Real Simples Lemon Spinach Food

LEMON RICOTTA PASTA & SPINACH

Steps:

• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Meanwhile, make the ricotta sauce.
• In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, olive oil, parmesan cheese, garlic, lemon zest and juice. Season with 1/4 tsp of salt and a good pinch of pepper.
• Stir until well combined, taste and make sure you're happy with the seasoning.
• In the last minute of the pasta's cooking time, reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water, then and add spinach to the pot. Stir well and push the leaves down to submerge them in water.
• After 1 minute, drain and return pasta and spinach to the same pot.
• Add the ricotta sauce and part of the reserved cooking water. Stir well to evenly coat the pasta in the sauce, add more cooking water as needed, you want a smooth and creamy texture.
• Serve immediately and garnish with grated or shaved Parmesan cheese, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and lemon wedges if desired (for extra freshly squeezed juice, but I leave it optional). Plus, I love adding a good pinch of red pepper flakes, you might give it a go. Enjoy!

QUICK AND EASY LEMON SPINACH PASTA

Steps:

• Fill large pot with water and add the whole lemon to the water. Remove zest from about 1/2 of the whole lemon and set the zest aside for the sauce. Add zested whole lemon to the water and bring the water with the lemon to a boil over high heat. Once boiling remove lemon and set aside to cool. Add salt to your water, then add pasta and cook to al dente according to package directions.
• Meanwhile, stir together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Prepare your spinach and set aside. When lemon is cool enough to handle, cut in half and juice. Pour juice through a strainer in to a small bowl, to remove seeds and pulp. Set aside.
• When pasta is cooked, before draining, remove 1 cup of the pasta water and set aside. Drain pasta well and return to the pot. Add sauce mixture and spinach to the pot with the hot pasta and with tongs, toss well until the spinach is wilted and sauce is coating the pasta. Drizzle with reserved lemon juice and toss well. If pasta seems tight (clumpy/sticking together), add a bit of your reserved pasta water to the pasta and toss to loosen it up. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste. Serve with additional freshly grated Parmesan and more freshly ground pepper.

LEMONY SAUTEED SPINACH

Steps:

• Add olive oil, garlic and the lemon zest to a wide skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until the oil is bubbling around the garlic, about 30 seconds. Pile the spinach leaves into the pan and add a generous pinch of salt. Wait about 30 seconds or until the bottom layer of leaves have started to wilt, and then toss the leaves around the pan. As the spinach cooks, keep tossing so that all the leaves have a chance to hit the bottom of the skillet.
• When the spinach looks bright green and is mostly wilted, remove the pan from the heat and serve with a pinch of extra salt on top. For a little heat, add a light sprinkle of red pepper flakes (optional).

SAUTEED SPINACH WITH GARLIC AND LEMON

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat oil over medium. Add garlic; cook, stirring, until fragrant and beginning to brown, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, remove garlic and discard.
• Raise heat to high. Add spinach to skillet gradually, waiting for one batch to wilt before adding the next. Cook, tossing, until tender, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Drain liquid from skillet; add lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste.

BUTTERY LEMON SPINACH

Steps:

• Rinse the spinach and place the leaves into a microwavable serving dish. Add the butter, garlic and lemon juice. Cover with plastic wrap. Steam in the microwave until the butter is melted and spinach is wilted, about 2 minutes. Remove the plastic wrap and toss to distribute seasoning before serving.

REAL SIMPLE'S LEMON SPINACH

Steps:

• Combine all except spinach in pan.
• Bring to a simmer.
• Add spinach in batches and cook until just wilted.
• Drain
• Serve.
• If you have left overs use the spinach for other recipes.

CREAMED LEMON SPINACH

Steps:

• Cook bacon until crisp; drain and crumble.
• To the bacon drippings, add onion and garlic. Saute until tender.
• Add flour and stir 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk and let thicken. Add chopped spinach, lemon juice and zest, heating through.
• Stir in Parmesan cheese, bacon and adjust seasonings to taste.

LEMON & GARLIC SPINACH

Steps:

• In large pot, add olive oil, butter, garlic and the juice of 1/2 lemon. (you may adjust olive oil/butter/lemon to your liking).
• Let cook over low heat for about 20 minutes so the flavors meld.
• Take off heat, add spinach, toss well and serve.