Do you want to make an Italian cuisine contorno { side} that is outrageously good? All you need is baby spinach recipe that uses grape tomatoes. It's the perfect side dish.
Sautéed fresh baby spinach and grape tomatoes come together very quickly. It is so tasty and an excellent compliment over pearl couscous, polenta, farro, or freekeh.
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💬 Why this is my go to veggie side
Whenever I'm short on time and in a bind to make a veggie side that everyone approves of, I pick this quick and easy sauteed baby spinach recipe with grape tomatoes.
The grape tomatoes give the perfect amount of sweetness to the spinach, garlic, and bright taste of the lemon.
🛒 Ingredients
- baby spinach -- may also use baby kale
- grape tomatoes -- cherry tomatoes would also work in this recipe
- fresh garlic
- lemon juice -- add more lemon taste with some lemon zest
- kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper
📝 Instructions
- In a deep skillet heat olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the chopped garlic to the oil and sautè for about 1 minute.
- Add the halved grape tomatoes to the skillet.
- Sauté the grapes until they start ti release some of their juice.
- The baby spinach now goes into the skillet with the tomatoes.
- Sauté the spinach leaves until they begin to wilt. Add the salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Stir until mixed.
Serving suggestions
You may serve the vegetable combination as is, but we like to serve it with pasta, grains, or polenta. That way none of the scrumptious juice goes to waste.
This vegetable side is not only low in calories, high in nutrition, but also so tasty and versatile it compliments most of our main dishes.
This time, I use couscous and I make it first and then keep it warm in a 170 F oven with the crunchy fried black drum.
We served this baby spinach vegetable side over polenta along with grilled steak.
If you're looking for more spinach recipes, you've got to try our Spinach Gratin recipe which is based on Julia Child's recipe but a lot lighter. Or if you want your baby spinach mixed with pasta, try our Baby spinach Recipe With orzo pasta.
Tutti a tavola è pronto!
Un caro saluto e alla prossima.
📖 Recipe
Spinach and Grape Tomatoes Saute Over Pearl Couscous
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Pearl Couscous
- 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 ¼ cup low-sodium chicken broth --heated in the microwave or stove
- 8 oz. fresh baby spinach
- 8 oz. grape tomatoes halved
- 1 tsp. minced garlic
- ½ lemon juiced
- ½ tsp. Kosher salt
- ½ tsp. fresh ground pepper
- 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
- In a nonstick pan toast the couscous in the 1 tbsp. of olive oil until lightly tan.
- Carefully add the hot broth to the couscous and simmer until the couscous absorbs all of the liquid. About 5 minutes
- Fluff with fork and put in a preheated 170F oven to keep warm.
- In a large nonstick skillet heat the 2 tbsp. of olive oil over medium heat; sauté tomatoes and garlic until fragrant, 1-2 minutes.
- Add the spinach to the skillet; sauté until wilted; 2 minutes.
- Season mixture with the lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- Serve right away over the warm couscous.
Nutrition
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Joe
I'm really not a big spinach eater but made this way I had a second helping and my son did too. It has a really good flavor and the grape tomatoes gave it a little bit of sweetness.
Marisa Franca
I'm glad this made a spinach believer out of you and your son, Joe.