Brazilian recipe
Steamed Spinach (Espinafre cozido no vapor)
Steaming is a quintessential technique in Brazilian home cooking, prized for its ability to maintain the vegetable’s vibrant colour, texture, and nutritional integrity.
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Ingredients
1 large bunch of spinach
Extra virgin olive oil to taste
Sea salt to taste
Extra virgin olive oil to taste
Sea salt to taste
Where to find ingredients
You can find fresh, high-quality spinach bunches in the produce aisle of all major British supermarkets or at your local farmers' market. For a refined flavour, use a good quality extra virgin olive oil found in the oils and vinegars section.
Preparation method
- Separate the spinach leaves from the thicker, woody stalks.
- Keep the thinner, tender stalks attached to the leaves.
- Place the spinach leaves into a large bowl.
- Cover with cold water and wash thoroughly.
- Lift the spinach out of the bowl by hand rather than draining the water through a colander.
- This method ensures that any grit or soil remains at the bottom of the bowl.
- Transfer the leaves to a colander to drain any excess water.
- Fill a medium saucepan with water to about one-third of its capacity.
- Place the pan over high heat and bring to a boil.
- Fit a steamer basket over the saucepan.
- Ensure the boiling water does not make direct contact with the base of the basket.
- Place half of the spinach leaves into the steamer basket.
- Cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid.
- Steam for approximately 5 minutes, or until the leaves have just wilted.
- Avoid overcooking to prevent the leaves from becoming bitter or losing their structure.
- Alternatively, you may use a bamboo steamer basket for this process.
- Remove the spinach using kitchen tongs and transfer it to a serving platter.
- Repeat the steaming process with the remaining batch of leaves.
- Finish by drizzling with olive oil and seasoning with sea salt to taste.
- Serve immediately.
Observations
This gentle steaming method ensures your spinach stays light and packed with nutrients, making it an ideal, healthy side dish for any day of the week.
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