Easy Healthy GF Vegan Creamed Spinach Recipe

Favorite fresh spinach recipe, ideal dosa or crepe filling, pasta sauce or dip

When people think about how to cook spinach, creamed spinach may not be the first thing to come to mind, but it should be!

This easy healthy spinach recipe, with a gluten free vegan sauce and mild curry flavoring, is one of our favorite ways of cooking spinach, either fresh or frozen.

For us, creamed spinach is a light but satisfying filling for dosas (Indian crêpes). It also makes a delicious vegan pasta sauce (think lasagna!) or dip.

Total Prep Time: 20 minutes

Yield: 4 Servings

Nutrition Data Per Serving, 113g: 106 cal, fat 64, 7g fat, 8g carb, 75mg sodium, 3g fiber, 4g protein, 1g sugars, low cholesterol, high in Dietary Fiber, Vit E, A, K, Riboflavin, Iron, Magnesium, Copper, Folate and Manganese. Estimated glycemic load 3

Ingredients:

• 8 oz fresh baby spinach OR 1 lb bunched OR 10 oz thawed chopped frozen spinach
• 1 tsp ground fennel
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• 1/4 tsp turmeric (scant)
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1 Tbsp rice flour
• 2 Tbsp ground cashews
• 1 Tbsp olive oil

• 1/2 - 1 cup plain unsweetened almond milk
• Optional: Salt and pepper to taste
• If using fresh baby spinach, wash and chop fine. If using bunched spinach, wash and cut off the stems
• Lightly steam the fresh spinach leaves just until wilted (takes about 1 minute). Drain and set aside.
• If using frozen spinach, make sure that it is completely thawed. Drain off excess water after thawing

Directions:

1. Mix the spices, rice flour and ground cashews together by hand or in a blender or spice grinder
2. Heat the oil on low in a small pan
3. Add the spice mixture to the oil and heat, stirring for 2 - 3 minutes
4. Add 1/2 cup of the almond milk, and stir with a whisk until well blended and thickened
5. Add the wilted spinach or frozen spinach
6. Add salt and pepper to taste

Recipe Tips:

Spinach is high in sodium, and commercial almond milk often has added salt, so salt lightly if at all.

Setting frozen spinach in a lid over a bowl or pan of hot water will hasten thawing. Leave the spinach in the package until it is thawed - that makes it easier to deal with.