Here’s a day to celebrate one of nature’s most healthy foods: National Spinach Day. It takes place on March 26, and it’s the perfect time to tap into your inner Popeye and see what the fuss is all about. A fresh spinach salad can be the perfect lunch or dinner and is the ideal vessel for all kinds of other ingredients and toppings. But what if spinach isn’t exactly on your list of favorite foods?
Despite being packed with nutrients such as vitamins C, E, and K, antioxidants, flavonoids, and potassium, to name a few, it can still be a hard sell for many people. There’s no denying its “distinct” flavor, and because it’s so strong, many people end up avoiding it.
To help embrace National Spinach Day, here’s a look at ten delicious items that are so good that you won’t even be able to taste the spinach. You’ll get all the benefits without the strong spinach flavor.
Smoothies Help Camouflage Spinach
One of the quickest and easiest ways to camouflage the taste of spinach is to add it to a smoothie. Smoothies can contain a wide array of items, with many people choosing to mix vegetables and fruit. As long as you pick a strong or sweet fruit to add, it will cover up the taste of the spinach.
Blending the smoothie well ensures you’re not sipping on a leafy green chunk. To mask the flavor, you can blend a few fruits with spinach, including bananas, pineapple, strawberries, mango, and peaches.
Spinach Cake Turns Dessert Into a Healthy Choice
It’s not often that you are encouraged to eat dessert, but with this spinach trick, that’s exactly the case. Adding spinach to cake is another fabulous way to use it. Simply follow your basic cake recipe and then blend the spinach into the mix. You want to ensure the leaves are broken up to prevent an odd texture.
If you want to forget about the spinach, choose a dark cake such as red velvet or chocolate so the green leaves are less noticeable.
These Brownies are Finger-Licking Good
And we aren’t done with desserts quite yet, as you can also make fudge chocolate brownies with spinach. You start with the basic brownie recipe, then add espresso powder, frozen chopped spinach that has been thawed, vanilla, and sugar. These few ingredients change the flavor profile, but not so much that it no longer tastes like brownies.
Again, the key is to blend the batter well, ensuring the spinach is well combined. The spinach can even help keep the brownies more moist.
Spinach and Cheese – the Perfect Combination
This recipe isn’t about hiding the spinach from view; instead, it’s about pairing it with an ingredient with a stronger taste profile. A creamy, warm, melted spinach artichoke dip could make you rethink your stance on spinach. It’s perfect for spreading on crackers, putting in a wrap, or even with nachos.
Find a recipe that keeps the ingredients and preparation simple while ensuring the cheese used is strong. This recipe uses grated parmesan, so you know it will overpower any taste of spinach.
Layer It Into Lasagna
Lasagna is a classic and hearty Italian pasta dish that features plenty of red sauce, juicy meat, and cheese. It’s got so many flavors and textures going for it that you won’t even notice a layer of spinach added. You can always start with one layer, and if that doesn’t bother you, try adding more next time you make the dish.
Homemade Red Sauce Is the Perfect Vessel for Spinach
Speaking of Italian meals, many people prepare homemade red sauce in advance and jar it so they can use it in the future. The next time you make a big batch of red sauce, add some sautéed or steamed spinach to the pot. Be sure to do this before using an immersion blender so the leaves get chopped up thoroughly.
Plenty of Spinach Soup Recipes to Choose From
No, we aren’t talking about a plain spinach soup but rather recipes that include spinach without it being the main focus. Soups are known for packing in a lot of flavors, so masking the taste of spinach won’t be difficult. Adding garlic, onions, peppers, lemon, and so forth will cover up any small traces of spinach.
Some great soups to try include:
- Italian Orzo Soup
- Creamy Chicken and Spinach Soup
- Sausage, Potato, and Spinach Soup
- White Bean and Parmesan Soup
Meatloaf with Spinach
Meatloaf is typically considered a comfort food, especially during the colder months when people want a meal that fills them up. Anyone who’s made meatloaf before probably has a favorite recipe or even a family recipe that has been passed down. The next time you give it a try, simply add spinach.
You can make it a little fancier by stuffing your meatloaf with creamed spinach, which takes a bit more work but can be well worth it.
Caprese Stuffed Chicken Will Leave You Wanting More
Stuffed chicken is a hit no matter what, but this is another excellent opportunity for spinach to get involved. A Caprese-style stuffed chicken uses a stuffing that consists of mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach. Thanks to the punch of flavor that sun-dried tomatoes offer and the gooey mozzarella, the spinach will be undetectable.
Frittata – Easy, Tasty, and Perfect Any Time
One of the best things about frittata is how versatile it is. You can serve this dish for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and it can include an array of fresh and delicious ingredients. The main ingredient of a frittata is eggs, but outside of them, it’s ideal for veggies of all types – including spinach.