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Frozen spinach is a way to preserve a perishable leafy vegetable for a long time without losing nutrients. In this form, it can be purchased in a 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 get enough without harming the body, and gain energy reserves.
Is it possible to freeze spinach?
Nutritionists advise consuming 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. It is best to store spinach frozen.
This must be done immediately after collecting and preparing 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 consumption has a beneficial effect on the human body:
- normalizes intestinal function;
- helps people with iron deficiency anemia;
- vitamin C prevents vision loss due to age-related reasons;
- including frozen product in the cold season, a person strengthens the immune system and prevents colds;
- promotes weight loss;
- normalizes the condition of hair and skin;
- normalizes blood pressure and reduces the risk of stroke;
- will prevent the formation of cancer cells.
Spinach is a “bomb” of microelements and vitamins for the body.
How to freeze spinach for the winter
Before you can freeze spinach at home, you need to prepare it. It is better to use a ceramic knife, as the product contains acid. Immerse the leaves completely in a bowl of water and rinse carefully so as not to damage them. Place in a colander and wait until all the liquid has drained.
Lay out a kitchen towel and spread out the herbs and let them dry.You can speed up the process by blotting with a napkin.
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:
- Whole leaves. Collect them in stacks of 10 pieces and roll them into rolls. Fix the shape by squeezing with your hand. Freeze on a board and put in a bag.
- Crushed product. Cut the leaves without a stem into 2 cm strips, place them in a plastic bag, compact them a little at the bottom, and roll 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;
- lowering the sieve with leaves into boiling water for the same time;
- keep in the steamer for about 2 minutes.
An important point here will be proper cooling. Immediately after processing at high temperature, immerse the leaves in ice water, in which it is better to put ice.
Next, squeeze, forming identical figures (balls or cakes). Place on a board and put in the freezer. Place the frozen product in a bag, close tightly and store.
How to Freeze Spinach as a Puree in the Freezer
It's easy to cook frozen spinach in briquettes. Cool the blanched product along with the stem on ice and transfer to a blender bowl. After grinding, place into 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 into cubes with butter at home
The option is almost identical to the previous one, only you need to fill out the forms halfway. The rest of the space should be filled with softened natural butter.
How to deliciously cook frozen spinach
If a fresh vegetable cooks quite quickly, then a frozen product has some features that you need to become familiar with.
How to cook frozen spinach
In this case, defrosting may not be necessary, but keep in mind that whole leaves will take longer to cook. It will take approximately 15 minutes. Other methods will take much less time. When preparing soups, this should be taken into account and the component should be added before sauteing.
How to cook frozen spinach in a frying pan
Again everything will depend on the product chosen. In any case, you will need to heat a frying pan with oil, put it in the freezer and fry first with the lid open so that the moisture evaporates, and then finish it closed.
How to Cook Frozen Spinach in the Oven
If you need to use frozen spinach as a filling for baking, you will need to first defrost the product in a frying pan with a little butter to get rid of the liquid. If leaves are used without blanching, they should first be thawed and then boiled.
What can you cook with frozen spinach?
There are many recipes for cooking frozen spinach. In addition to the chefs themselves, housewives began to develop various delicious dishes in the kitchen, adding healthy products.
Smoothie
An excellent vitamin drink with fermented milk product.
Compound:
- 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.
Preparation step by step:
- Remove the frozen product cube in advance and keep it at room temperature.
- When it softens, add spices and chopped herbs.
- Mix with a blender.
Pour into a glass and drink between meals or instead of dinner.
Baked cod with sun-dried tomatoes
In this case, vegetables next to the fish in the form will replace the side dish.
Product set:
- cod fillet – 400 g;
- frozen spinach – 400 g;
- Sun-dried tomatoes – 30 g;
- lemon juice – 1 tbsp. l.;
- parmesan – 30 g;
- olive oil – 3 tbsp. l.;
- garlic – 3 cloves;
- dried rosemary – 1 sprig.
All stages of preparation:
- Wash the fish fillet, dry it with napkins and cut into portions.
- Add freshly squeezed lemon juice, your favorite spices and table salt.
- Coat with a little olive oil and fry on a grill pan for no more than 1 minute on each side.
- Crush the garlic, fry in oil and discard. Add spinach to the aromatic mixture, add salt and simmer for about 5 minutes.
- 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.
- Prepare a baking dish by greasing it with olive oil. Place the vegetable mixture and sprinkle with half the grated cheese.
- There will be fish pieces on top, pour a little oil and cover with the rest of the chopped Parmesan.
- 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 cloves;
- olive oil – 30 ml.
Prepare in the following way:
- Wash the mushrooms, remove damaged areas and dry.
- Cut off the stems, chop and fry along with the defrosted leaves.
- Before adding the filling, grease the caps inside and out with garlic oil.
- Bake in a hot oven for 20 minutes.
Serve sprinkled with herbs.
Lazy dumplings
Prepare:
- frozen diced spinach – 4 pcs.;
- cream – 4 tbsp. l.;
- cottage cheese – 400 g;
- egg – 2 pcs.;
- flour – 6 tbsp. l.
All stages of preparation:
- Grind the curd product with flour, salt and 1 egg. The mass should be homogeneous.
- Place spinach cubes in a ceramic bowl with a little water. Place in the microwave to defrost.
- Squeeze out the juice and puree with cream.
- Divide the rested dough into 2 equal parts.
- Stir the green mass into one piece and make a sausage.
- Place it on another piece rolled out and greased with egg white. Twist.
- Place in the freezer for about 20 minutes to make cutting easier.
- Cook like regular dumplings.
Place on plates with butter and chopped herbs.
Spicy chicken with spinach
You can boil rice as a side dish for this aromatic dish.
Product set:
- chicken breast – 500 g;
- tomato pieces - ½ tbsp.;
- packaged frozen spinach – 400 g;
- onion – 1 pc.;
- cream – 120 ml:
- garlic – 3 cloves;
- fresh ginger, ground cumin, coriander - 1 tbsp. l.;
- paprika, turmeric – ½ tsp;
- vegetable oil – 2 tbsp. l.;
- hot pepper – 2 pcs.;
- water – 1.5 tbsp.
Step by step guide:
- Sauté chopped onion in vegetable oil until soft.
- Add chopped garlic and ginger, fry for a couple of minutes.
- Mix with coriander, cumin, paprika, 1 tsp. salt and turmeric. Leave on fire for a minute.
- Chop peeled hot peppers, canned tomatoes, cinnamon, cream and water.
- Add spinach when defrosted and drained.
- Simmer the sauce covered for about 5 minutes.
- Cut the fillet into large pieces and add to the sauce, add salt (1/2 tsp).
- Cover and cook until done.
It is better to remove the cinnamon stick before serving.
Dietary dishes from frozen spinach
Spinach is very popular among people who care about their health and figure. A wonderful selection of recipes is presented.
Spinach bean soup
An easy first course that will fill you with energy.
Compound:
- frozen spinach leaves – 200 g;
- large carrots – 2 pcs.;
- medium-sized tomatoes – 3 pcs.;
- celery root – 200 g;
- celery stalk – 1 pc.;
- raw beans – 1 tbsp.;
- olive oil – 1 tbsp. l.;
- onion – 2 pcs.;
- garlic – 1 clove.
Algorithm of actions:
- Prepare 1 onion, 1 carrot and 100 g of celery. Place in a saucepan, add water and cook vegetable broth. Take out the products; they will no longer be needed.
- Cook the beans separately.
- Place a deep, large frying pan on the stove and heat with oil.
- Sauté the onion until transparent.
- Add chopped celery and carrots.
- Pour in the broth, add chopped garlic with dill and tomatoes, the skins of which were previously removed, doused with boiling water, and mashed into a puree.
- Simmer under the lid for a quarter of an hour.
- Add beans and chopped vegetable leaves.
In 10 minutes the soup will be ready.
Cream of mushroom soup with spinach
Compound:
- spinach (frozen) – 200 g;
- champignons – 300 g;
- water – 1 l;
- butter – 60 g;
- potatoes – 300 g;
- onions – 3 pcs.;
- garlic – 4 cloves.
Step-by-step preparation:
- Wash the potatoes, peel and cut into large cubes. Boil with garlic and 1 onion. Throw away the latter when ready.
- Heat a large saucepan and melt the butter.
- Fry chopped onions and mushrooms. At the end, add frozen cubes of blanched spinach and cook until done, not forgetting to add spices and salt.
- Add boiled potatoes and blend with a blender until almost smooth.
- Pour in the water remaining after boiling the potatoes.
- Mix.
Leave for about 10 minutes and serve with herbs.
Easy Creamy Frozen Spinach Side Dish
The recipe for steamed spinach with cream is very simple and perfect for a light snack.
Ingredients:
- frozen spinach – 0.5 kg;
- sugar – 1 tsp;
- cream (low-fat) – 3 tbsp. l.
For the gravy:
- flour – 2 tbsp. l.;
- milk – 1 tbsp.;
- butter – 2 tbsp. l.
Detailed recipe:
- Thaw spinach leaves (not blanched), boil and chop using a blender.
- Fry the flour in a dry frying pan, pour in the milk little by little to make mixing easier, keep on low heat until the sauce thickens.
- Add vegetable puree, salt, cream, granulated sugar and spices.
When the mixture boils, set aside and cover. After just 5 minutes you can start eating.
Pasta in creamy sauce with spinach
A hearty dinner that, in small quantities, will not harm your health.
Ingredients:
- onions – 3 pcs.;
- frozen semi-finished spinach – 400 g;
- butter – 30 g;
- cream – 200 ml;
- pasta – 250 g.
Detailed description:
- Place a bag of frozen green vegetables and leave at room temperature.
- Sauté the onion in a frying pan with melted butter.
- Add spinach and sauté until soft.
- Pour in the cream and leave on the fire after boiling for a few minutes. Season with salt, you can add pepper, fresh herbs and nutmeg.
- Boil the pasta separately.
Toss pasta with sauce before serving.
Frozen Spinach Casserole with Potatoes and Chicken
Product set:
- potatoes – 500 g;
- carrots – 100 g;
- chicken breast – 300 g;
- frozen spinach cubes – 200 g;
- eggs – 3 pcs.;
- butter – 40 g.
All stages of preparing frozen vegetable casserole:
- Peel and boil the potatoes and carrots. Make vegetable puree with eggs, add salt.
- Heat frozen spinach in a frying pan with a lid and evaporate the moisture.
- Mix with minced chicken.
- Grease a baking dish with a piece of butter.
- Add half of the mashed potatoes and smooth out.
- Apply the filling completely.
- Cover with remaining puree.
- Preheat the oven to 180˚ and place the casserole for 40 minutes.
Cut into portions and serve with sour cream.
Calories in frozen spinach
It should be taken into account 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 vegetables at home, especially since it is quite easy to do. It should be added to food to maintain the balance of nutrients in the body.
