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)

Spinach with Feta and Lemon (Island of Crete-Greece)

4.34 from 12 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 405 kcal

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
Have you tried this recipe? Tell us about it!Click here to rate this recipe in the comments section below.
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.

9 Comments

  1. Denise Godderz January 17, 2023 at 11:34 am - Reply

    I’ve always liked spinach but never really ate it except as a salad green. I just made this recipe and I love it! I used a whole bunch of green onion because I needed to use them up. I added crushed red peppers and Greek seasoning. I have feta but totally forgot to use it. Fortunately I portioned it out to eat the rest later so I’ll add it then.
    I never comment on recipes but this one was so delicious I had to let you know.
    10 out of 10 for sure!

  2. Julie January 13, 2023 at 8:12 am - Reply

    5 stars
    Followed this recipe to a tee and it is delicious.

  3. Konstantina March 18, 2022 at 4:11 pm - Reply

    5 stars
    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!!

  4. Kevin March 10, 2022 at 3:58 pm - Reply

    Why boil the spinach, instead of saute with olive oil?

    • Bill Bradley, R.D. March 14, 2022 at 7:16 am - Reply

      It’s just the traditional way it is done. You could saute in the olive oil as well! Cheers.

  5. Joni March 10, 2022 at 3:40 pm - Reply

    I didn’t see where the olive oil went in

    • Bill Bradley, R.D. March 14, 2022 at 7:18 am - Reply

      It is added with all of the other ingredients after boiling the greens.

  6. Rosemary Scott January 13, 2019 at 7:41 pm - Reply

    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..
    ,

    • George Zikos January 14, 2019 at 6:39 pm - Reply

      Sounds great. Thanks for using our recipe as inspiration for your own version!

4.34 from 12 votes (10 ratings without comment)

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