Make the EASIEST last-minute side dish that pairs with everythingggg in under 15 minutes! This easy Sauteed Spinach with Garlic and Onions is the lazy vibe side dish for busy weeknights, quick meal preps, and days you straight up, don't feel like cooking!
This sauteed spinach with garlic and onions and my Bok Choy with Garlic Sauce are my go-to lazy side dishes when I should probablyyy eat veggies to be healthy … but don’t have it in me to make a ton of effort TBH lol.
I love that it’s made with Pantry Staples that’s always in the kitchen, takes no more than 10 minutes, and is Vegetarian-Friendly so our vegetarian homies can enjoy too! It’s the perfect last-minute side dish for dinner or meal prep that pairs well with juicy Chicken Teriyaki or Air Fryer Miso Salmon and chewy Asian Garlic Noodles *chef’s kiss*
SO GOOD!
🥘 Ingredients
- Baby Spinach: I love using packages of baby spinach rather fully grown spinach because they’re much more tender and can toss the entire package in, rather than having to trim the tough stems.
- Regular Soy Sauce (not light/low-sodium) for its saltiness and umami!
- Sesame Oil: A little goes a long way for a deep nutty flavor to finish off the dish.
- Yellow Onions are my fave because their natural sweetness balances the salty soy sauce.
See recipe card for quantities.
🔪 Instructions
Step 1: Heat a large pan or skillet on medium with a little oil. Saute onions for 3-5 minutes, or until they start to soften. Add the garlic and cook for a few more seconds, until they become soft and fragrant. Keep a close eye so they don’t burn.
Step 2: Increase the heat to medium-high heat, then pour the soy sauce along the edges of the pan to create a char. Cook and mix the soy sauce with the onions until the onions have caramelized and fully absorbed the soy sauce.
Step 3: Add and stir fry spinach with the rest of the ingredients. Once the spinach has wilted halfway through, sprinkle in the sugar and continue cooking the stir-fried spinach, caramelizing the sugar.
Step 4: Once your garlic spinach is vibrantly green and tender, turn off the heat, drizzle the sesame oil, and give it a final few tosses to combine well. Immediately remove it from the pan & garnish with sesame seeds if you're feeling fancy. Enjoy!
👩🏽🍳 Key Tips for this Garlic Spinach Recipe
- Dry Spinach Very Well after washing so the flavors from your sauteed spinach won’t become diluted. You can use a salad spinner or quickly run paper towels through the leaves.
- Create a Char & Avoid a Watery Stir-Fry: Once the onions are tender, add the soy sauce along the edges of pan. This will intensify the flavors of the soy sauce and create a smoky charred flavor. Stir-fry the onions until it’s absorbed the soy sauce. If you add the soy sauce after the spinach, the salt draws out more moisture in the spinach and you’ll end up with a watery side dish.
- Cook on High Heat to Evaporate Excess Liquid: And remove the spinach stir-fry from the pan immediately after it’s wilted and tender. If you leave it in the pan even with it turned off, the spinach will overcook and release excess moisture from the residual heat.
💭 Recipe FAQs
Store your leftover garlic spinach and onions in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
To reheat, place in the microwave and heat until warm.
To prevent this Asian spinach recipe from turning soggy or mushy, eliminate excess moisture at every step. Cook the spinach quickly on high heat then once the spinach has wilted and turned vibrantly green, remove it from the heat. If the spinach overcooks, it’ll release more water and turn the spinach soggy.
It depends on your nutrition goals! Eating spinach raw in smoothies or salads is full of vitamin c & folate.
Cooking spinach, on the other hand, makes it easier for your body to absorb calcium and iron.
Sauteed Spinach with Garlic and Onions
Watch How to Make It!
Ingredients
- ½ large onion thinly slices
- 5 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 8 ounces baby spinach
- ¼ teaspoon sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds optional for garnish
Instructions
- Heat a large pan or skillet on medium heat then add about a tablespoon of oil. Add the onions & cook for 3-5 minutes, or until they begin to caramelize.
- Add in garlic & cook for a few more seconds, or until fragrant.
- Increase the heat to medium-high, then once hot, pour the soy sauce along the edges of the pan to create a char & mix well.
- Quickly add the spinach & once about half of the spinach is wilted, sprinkle in the sugar & cook until all of the spinach is tender & wilted.
- Turn off heat, drizzle in sesame oil, & mix well.
- Garnish with sesame seeds, if you’re feeling fancy, & enjoy!
Notes
- Baby Spinach: Using baby spinach creates super tender greens without having to trim the stems. When cooking the spinach, watch them closely while cooking since it won't take long to finish. As soon as it's wilted and vibrantly green, remove & drain it quickly.
- Soy Sauce: Regular soy sauce (not low-sodium/light soy sauce) for the saltiness to season the dish.
- Sesame Oil: A little goes a long way for a subtle nuttiness that creates a depth of flavor to the spinach.
Nutrition
Exact calculations may vary. For the most accurate nutritional information, use your preferred nutrition calculator, actual ingredients, and quantities used for the recipe. Please consult with your physician or registered dietitian if more precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
HEY, I'M MIKHA!
...A fellow food lover who believes anyone can whip up a delicious meal - no matter your skill level! These quick & easy Asian recipes will help you transform simple ingredients into a drool-worthy meal for you & the people you love most - without spending all day in the kitchen.
Now come on - Grab a seat & let's eat!
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