If you are looking for a super quick Mediterranean Diet side dish recipe that will satisfy everyone then you have come to the right place! Spinach with feta and lemon takes about 10 minutes to make, is ridiculously delicious and will go with just about any main dish whether it’s chicken, fish, meat or beans. Serve this with warm, crusty bread for sopping up the olive oil and pot liquor.
This is a great dish for leftovers as well. I always make extra so I can have it with a salad and some bread for lunch the next day.
From the book “Foods of Crete: Traditional Recipes from the Healthiest People in the World” by Koula Barydakis and Bill Bradley, R.D.
Spinach with Feta and Lemon (Island of Crete-Greece)
Ingredients
- 2 pounds spinach, washed and stems removed
- 1 tbsp. garlic, mashed
- 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 3 green onions, chopped
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Boil spinach in 1 cup water for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain well in colander.
- In a bowl, mix spinach and rest of ingredients. Serve while still warm.
Nutrition
Calories: 405kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 12gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 601mgPotassium: 1360mgFiber: 5gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 21517IUVitamin C: 78mgCalcium: 425mgIron: 7mg
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About the Author: Koula Barydakis
Koula Barydakis was born into a long tradition of eating and living Mediterranean on the Greek island of Crete. She is a chef who has worked in many of the top restaurants in Crete and in Greek Town in Toronto, Canada. Koula is the co-author of “Foods of Crete, Traditional Recipes of the Healthiest People in the World” and is currently completing her second cookbook. Koula teaches cooking classes to tourists in Crete and has been hired to teach classes in other countries as well.
I grew up eating this dish weekly as a side and as a meal. We always saved the cooking liquid from the spinach to drink as a refreshment. So delicious!! And full of vitamins and nutrients!!
Why boil the spinach, instead of saute with olive oil?
It’s just the traditional way it is done. You could saute in the olive oil as well! Cheers.
I didn’t see where the olive oil went in
It is added with all of the other ingredients after boiling the greens.
I made a similar side of this, but sautéed the onions in olive oil. Used frozen leaf spinach, added after onions cooked. Added some chopped pistachios, fresh nutmeg, feta and lemon. My new go to side. Trying to incorporate more of a Mediterranean diet..
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Sounds great. Thanks for using our recipe as inspiration for your own version!