spring and autumn as a side for fish or chicken, or as a light first course before the main. It takes ten minutes. Chef's tip: soak the raisins in warm water first so they swell and burst sweetly, instead of turning hard in the hot pan.

Prep: 10 min
Cook: 10 min
Difficulty: Easy
Serves: 4
Per serving: 170 kcal

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Ingredients

Serves4

1 ⅜ oz raisinssoaked in warm water for 10 minutes
1 ¾ lb fresh spinachwashed and drained
3 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlicthinly sliced
1 ⅜ oz pine nuts
½ tsp salt

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Olive oilPompeian Light Taste Olive Oil - 32 Fl Oz
SaltMorton, Iodized Salt, 26 Ounce, 26 oz

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Method

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Step 1: Put 1 ¾ lb fresh spinach in a large pan with only the water clinging to its leaves. Cover and cook over a medium-high heat for 2–3 minutes, turning once, until just wilted.
3 min
Step 2: Drain in a colander and press out as much water as you can with a spoon. A common mistake is skipping this: the oil and garlic then swim in green water instead of coating the leaves. Chop roughly.
Step 3: Wipe the pan dry, add 3 tbsp olive oil and heat over a medium heat. Fry 1 ⅜ oz pine nuts for 1–2 minutes, stirring, until pale golden. Add 2 cloves garlic and fry for 30 seconds until fragrant but not brown.
3 min
Step 4: Drain 1 ⅜ oz raisins and add them with the spinach and ½ tsp salt. Toss over the heat for 2–3 minutes until hot and glossy.
3 min
Step 5: Serve warm.

Nutrition per serving

Calories: 170 kcal
Protein: 6 g
Carbs: 13 g
Fat: 12 g
Fibre: 4 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does espinacs a la catalana take?: About 20 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?: 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegan?: Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
Is it gluten free?: Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
What can I use instead of fresh spinach?: Frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed: about a third of the weight.
What can I use instead of garlic?: ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.

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