Spiced Water Spinach Recipes

QUICK AND EASY SAUTEED SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the spinach to the skillet and cover; allow to cook 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic salt and cover again for another 5 minutes; remove from heat. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese to serve.

MIDDLE EASTERN SPINACH WITH SPICES AND YOGURT

Steps:

• Heat a small dry skillet over medium heat and add the clove, allspice berries, and coriander seeds or cumin seeds. Heat, shaking the pan, until the spices begin to smell toasty, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and allow to cool for a few minutes, then grind in a spice mill. Add the cinnamon, and set aside.
• In a mortar and pestle, mash the garlic with 1/4 teaspoon salt to a paste, and stir into the yogurt. Set aside.
• Place the baby spinach in a bowl and pour on boiling water to cover. Let sit for a couple of minutes, then drain, rinse with cold water, squeeze out excess water, and chop coarsely.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a wide, heavy skillet and add the pine nuts. Cook, stirring, until they begin color (2 to 3 minutes), then remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the spices to the oil. When they begin to sizzle, cook for about 30 seconds and add the spinach, toasted pine nuts, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring, until the spinach is heated through and coated with the oil and spices, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish and spoon the yogurt over the top. This is very nice served with Arabic bread.

SPICY WATERMELON

Steps:

• Mix cumin, coriander, chili powder, salt, and cayenne pepper together in a bowl.
• Place watermelon into serving bowls; sprinkle with spice mixture. Squeeze lime juice over spiced watermelon.

SPINACH SAUTEED WITH INDIAN SPICES

Steps:

• In a high straight-sided medium skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and the garlic, and cook until shallots are lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Stir in ginger, cumin, and turmeric, and cook for 30 seconds. Add spinach and mustard seeds; season with salt and pepper; cook, tossing until spinach is just wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from skillet, and serve immediately.

WATER SPINACH

Steps:

• Clean spinach in several changes of cold water and drain well. If using water spinach, trim and discard the bottom 2 inches of the woody ends. Cut remaining stems into 2 inch lengths and place in a bowl. Cut leafy top portions into 2 inch lengths and place in another bowl. If using regular spinach, trim and discard stems. Set aside.
• Combine fish sauce, bean sauce, and palm sugar in a small bowl and set aside.
• Heat oil in a wok, swirling to coat the surface, add the garlic and stir-fry for 10 seconds. Add the spinach stems, if using water spinach, toss to combine with the garlic and cook 1 minute. Add reserved fish sauce mixture, toss to combine with the garlic, and add leafy portions of water spinach, or all of regular spinach. Toss spinach quickly until it begins to wilt, then transfer to a serving platter. Serve warm.

SPICED WATER SPINACH

Steps:

• Trim stem ends of water spinach, then slice remaining stems and leaves crosswise 1/4inch thick.
• Heat oil in wok over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then cook panch phoron and whole chiles, stirring constantly, until seeds begin sputtering, about 30 seconds. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until it begins to turn golden, about 15 seconds.
• Add water spinach a handful at a time, stirring. Add salt and cook, stirring, until most of liquid that spinach gives off is evaporated, about 6 minutes.
• Available at Indian markets and Kalustyan's (212-685-3451).

STIR FRIED WATER SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a wok over high heat and stir-fry the garlic until fragrant and lightly golden, about 1 minute. Add the water spinach, season with pepper, and stir-fry until wilted, about 3 minutes. Add the bean curd, stir-fry until it is evenly distributed, then cover and cook until done, 2 to 3 minutes more.

SAUTEED SPINACH WITH INDIAN SPICES

Steps:

• In a high straight-sided medium skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and the garlic, and cook until shallots are lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Stir in ginger, cumin, and turmeric, and cook for 30 seconds.
• Add spinach and mustard seeds; season with salt and pepper; cook, tossing until spinach is just wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from skillet, and serve immediately.