Our 30 Best Spinach Recipes

These leafy greens hold a treasured place in our crisper drawer—here are our favorite ways to cook fresh or frozen spinach.

By SAVEUR Editors | Published Apr 14, 2020 5:04 PM

Food

Get the recipe for Spinach and Ricotta Dumplings (Ravioli Nudi) ». Christopher Testani

Great raw or cooked, spinach is a workhorse of a vegetable that can be served at breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and it can be incorporated into all manner of appetizers, salads, side dishes, and entrées. Whether you have a bag or bunch of fresh spinach in your crisper drawer or a block of the convenient frozen stuff, our best spinach recipes give you a plethora of ways to work these nutrient-dense leaves into your diet. Here are some of our favorites when cooking with spinach.

Stir-Fried Chinese Rice Cakes with Pork Belly, Tomatoes, and Spinach (Dajiujia)

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Meat-and-vegetable-packed dajiujia is a perfect stir-fry to eat on its own. Get the recipe for Stir-Fried Chinese Rice Cakes with Pork Belly, Tomatoes, and Spinach (Dajiujia) » Josh Wand

Chicken Stuffed with Manchego, Mushrooms, and Spinach (Pollo Relleno)

Creamy Manchego fresco cheese melts gloriously in this stuffed roast chicken dish from Mexico City home cook Susana Rangel Gutierrez. Get the recipe for Chicken Stuffed with Manchego, Mushrooms, and Spinach (Pollo Relleno) » Ingalls Photography

Cretan Bean Stew with Spinach

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Dark leafy greens are the predominant vegetables in Crete, where more than 100 types grow and they are often paired with beans in sautés, stews, and pies. Get the recipe for Cretan Bean Stew with Spinach » Katherine Whittaker

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Joe’s Special

Joe’s Special is one of the most odd and divine scrambles known to man. Consisting of egg, garlic, spinach, and ground beef, the dish originated in San Francisco in the 1920s, at a long-gone Italian-American restaurant, New Joe’s. Later, it was the signature dish of a Bay Area chain called Original Joe’s—and a standby for countless home cooks in Northern California, including my mom. At least once a month, we ate it for dinner, and I still make it, as there are few dishes so appealing and comforting to eat. —James Oseland Get the recipe for Joe’s Special » Todd Coleman

Pasta Verde (Spinach Pasta)

Ask any local—the lasagne of the Emilia-Romagna requires fresh pasta. Get the recipe for Pasta Verde (Spinach Pasta) » Matt Taylor-Gross

Agnolotti

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This ravioli-like stuffed pasta is filled with a mix of chicken, spinach, mushrooms, and garlic. Get the recipe for Agnolotti » Todd Coleman

Palestinian Spinach and Chickpea Stew (Sabanekh bil hummus)

Allspice is used commonly in Palestinian stews, like this Comforting Spinach and Chickpeas dish. Get the recipe for Palestinian Spinach and Chickpea Stew (Sabanekh bil hummus) » Thomas Payne

Spinach Balanzoni With Brown Butter and Sage

Pretty green dumplings with a mortadella and cheese filling. Get the recipe for Spinach Balanzoni With Brown Butter and Sage » Heami Lee

Inspanakli Gozleme (Spinach-Filled Anatolian Flatbreads)

Stuffed with spinach and cheese and cooked over a hot griddle, these classic Anatolian flatbreads, called gözleme, are a staple throughout Turkey. Get the recipe for Inspanakli Gozleme (Spinach-Filled Anatolian Flatbreads) » Kat Craddock

Broiled Oysters with Spinach and Brown Butter Hollandaise

The salinity of the oysters in combination with the pungent shallots and vinegar are a welcome contrast to the richness of the nutty brown butter hollandaise. Get the recipe for Broiled oysters with Spinach and Brown Butter Hollandaise » Michelle Heimerman

Finnish Creamed Spinach With Crumbled Egg Yolks

This ultra-fine, silky take on a classic creamed spinach is puréed with parsley leaves for a vivid green color and vermouth for a pop of acidity. Get the recipe for Finnish Creamed Spinach With Crumbled Egg Yolks Kyle Johnson

Roasted Moong Dal with Spinach

This recipe comes from Madhur Jaffrey’s A Taste of India, though we’ve tested this recipe in the SAVEUR test kitchen, we present it in its original, unedited form from the book. Get the recipe for Roasted Moong Dal with Spinach » Matt Taylor-Gross

Spinach, Chive, and Yogurt Soup with Grilled Scallions

This tangy chilled soup is topped with charred scallions. Get the recipe for Spinach, Chive, and Yogurt Soup with Grilled Scallions » Romulo Yanes

Spinach, Beef, and Egg Hash

This easy one-pan breakfast is just the thing for a fulfilling breakfast that comes together in the blink of an eye. Get the recipe for Spinach, Beef, and Egg Hash » Matt Taylor-Gross

Spinach Spätzli with Brown Butter, Crispy Speck, and Pangrattato

Near Italy’s border with Austria, the food takes on a distinctly Teutonic bent with spätzli, a close Italian cousin of German spätzle. Get the recipe for Spinach Spätzli with Brown Butter, Crispy Speck, and Pangrattato » Con Poulos

Strangolapreti

Strangolapreti is a Trentan party food, a luxurious, cheesy dish made with frugal ingredients. Jonathon Sawyer of Cleveland’s Trentina days day-old bread, blanched spinach, ricotta, and egg to make a dumpling filled with ooey-gooey cheese. Get the recipe for Strangolapreti »

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Philippine Vinegar-Braised Greens (Kangkong Adobo)

"Filipinos love anything with adobo sauce, and kangkong is one of my favorite vegetables to eat." – Leah Cohen of Pig & Khao. Get the recipe for Philippine Vinegar-Braised Greens (Kangkong Adobo) » Matt Taylor-Gross

Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli

These tender ravioli are filled with spinach and cheese and topped with a tangy tomato sauce bolstered with mushrooms, zucchini, and squash. Get the recipe for Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli » Maxime Iattoni

Buckwheat and Ricotta Gnocchi with Cream, Peas, and Spinach

Making gnocchi with buckwheat flour gives the pasta weightiness and an earthy flavor that pairs perfectly with a spring mix of peas and spinach. Get the recipe for Buckwheat and Ricotta Gnocchi with Cream, Peas, and Spinach » Con Poulos

Spinach and Potato Dumplings with Cold Tomato Sauce

A chilled tomato sauce with sundried tomatoes makes a pleasant contrast to these hot potato and spinach dumplings, which chef Josita Hartanto of Berlin's Lucky Leek binds together with firm tofu and durum wheat semolina. Dry the potatoes and spinach thoroughly so the dumplings will hold their shape. Get the recipe for Spinach and Potato Dumplings with Cold Tomato Sauce » Matt Taylor-Gross

Veal and Spinach Lasagna

Unlike the heavy red-sauced lasagnas served in America, this Abruzzo-style version relies on an ethereal egg and tomato sauce that puffs when the lasagna is cooked, giving it a soufflé-like appearance. Get the recipe for Veal and Spinach Lasagna » Romulo Yanes

Green Minestrone with Kohlrabi, Olives, and Spinach Pesto

The chef of Lucky Leek in Berlin, Germany, Josita Hartanto makes her minestrone with hearty kohlrabi and briny green olives. The soup is brightened by a fresh pesto, which is stirred in just before serving. Get the recipe for Green Minestrone with Kohlrabi, Olives, and Spinach Pesto » Matt Taylor-Gross

Spinach and Ricotta Dumplings (Ravioli Nudi)

Very similar to spinach gnocchi, these dumplings, which originated in Florence, are called “naked” because they wear no shell of dough. Get the recipe for Spinach and Ricotta Dumplings (Ravioli Nudi) » Christopher Testani

Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Pork Loin

Pork loin is lean—wrapping it in bacon helps keep it juicy as it grills. Get the recipe for Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Pork Loin » Todd Coleman

Spinach and Edamame Egg Drop Soup

A handful of soybeans and fresh spinach lightens up this Chinese restaurant favorite. Get the recipe for Spinach and Edamame Egg Drop Soup » Farideh Sadeghin

Creamy Fenugreek and Spinach with Cheese (Methi Malai Paneer)

This creamy dish makes a phenomenal main dish with oven-baked naan bread on the side. Get the recipe for Creamy Fenugreek and Spinach with Cheese (Methi Malai Paneer) » Ingalls Photography

Andhra-Style Sautéed Spinach (Palakoora Vepadu)

In this dish, fresh spinach is sautéed with an array of spices. Get the recipe for Andhra-Style Sautéed Spinach (Palakoora Vepadu) » Ingalls Photography

Potato, Spinach, and Red Pepper Frittata

This basil-laced potato and vegetable frittata, adapted from a recipe by author Tamasin Day-Lewis, makes a satisfying lunch. This recipe first appeared in our May 2014 issue with the story Picnic by the Sea. Get the recipe for Potato, Spinach, and Red Pepper Frittata » André Baranowski

Saag Paneer (Spinach with Fresh Indian Cheese)

It's not hard to love North Indian saag paneer—meltingly soft spinach strewn with chunks of mild fresh cheese—especially when scooped up with hot flatbread. Get the recipe for Saag Paneer (Spinach with Fresh Indian Cheese) » Jenny Huang | Food Stylist: Tyna Hoang

Spinach Madeleine

A sauce of unabashedly flavorful ingredients—including evaporated milk and, yes, Velveeta cheese—makes for a spectacularly rich take on creamed spinach. We adapted this recipe from one found in the River Road Cookbook, one of Louisiana's most iconic Junior League cookbooks. Get the recipe for Spinach Madeleine » Vanessa Rees