National Spinach Day: Benefits of eating leafy vegetable and 2 recipes to try at home
National Spinach Day is observed on March 26, every year. This day celebrates the nutritional value of spinach, including iron, vitamin K, vitamin A, and vitamin C, as well as manganese and magnesium.
The green leafy vegetable is packed with several health benefits. Remember when Popoye said, "I’m strong to the finich ‘Cause I eats me spinach…” So, on that note, here are a few health benefits of eating spinach.
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Health benefits of eating spinach
Spinach is high in water-soluble vitamins, lipids, iron, calcium, cancer-fighting antioxidants, phytonutrients, and other minerals, and is one of the healthiest and tastiest vegetables, n.newsd reported.
1. Make skin and nails healthy.
2. Helps in weight loss.
3. Prevents cancer and diabetes.
4. Promotes fetal development.
5. Boosts brain functions.
It can be prepared in a variety of ways, such as boiling it in heavy cream, serving it raw in salads, or dressing it with vinaigrette and cranberries.
Check below to get spinach recipes from IOL.
Spinach, bacon, and cheese dip
INGREDIENTS: Chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed of excess liquid, slices bacon, cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic powder, paprika, freshly grated cheese.
METHOD: Set the oven to 180°C. The bacon should be chopped finely and cooked to a crisp in a sizable nonstick pan over medium heat.
Take out and dry on a paper towel. Combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic powder, and paprika in a big bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Add the bacon, spinach, and 3/4 of the cheese by combining them. Add the remaining cheese, transfer to a baking dish, and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until bubbling and golden.
Serve with toasty ciabatta or baguette slices.
Spinach and cheese muffins
INGREDIENTS: self-raising flour, baking powder, salt, chopped spinach (washed and dried), 2 large eggs, milk, sunflower oil or olive oil, grated cheddar, chopped leek, muffins papers.
METHOD: Preheat oven to 180 °C. Self-raising flour, salt, baking powder, and cheese grating are combined in a basin; set away.
The eggs, milk, and oil should be combined thoroughly in a separate bowl before the spinach and leek are added.
Make sure not to over-mix as you gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry ones.
Put a tablespoon of batter in each prepared and muffin paper-lined cup, and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove and serve immediately with butter.