Sweet And Sour Catalan Spinach Food

SWEET-AND-SOUR CATALAN SPINACH

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, heat 2 teaspoons of the canola oil. Add the shallot and cook over low heat until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the vinegar and thyme sprig and bring to a boil. Simmer over low heat until the vinegar is reduced to 2 tablespoons, about 20 minutes. Discard the thyme sprig and stir the honey into the vinegar.
• In a small skillet, toast the pine nuts in the remaining 1 teaspoon of canola oil over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer the pine nuts to a plate and let cool.
• Fill a soup pot with 1/2 inch of water and bring to a boil. Add the spinach in handfuls, stirring until wilted. When the spinach is wilted, transfer to a colander and squeeze out the excess water. Wipe out the pot.
• Heat the olive oil in the pot and add the spinach. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, until heated through, about 5 minutes. Transfer the spinach to a platter and garnish with the currants and toasted pine nuts. Drizzle the sherry vinegar syrup on top and serve right away.

SWEET AND SOUR SPINACH SALAD

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, flour, mustard and salt.
• Gradually stir in water and vinegar until smooth.
• Bring to a boil.
• Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
• Remove from heat.
• Gradually stir a small amount of hot dressing into beaten egg.
• Return all to the pan, stirring constantly.
• Bring to a gentle boil.
• Place spinach in a large salad bowl.
• Drizzle with warm dressing.
• Toss to coat.
• Top with the hard cooked eggs, bacon and onion.
• Serve immediately in chilled salad bowls.
• Note: An egg slicer, purchased inexpensively at a local food gadget store, greatly improves the looks of this salad.

SWEET AND SOUR GERMAN SPINACH

Steps:

• Fry bacon in medium skillet until almost crisp.
• Fry onion in bacon grease until soft.
• Remove onion and bacon from grease.
• Place spinach in grease, stirring until hot.
• Return onion and bacon to skillet.
• Mix sugar and vinegar.
• Beat egg then mix with vinegar and sugar.
• Pour over spinach.
• Cook 2-5 minute.
• Salt to taste.