Spinach: composition, useful properties and contraindications

Unfortunately, spinach is very rare to be found in the dishes of Russians. In fact, it is very useful and just necessary for the diet of a healthy person. In Europe, it is very popular and widespread in the same way as in our country the sorrel. What is so special about spinach, and why it is so necessary, we will try to understand in today's article.

What is spinach and what does it look like?

Surely, as a child, many people watched the cartoon about the sailor Popeye, who ate spinach and immediately became fantastically strong. This information about the plant has remained in the memories of adults. But they hardly heard anything new about spinach and still remember it in Popeye's jar, not even knowing what it really looks like.

So, spinach is a vegetable herb filled with lots of vitamins and nutrients. It is one of the colorful plants in the Mare family. It was first found in the Middle East.

The plant can reach 40 centimeters in height. Spinach comes in a variety of colors and shapes. The main difference of the plant can be called that its fruits ripen very quickly. Often, a month is enough to get them.

Types

There is a huge number of very different species of this plant. Now let's take a closer look at the most famous varieties of spinach. These can include:

1. The most famous species is the vegetable spinach. It has a pleasant sweet taste, due to which it is considered the most delicious.
2. The New Zealand species differs from the others in its voluminous and wiry leaves.
3. Jminda is a spinach that reaches a height of 8 centimeters. The berries of this variety resemble raspberries very much.
4. Basella grows as a vines and reaches 3 meters in length.

Gardeners who want to plant spinach in their vegetable garden are interested in its taste. It can be eaten fresh, boiled or mashed. If no spices are added, spinach tastes pretty neutral. It is neither bitter nor sour, very similar to ordinary salad leaves.

What is the difference between spinach and sorrel

In fact, sorrel and spinach are similar plants that are very easy to confuse. However, if you look at them in more detail, you will notice a very clear difference between them:

1. Sorrel leaves are lighter in color and sharper in shape, while spinach leaves are fairly round and dark green.
2. The flavor profile also varies greatly. The acid that goes into the sorrel makes it more acidic. The taste of spinach, on the other hand, is very delicate and quite neutral.
3. Sorrel is not as useful as spinach, because it has fewer vitamins and minerals.

Composition and calories

The usefulness of the product can always be determined by finding out its composition. The same is true with spinach. The most surprising fact is the incredibly low caloric content. In 100 grams of the product contains only 23 kcal, which is a godsend for people who are losing weight. The consumption of spinach allows you to get rid of a lot of pounds. Despite the low caloric content, the vegetable contains many useful substances:

• all kinds of vitamins;
• iron;
• copper;
• zinc;
• sodium;
• potassium, essential for excellent heart function;
• magnesium;
• phosphorus;
• calcium, which contributes to the strength and strength of the bones;
• daily beta-carotene rate;
• choline;
• manganese.

Useful properties of spinach

General benefits

As you have already understood, the main value of this vegetable greens is a large number of minerals and vitamins. Such a unique composition can not have a bad effect on the human body. All of its elements have a beneficial effect on health.

The main properties of spinach:

• strengthens the immune system;
• helps to get rid of problems with blood pressure and constipation;
• serves as a prophylactic in the treatment of such a terrible disease as cancer;
• helps with dental problems;
• regulates metabolism;
• helps strengthen blood vessels;
• Helps lower blood sugar levels;
• fights anemia when the body suffers from iron deficiency;
• calms the nervous system and helps fight depression;
• improves the quality of nails and hair;
• Helps reduce eye fatigue.

Spinach is good for absolutely all people. Let's break down the benefits for everyone.

For women

As you know, the main problem that women of any age face and try to fight is excessive weight, which prevents a normal life. Spinach is exactly the product that such girls need to pay special attention to. By adding spinach leaves to your diet, you can noticeably reduce the volume.

In addition to weight loss, spinach helps in maintaining a youthful and healthy skin, which is so important for women. In addition, the antioxidants found in the leaves of the plant help prevent premature aging. Among other things, spinach leaves are widely used in the cosmetic industry to make special scrubs, masks and creams.

For men

The benefits of spinach for the male sex are undeniable. It is especially important to consume the leaves of the plant for teenage boys. Since the vegetable contains zinc, it is an excellent source for the production of testosterone in the body. Under its influence a teenager's voice may begin to break down a little earlier. Hair will begin to appear all over the body and the boy will have a sex drive. Spinach is just necessary for a teenager, because lack of zinc leads to hormonal failure and unnecessary problems.

Testosterone is responsible for a boy's sexual development. Thanks to this hormone, they can experience arousal. Therefore, the so-called erection mainly depends on the presence of zinc in the body. As you have understood, a great way to avoid impotence is to eat spinach.

In addition to the sexual sphere, the product is necessary for the male body for the proper functioning of the heart and the normal supply of oxygen to the tissues. Naturally, as a means of rejuvenation, the plant is also excellent for the male sex.

Spinach is also very important for maintaining in good condition the male fertility function. The elements that make up the vegetable contribute to a problem-free conception of a healthy child.

When pregnant

Pregnancy is an incredibly happy and at the same time difficult time in the life of any woman. Naturally, as young girls, future mothers are unlikely to carefully monitor their diet. However, during the period of carrying the baby is very important that the food consumed was healthy and complete. All doctors recommend women in the situation of pregnancy to eat green vegetables, because this is the main source of vitamins and minerals.

It can be concluded that spinach is an ideal product for future mothers. In addition to useful vitamins, the composition of the vegetable includes iodine, the lack of which leads to a violation of the thyroid gland, which can worsen the condition and hormonal background of the pregnant woman.

In addition to iodine, spinach is rich in iron, which fills the cells of the body with oxygen and increases hemoglobin. Plant protein helps to "build" healthy cells, which is important during the formation of the fetus.

Spinach leaves can help the mother-to-be get rid of constipation. They contain many substances that help in the fight against viral diseases, improve the function of the pancreas and can get rid of aching pain in the lower back.

Spinach is especially useful at the beginning and end of pregnancy, when the body needs iron the most. It is also interesting that in combination with meat, the product is best absorbed by the body.

When breastfeeding

Greens are very important for a woman who is breastfeeding a newborn baby. This product can help mommy to recover faster after childbirth. Normal development of the baby also helps to ensure that the leaves of lettuce.

Naturally, during the breastfeeding period of the baby's diet should be as well thought out, because all the elements of food get through breast milk to the baby. Spinach is one of those foods that not only can be eaten by mothers, but it is simply necessary. Unlike other greens, it is quickly absorbed by the body. Therefore, the baby will not suffer from colic or stomach upsets. In addition, the product is involved in the formation and development of the baby's internal organs.

Among other things, for mothers of a newborn baby spinach will be a great way to get fit. After all, the leaves help get rid of excess weight, tone, restore, soothe and relax a woman.

For kids

Spinach is a real treasure trove of useful vitamins and minerals for the growing body. It helps in the growth of all the cells of the child and strengthens the body as a whole.

Spinach in a child's diet contributes to:

• the normalization of metabolism;
• The prevention of rickets;
• the formation of strong and strong teeth;
• relieving constipation;
• Strengthening of children's immunity;
• weight loss;
• rapid absorption by the body of useful substances.

Very often in stores you can find baby puree, which includes spinach.

For weight loss

Spinach is a unique product for people who dream of losing weight. Its low calorie content and incredible properties that cleanse the body contribute to fast weight loss.

In today's world, a huge number of newfangled diets have been developed on the basis of this product. Of course, to achieve great success in a few days will not work. Achieve a slender figure is possible only with the daily use of spinach in food and exercise.

Spinach itself does not have a certain taste, which allows you to constantly experiment with different additives and dishes. Diets that include these greens do not involve starvation, but allow you to tone your body.

The benefits of spinach juice

Spinach juice is not to everyone's liking. However, the large number of advantages of such a drink surpasses all its disadvantages. All nutritionists advise to consume spinach every day. After all, it has a positive effect on brain activity, heart function and the human immune system.

It is very important that spinach juice is freshly squeezed. You should drink it immediately after making it. There is nothing complicated about making spinach juice. It is fast and easy. You only need to take the necessary amount of leaves and use a juicer or blender to squeeze all the juice from them.

All its useful properties of juice can be stored for no more than one day after making. It is very important to keep it in the refrigerator.

Before starting to use such a drink is worth to consult a doctor to understand whether it will harm the body, and in what quantity it should be drunk.

Juice should not be diluted with water or mineral water. After all, in this case, it will lose all the useful properties, and can harm the body by exacerbating all kinds of diseases of the stomach.

Spinach in medicine

For diabetes mellitus

Spinach will help diabetics to fight the disease and strengthen the body. Naturally, it is very important to consult a doctor before consuming the product.

1. Spinach is rich in vitamins, which contributes to the prevention and treatment of diabetes.
2. It strengthens the work of the nervous system, which will get rid of the terrible disease.
3. The product is also useful in that it prevents the deposition of fat, because it is a low-calorie plant.
4. Spinach leaves are full of proteins that reproduce human insulin. This helps to slow down the development of the disease.
5. The work of the stomach and intestines is improved through the consumption of spinach.

Since the plant contains oxalic acid, which not every body can digest, it is very important that your doctor selects for you a clear and well-thought-out diet.

Important: The glycemic index of spinach is 30 units.

For pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is a disease in which the pancreas becomes inflamed. Naturally, spinach has a lot of useful substances and vitamins. Already more than once we have been able to make sure of this. But, despite all the positive features of the product, it can be contraindicated to many people. The main feature of spinach is the high content of oxalic acid, as a result of which the product should be necessarily excluded from the diet of a person with pancreatitis. After all, the acid can aggravate damage to the stomach and lead to a worsening of the disease.

In addition to acid, spinach leaves are rich in fiber. Their consumption against the background of the disease can provoke severe stomach aches and aggravate the situation.

So, if you can not imagine eating without spinach, you will have to include willpower. After all, if you fall ill with pancreatitis, you will have to give up your favorite product.

With gastritis

Gastritis is a disease of the stomach. Suffering from such a problem, it is very important to know what kind of disease you have. After all, in case of gastritis with high acidity, spinach should not be eaten in any case. And with hypoacidic it is not only possible, but also necessary. It is especially useful to combine vegetables with steamed spinach.

Leaves with gastritis can be used in food only in fresh form.

For the intestines

Spinach is a dietary product. It is called a real "broom" for the intestines, because it includes a large number of minerals, vitamins and acids. Therefore, it is excellent for the prevention and treatment of almost all intestinal diseases.

For constipation

The product has an excellent effect on digestion. Spinach in its raw form helps the intestines recover and detoxify. By taking half a liter of juice a day, you can quickly cope with the elimination of even the most severe constipation. This happens because spinach speeds up the muscles and nerves of the intestines. After the course passed, the muscles will be able to continue to work actively on their own. That's why spinach juice is the best remedy to get rid of constipation.

For Gout

Gout is a chronic disease of the joints, accompanied by severe pain and other bad symptoms. Of course, the disease must be treated, because it greatly interferes with the quiet course of life.

You can cope with the disease at home, clearly observing the diet prescribed by the doctor. The right diet is a guarantee of health and a guarantee of exacerbation of the disease. The consumption of spinach in gout is acceptable only in small quantities. Even if it is possible, it is better to give it up altogether.

For the liver

Since spinach is rich in vitamins and minerals, it is ideal for treating many liver diseases. As the saying goes, drink the juice and you will be healthy.

Folk medicine recipes with spinach

The medicinal properties of spinach are recognized not only by official medicine. It has long been used by people, making from it painkillers and cleansers.

Recipe 1

The purpose is to cleanse the body of toxins and harmful accumulations.

To prepare it, you will need:

• 2 bananas;
• A small bunch of spinach;
• A cup of water;
• The juice of half a lemon.

All ingredients should be mixed in a blender until a homogeneous mass. It is recommended to drink the drink every day a few hours before going to bed.

Recipe 2

The purpose is to get rid of frequent cramps.

If such failures of the nervous system occur, then this recipe is what is needed.

Making steps:

1. Cook spinach leaves for 10 minutes.
2. Cut into small pieces.
3. Mix with vegetable oil.
4. Mix well.

Medicinal decoction should be taken twice a day for 1 tablespoon half an hour before a meal.

Prescription 3

Do you suffer from hemorrhoids, then you will need:

• 50 ml of almond juice.
• 50 ml of spinach juice.

Mix the components thoroughly. The medicine should be used 2 times a day until the situation improves.

Recipe 4

Very often there are various irritations or pimples on the body, which bring a lot of inconvenience. To get rid of them will help decoction of spinach. To do this, you need to take fresh leaves and prepare a pulp from them. To the inflamed place, apply a compress with the decoction and leave it for 25-30 minutes.

Recipe 5

For getting rid of anemia, a recipe for which the following components are needed will be excellent:

• half a liter of water;
• 20 g of spinach.

Preparation:

1. Thoroughly chop the leaves and put them in a container with water.
2. After an hour, strain the resulting tincture.
3. Drink the decoction 60 ml three times a day.

Spinach in cosmetology

Spinach leaves are actively used in cosmetology. Masks made from this plant allow you to fill the skin of the face with useful substances. For maximum effect, you can add honey, vegetable oil or milk to its composition.

The mask can be done daily or only once a week. The number of procedures depends on your own preferences, needs and features of the skin.

For face

A mask that gets rid of freckles
Freckles often appear on the faces of fair-skinned people. However, if you want to get rid of them, we recommend using this recipe. You need:

1. Crush the fresh leaves.
2. Dip them in olive oil.
3. Apply the leaves to the freckles on your face for 20 minutes.
4. Remove the leaves and wash your face with warm water.

Such a procedure should be done several times a week.

Rejuvenating mask
Want to get rid of wrinkles, for the recipe you need to prepare:

• 15 g of cocoa;
• A few drops of coconut oil;
• 20 grams of spinach.

Using a blender, crush the spinach and mix with the rest of the ingredients. Apply a large layer to the skin of the face and leave for half an hour. After the procedure, clean the skin with special cosmetics.

Refreshing mask
A refreshing spinach mask will help accelerate blood flow and relieve facial irritation. To make the skin color brighter and increase its elasticity, you will need:

• potatoes;
• almond oil;
• A few leaves of spinach.

The potatoes and spinach should be chopped with a blender and add the oil. Apply the mask to the lymph flow lines and leave for half an hour. Rinse off with warm water. It is best to make a relaxing mask before going to bed.

Oily skin mask
Is your skin too oily? Restore your complexion and cleanse all the ducts will help a special mask of spinach.

To prepare it you will need:

• spinach juice;
• 10 g of rye flour;
• 10 g of coconut oil.

All the ingredients must be put together and thoroughly mixed. Gently apply the mixture to the face. Leave the mask on for 15-20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. After 7 treatments, positive changes will be noticeable.

For Hair

The sheer amount of vitamins in spinach promotes fast hair growth. Iron improves blood flow, resulting in oxygen to the hair. This is very important for fast hair growth and strengthening. Spinach is also an ideal product for people suffering from baldness. You can rinse your hair with the juice once a week.

Harms and contraindications

All products, even the most ideal, have their contraindications. Spinach is no exception.

The product should not be consumed:

• For rheumatism, gout and arthritis;
• peptic ulcer;
• cystitis and kidney problems;
• Low blood pressure.

It can be said that in all chronic diseases for which a special diet has been established, you cannot eat spinach. Do not experiment on your own. Be sure to consult your doctor!

Symptoms of a food allergic reaction to spinach:

• itchy skin;
• hives;
• severe abdominal pain;
• fever;
• vomiting;
• dizziness and loss of consciousness;
• headaches;
• skin rash;
• cramps.

Allergies begin to manifest themselves several hours after eating spinach. The most reliable method of determining an allergy is testing. Blood is taken from a vein to establish the diagnosis. If the protein in the blood is elevated, then an allergic reaction occurs in the body.

How to choose and store spinach

1. To choose quality spinach, you need to give preference to green leaves with well-defined lines. They should look as if they have just been plucked from the bed. They can by no means be curled.
2. Spinach leaves should not be yellow or very light. Do not buy rotten leaves with spots on them.
3. Spinach should be stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Do not put it near other fruits or vegetables so that it does not begin to rot before its time.
4. You need to watch the temperature in the refrigerator. Spinach can freeze at low temperatures. Therefore, it is important that it be above the 0°C mark.
5. Eat the spinach within 2-4 days after purchase. It is desirable to eat it fresh, it should not be stored for a long time.
6. Before cooking, you need to rinse the spinach leaves well to get rid of dirt or soil residues. You will not need water for cooking. Therefore, it is important to dry the leaves.
7. The harvest can keep longer in the fall than at any other time of the year.
8. Spinach dishes should also not be stored for more than two days, because all the useful properties will be lost.
9. Spinach can be frozen in the freezer for several months. It doesn't have to be leaves, you can make mashed potatoes.
10. The flavor and consistency will begin to change after 10 months.

Greens can also be dried. This allows you to preserve all the useful properties of the product for quite a long time. Preparing spinach for drying is not difficult. After this, you need to put the raw material in small bags or jars and store it in a dark and dry place. This is very convenient, because throughout the next year it can be used to prepare excellent dishes.

How to eat spinach correctly

How much you can eat per day.

In fact, there is an exact answer to such a question. The norm of spinach per day for an adult is about 100 g. It is important to remember that it is digested in the stomach for more than three hours.

Is it possible to eat at night and on an empty stomach?

Spinach is an excellent product for satiety. After using it there will not be a heavy stomach, and for a long time there will not be a need for food. In addition, the low caloric content promotes weight loss. Therefore, spinach can be eaten at any time of the day without hesitation.

Can I Eat it Raw

The answer to the question: of course you can! The main thing is that you like the taste. With spinach leaves you can prepare a huge number of amazing salads, different pastas, as well as delicious cocktails. The main thing is not to forget to wash it before consuming, because dirt and bacteria contained in it will not improve the body in any way. Fresh spinach can even be called ideal, because it contains the most vitamins and minerals in this form.

Raw spinach is slightly less caloric than cooked spinach, so it is better suited for weight loss. Fresh leaves not only can, but should be eaten. They will help to get rid of constipation, improve the function of the gastrointestinal tract, improve brain function. Also, for cancerous tumors, fresh spinach is a great way to fight them.

It is easy enough to grow spinach in your garden. So don't spare money and effort, plant it and enjoy the vitamins all summer long.

Is it possible to eat blooming spinach

Experienced nutritionists do not recommend eating a blooming vegetable. This process indicates that spinach has overgrown. At this time, its leaves become coarse, unpalatable and will not do the body any good. On the contrary, they can bring harm. As we already know, spinach has a lot of folic acid, and the older the plant, the more it becomes. Consequently, the consumption of such leaves will harm the work of the urinary organs.

It is best to cut the leaves when they reach 8 cm. To eat spinach all summer long, it is advisable to sow its fruits several times per season. The first sowing is best done when the spinach buds are just beginning to swell, and the second sowing is done right in June.

What can be cooked from spinach: recipes

"The king of vegetables" has always enjoyed great popularity among the hostesses of Europe. The useful properties of spinach have led to the fact that at the moment there is an incredible number of the most diverse dishes from this product. All of them are distinguished by a special finesse and incredible taste.

Very interesting is the fact that earlier in England for the royal palace hired a specially trained person who worked exclusively with spinach. It is even said that the importance of this product was emphasized by serving it with white gloves.

Of course, in Russia chefs also know how to cook spinach, but this culture has not really caught on in our country. Often it is used to host foreign guests.

For some reason, our hostesses do not particularly like and revere this product. Not only that, it is very rare to meet a person who knows what this vegetable looks like, what it is needed for. On the store shelves, too, you can rarely find this ingredient. Very in vain! After all, spinach grows very quickly, and the number of useful properties just amazes. And how many delicious dishes can be prepared with it! Countless...

So, we offer you the best dishes from spinach and their recipes.

Milk soup with spinach and croutons

Spinach can be used to prepare a very delicate soup, which differs from the others in its incredible usefulness and exquisite taste.

To prepare this dish, you will need the following components:

• half a kilogram of spinach;
• a glass of milk;
• 2 tablespoons of flour;
• 3 tablespoons of melted butter;
• 2 boiled eggs;
• croutons;
• parsley, salt and pepper to taste.

Preparation:

1. Thoroughly sort through spinach, discarding any yellowed or wilted leaves. Rinse the crop in a bowl, changing the water several times. Rinse under running water so there is no soil left. If the leaves are large, you need to cut off the roots.
2. Bring water to a boil and throw in the spinach prepared in advance. Boil for 5 minutes. When finished, pour it into a colander and let the water drain. Preserve the broth. After that, the cooked spinach should be squeezed and finely chopped.
3. In oil, pass the flour and add a little of the broth left when cooking. Stir until all lumps disappear.
4. Put the paste into a saucepan and pour a glass of broth over it. Bring to the boil and pour in the milk. If desired, you can pepper and salt the soup. Boil it again and turn off.
5. Prepare croutons by placing slices of loaf in a preheated oven. It will be very delicious if you sprinkle them with crushed garlic.
6. Serve the dish by adding some dill, chopped egg and croutons. Bon appetit!

Green cabbage soup with spinach and egg

This is a very tasty variety of ordinary soups.

For the preparation you will need:

• 250 g spinach;
• 150 g sorrel;
• 1 onion;
• 4-5 potatoes;
• 25 g of melted butter;
• boiled egg;
• parsley;
• sour cream.

How to prepare:

1. Begin by picking through the spinach and sorrel leaves. All spoiled leaves should be thrown out. Greens should be well washed and dried. Then poach them separately and chop them.
2. Pass the onion in the oil until it becomes soft.
3. Pour clean water into a pot and bring it to a boil. Add chopped potatoes to the pot, after 10 minutes, chopped parsley and fried onions.
4. Add shredded greens to the boiling water and cook for 7-8 minutes.
5. Add spices to taste. You can put a few bay leaves for better flavor.
6. Bring back to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes.
7. Pour the soup on a plate and garnish with a chopped egg. An excellent addition to this borscht will be sour cream.

Spinach salad

Spinach can also be used to make a great quick snack for occasional guests.

Ingredients needed for the salad:

• half a pound of spinach;
• 200 g of sorrel;
• 100 g of onions;
• 2 hard-boiled eggs;
• a few pieces of olives;
• a tablespoon of lemon juice;
• couple of stalks of garlic;
• vegetable oil;
• spices as desired.

How to cook:

1. Rearrange spinach, removing all wilted and spoiled leaves. After that, carefully cut off the stem of the plant. Rinse thoroughly under running water and allow the greens to dry completely.
2. Onion and garlic also finely chop.
3. The egg is cut into small cubes.
4. Mix all the ingredients in one bowl. Add spices to taste.
5. Add lemon juice and vegetable oil, mix again and let the salad stay for 15 minutes. The salad is very hearty, tasty, delicate and healthy.

Spinach pkhali

Georgian cuisine is famous for its unique dishes and incredibly delicious cuisine. Pkhali is a traditional cold snack in Georgia. It has a unique flavor, elegant and unique taste, which gives the dish its main ingredient - spinach. There are many recipes for such an appetizer, but today we will consider the most popular.

To prepare it, you will need:

• half a kilogram of spinach;
• 50 g of peeled walnuts;
• 1 onion;
• half a teaspoon of crushed coriander;
• A few cloves of garlic;
• pomegranate;
• vinegar;
• 50 gr. coriander;
• pepper and salt to taste.

Preparation:

1. It is best to use frozen spinach for the dish. Therefore, you need to take it out of the freezer and allow it to defrost. Rinse thoroughly under warm water. The roots of the fruit along with spoiled leaves should be cut off and thrown away. Good spinach, on the other hand, send it to a saucepan with hot water. After that, use a colander to remove all excess water from the greens.
2. Georgians use walnuts, garlic and onions to make the pkhali. All these ingredients should be ground through a meat grinder until you get small pieces. Add seasoning and vinegar to the resulting mixture.
3. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Make small balls and put them on a plate. You can also decorate the appetizer with pomegranate seeds. The dish is ready to be eaten.

Smoothie

This is a real godsend for a skinny person in the heat. Smoothie is a delicious smoothie, which can be prepared by chopping in a blender any fruit. Today we offer a spinach smoothie with yogurt.

For 2 servings you will need:

• 300 g of yogurt;
• A few tablespoons of honey;
• 1 avocado;
• 260 g coconut milk;
• 240 g spinach;
• 200g ice.

All the ingredients are thoroughly beaten with a blender. Pour the resulting mixture into glasses and place in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. Such cocktail is perfect in hot weather. It refreshes, tones and gives vitality.

Sauce

It will be a wonderful addition to any festive table and can give other dishes a special piquancy and taste.

To prepare the sauce, you need to take:

• 200 g spinach;
• 200 ml of milk;
• A couple of cloves of garlic;
• 50 g of hard cheese;
• 30 g of butter;
• lemon juice;
• salt and spices to taste.

Cooking steps:

1. Thoroughly wash and finely chop the spinach leaves.
2. Put a frying pan on a high heat and pour in the prepared spinach.
3. While it is stewing, chop the cheese on a coarse grater.
4. When the greens are half done, you can add lemon juice, garlic and herbs to the chard.
5. 5 minutes of stewing will be enough. Pour the milk into the pan. But here it is important that the fire is not too strong, otherwise it will curdle because of the previously added acid.
6. Bring the broth to a boil. Then turn down the heat and add the grated cheese. Stir it and let it melt.
7. Pour the sauce into a bowl. It is best served warm.

Cutlets

Spinach cutlets are a very tasty dish that few people know about. These greens give the dish an unforgettable flavor and make it taste perfect.

To prepare these cutlets you will need:

• 1 kilogram of spinach;
• 2 eggs;
• 3 tablespoons of flour;
• chopped parsley;
• salt and pepper to taste.

It is necessary to do the following steps:

1. Carefully pick spinach, removing the roots and spoiled leaves. Rinse under running water.
2. Place the greens in a pot and pour it with boiling water. They will need to infuse. After 5 minutes, the water can be drained, leaving the spinach leaves. After that, squeeze the vegetable and very finely chop it.
3. Add all the ingredients to the greens and mix thoroughly. Form cutlets from the resulting mass.
4. Heat a pan with oil and put the cutlets on it. Fry on both sides until the croquettes are golden brown.
5. It is best served with potatoes. Insanely healthy and delicious dinner is ready.

Cream pudding with spinach

Surprising? Actually, spinach is great for desserts as well. We suggest making an incredibly delicious pudding.

The necessary ingredients:

• 150 g spinach;
• 200 g of cottage cheese;
• 100 g sour cream;
• 30 gr of hard cheese;
• 1 egg;
• 2 tablespoons of butter;
• tablespoon of sugar;
• ground croutons;
• 1 tablespoon semolina.

Preparation:

1. To make the pudding fluffy and very tender, it is necessary to rub the cottage cheese through a sieve.
2. The egg is divided into white and yolk. Add the yolk to the curd mass and stir it.
3. In a bowl with cottage cheese add sugar, salt and semolina. Whisk all the ingredients and allow them to stand aside for them all to dissolve.
4. Finely chop spinach leaves and add to the curd mixture.
5. In a separate container, whisk the previously obtained protein. It is necessary to achieve a white foam. After that, pour the mixture into a bowl with cottage cheese.
6. Take a special baking dish and grease it with butter. If desired, sprinkle it with breadcrumbs. Then place the mass on the baking tray. You can slightly knock the form on the table, so that all the air bubbles come out of it.
7. Brush the curd mass with sour cream and sprinkle with grated cheese.
8. In a preheated oven to 200 ° C place the form. Literally in half an hour the tender pudding will be ready to eat. You can tell its readiness by the ruddy brown crust.
9. Place the pudding on pretty plates and serve with fruit sauce or sour cream. The unique flavor and exquisite aroma will stay in the memory of your friends for a long time. Don't be surprised if a friend asks you for the recipe at the first possible occasion.

Spinach Soufflé

Spinach soufflé is a delicious and memorable dessert for any celebration.

To make it you will need:

• 200 g spinach;
• 50 g of butter;
• a glass of milk;
• One tablespoon of flour;
• 2 eggs;
• Spoonful of breadcrumbs;
• 50 g sour cream;
• hard cheese;
• A pinch of ground nuts;
• salt to taste.

Preparation:

1. To begin, make a thick milk sauce. Heat oil in a frying pan, adding flour. Over a low heat, fry the two ingredients for about a minute, stirring the broth constantly.
2. Add salt and nutmeg to the pan. While stirring, gradually pour in the milk. Stir until all the lumps have disappeared. The mixture should be thick.
3. Separate the eggs into egg yolks and whites. Add the raw yolks to the milk sauce. Whites thoroughly beat until white foam.
4. Select spinach leaves carefully, wash and dry. Then finely chop them and add to the pan with the sauce.
5. Before baking, add whipped egg whites to the sauce and stir with a wooden spatula.
6. Grease a casserole dish with butter and sprinkle with breadcrumbs. Place the sauce on the baking tray. Shake the mold a little to make sure there are no extra air bubbles.
7. Brush the first layer with sour cream and sprinkle with cheese.
8. Bake the soufflé at 180°C for 20 minutes.
9. Spread the soufflé on nice plates.

The dish is incredibly tender and delicious.

What can be used instead of spinach

Of course, the above recipes are designed specifically for spinach. However, sometimes it is necessary to replace it with something else. After all, we all understand how often it is difficult to find spinach.

Since spinach does not have a certain taste and smell, it can be substituted

• for nettle;
• young mustard leaves;
• lettuce;
• Peking cabbage;
• sorrel;
• basil;
• arugula;
• parsley.

Of course, it is very convenient, but the amount of useful vitamins and minerals, as in spinach, will not be in any other greens.

Can we give spinach to animals?

Animals, as well as people, need vitamins. Therefore, greens should be present in the diet of pets.

Spinach, like any other greens, is well digested by any body. But often animals have no particular taste for plant leaves. However, in small doses, spinach is simply essential for pets' diets because of its huge content of minerals and vitamins. This is why spinach can often be seen in pet food formulations. However, it is important to observe the measure and not to overfeed your pet. Spinach is a good healthy supplement, but not the main food.

Interesting facts about spinach

It is always very interesting to learn something new and interesting. Therefore, we offer a selection of interesting facts about spinach:

1. The homeland of spinach is considered to be the Near East Asia. However, they began to cultivate this vegetable in ancient Persia. At that time, this vegetable was of special value for people, it was believed that it could cure from any disease and was sent to the Earth by God. Spinach then translated "green hand," that is, a helping hand from somewhere above.
2. In ancient times spinach was one of the most common vegetables in Arab countries. Philosophers of that time called it "the general among greens".
3. In the Russian Empire, spinach was served exclusively with croutons and eggs.
4. In our region this herb has appeared in the 18th century. Until the 20th century, spinach was a vegetable, intended only for aristocrats and wealthy nobles. Ordinary people could not afford to buy the imported product. Even in Soviet times spinach was on the tables of the wealthiest people.
5. Because of its useful properties this vegetable helps to improve vision and pancreas function. It is useful for anemia, combats stress and depression and even serves as a prophylactic in the treatment of cancer.
6. Spinach goes well with any foods.

So, we hope that you were able to get a lot of new and useful information from this article. Do you want to be healthy and awake? Then this vegetable is just what you need. As you have realized, it has incredible medicinal properties and is used in many applications. Consume spinach to keep your body cells filled with health and vitality every day!

Spinach photo