5 healthy spinach recipes to enjoy during winter

As the winter season sets in, incorporating spinach into your diet becomes more appealing than ever. Packed with essential vitamins and minerals, spinach not only adds vibrant flavour to your meals but also offers numerous health benefits. Rich in iron, fiber, and antioxidants, this leafy green vegetable can boost your immune system and support overall well-being. To make your winter meals both wholesome and tasty, consider trying out five spinach recipes that seamlessly blend health and flavour in one. These recipes promise not only to keep you warm but also to tantalise your taste buds with the goodness of spinach.

5 spinach recipes for winter you must try!

Be it salad, soup, or paratha, spinach can be enjoyed in several ways. Here are 5 healthy spinach recipes shared by Nutritionist and Dietitian Deepti Lokeshappa.

1. Creamy spinach and mushroom soup

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 8-10 mushroom pieces, sliced
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 potato, diced
• 4 cups fresh spinach
• 1 cup heavy cream
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Step 1: In a large pot, saute onions and garlic in olive oil until softened.
• Step 2: Add mushrooms and cook until they release moisture.
• Step 3: Pour in vegetable broth and add diced potatoes. Simmer until potatoes are tender.
• Step 4: Now, add spinach and stir until wilted.
• Step 5: Add heavy cream, salt, and pepper.
• Step 6: Cook for an additional 5 minutes. Serve hot.

2. Winter spinach salad with roasted vegetables

Ingredients:

• 4 cups baby spinach
• 1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed
• 1 beet, peeled and sliced
• 1/2 cup pecans, toasted
• 1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese
• Balsamic vinaigrette dressing

Instructions:

• Step 1: Toss sweet potato and beet slices with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast in the oven until tender.
• Step 2: In a large bowl, combine roasted vegetables with baby spinach, pecans, and goat cheese.
• Step 3: Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette and toss to combine.

3. Spinach and lentil stew

Ingredients:

• 1 cup green lentils, rinsed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 2 cups fresh spinach
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Step 1: In a large pot, saute onions, carrots, and celery until softened.
• Step 2: Add garlic, cumin, and smoked paprika. Cook for an additional minute.
• Step 3: Pour in vegetable broth and add lentils. Simmer until the lentils are tender.
• Step 4: Add the fresh spinach, stir, and cook until it becomes wilted.

4. Spinach paratha

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• One cup of freshly chopped spinach leaves
• One coarsely chopped green chilli (optional for spice)
• 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
• Salt, to taste
• Water, as needed for kneading
• Ghee or oil, for cooking

Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare the dough

• In a mixing bowl, combine the whole wheat flour, chopped spinach, green chili, grated ginger, cumin powder, and salt.
• Gradually add water and knead the mixture into a smooth dough. Give it ten to fifteen minutes to rest.

Step 2: Divide and roll

• Divide the dough into small, lemon-sized balls.
• Using a rolling pin, flatten each ball into a circular disc. When necessary, dust with flour to avoid sticking.

Step 3: Cooking the parathas

• Heat a tawa (griddle) over medium heat.
• Place a rolled paratha on the hot tawa and cook until bubbles start to appear.
• Flip the Parantha, and spread a teaspoon of ghee or oil on the cooked side.
• Cook until both sides are golden brown, pressing gently with a spatula to ensure even cooking on both sides.

Serve the spinach parathas hot with yogurt, pickles, or any favorite side dish.

5. Spinach and feta-stuffed chicken breasts

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 cups fresh spinach
• 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Olive oil for cooking

Instructions

• Step 1: Turn the oven on to 375°F, or 190°C.
• Step 2: In a bowl, mix spinach, feta, garlic, salt, and pepper.
• Step 3: Make a pocket in each chicken breast and fill it with the mixture of spinach and feta.
• Step 4: Secure with toothpicks and season the outside with salt and pepper.
• Step 5: Heat olive oil in an oven-safe skillet. Brown the chicken on each side.
• Step 6: Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.

Enjoy these spinach recipes in this cold weather and keep yourself warm!