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Sautéed spinach and leeks is a quick + easy, healthy side dish with simple ingredients and delicious flavor!
It’s been an emotional week here.
The kiddos are wrapping up their school years… J has his last day of 3-year-old preschool today, M’s last day of kindergarten is tomorrow, and I’m just amazed by how much they’ve grown this year. My babies aren’t such babies anymore!
And while it’s bittersweet to see them move on from those early stages, these are happy days and it’s been a fun week of parties. ❤️
On the flipside…
My cousin passed away last weekend and we had her funeral service yesterday.
She was a bit older than me and someone I’ve looked up to all my life. (Literally, in fact – she was super tall and oh so glamorous!)
In my mind, she was bigger than life. She was so funny, so smart, so stylish, so beautiful. And far, far too young.
Needless to say, I’ve been moving in and out of tears and sadness at a moment’s notice. It’s a reminder that life is precious, life is short and life is not guaranteed.
She will be dearly missed. And yet loved and remembered by so, so many. It was a huge crowd at the service and so uplifting to see so much of our family and of her friends come to honor her.
For me, I also hope to honor her by living my life more fully, and as beautifully, honestly, confidently and openly as she always did. A good goal, right?
Now, as always, let’s dive into the food. And these gorgeous babies:
It’s been a long time since I told myself I’d start eating more leeks. Like, on a weekly basis. (I talk about this in my salmon and leeks recipe post too.)
Cause leeks are really that good for you.
Or, actually, they are that good for the bacteria that live in your gut.
Now, that may sound weird but trust me, it’s a thing and it’s going to be something you’ll hear lots more about in coming years.
See, I’m a health and nutrition editor so I read and hear about new research day in and day out. The gut microbiome — which means all the bacteria, good and bad, that live in your digestive tract — have been found to have ties to all kinds of other aspects of our health. Not just digestive stuff, it’s even been linked to mental health.
I took a whole course on the gut microbiome. Not in college, not for my job, just on my own a couple of years ago. Cause I find it fascinating. And cause I’m a nerd like that! 🤓
Anyway, leeks are great fuel for those good bacteria in your gut and I for sure want to keep mine happy.
But you know, life gets in the way and I haven’t been eating leeks on the regular like I wanted. So recently I tried to get back in the habit and find some quick + easy ways to incorporate leeks. Hence, this recipe.
Quick + easy sautéed spinach and leeks
This simple side dish is now a go to for us.
We like sautéed spinach on its own, and it’s one of our go-to veggie side dishes, but I thought, what if I could just add in a sliced leek and have that be one easy way to sneak more leeks into our diets.
And sure enough, both my husband and I really liked it! (I haven’t tried this on the kids. Yet…)
The leeks get just barely tender and soft and they melt right in with the silky spinach. The garlic adds a little background flavor and the Parmesan, which is completely optional, gives it a nice rich finish. 👌
If you haven’t used leeks yet, I hope you’ll give this sautéed spinach and leeks recipe a try. And maybe join me in my goal to make leeks a regular staple. Let’s keep those good gut bacteria happy and thriving!
(Speaking of, if you have a favorite way to use leeks, please leave me a comment below – I’m always up for new ideas!)
Wishing you lots of love and a wonderful weekend!
XO,
Kathryn
Sautéed spinach and leeks
Sautéed spinach and leeks is a quick + easy, healthy side dish with simple ingredients and delicious flavor!
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium leek, cleaned, trimmed and sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 8 oz. bag fresh spinach or baby spinach
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium-low heat.
Add leeks and sauté for 3-4 minutes, until softened.
Add garlic and sauté an additional 30 seconds.
Add spinach and stir for 2-3 minutes until spinach is mostly wilted.
Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, if using, and serve hot.
Recipe Notes
You can substitute coconut oil or unsalted butter for the olive oil if you prefer.
Here's a reference post and video from Real Simple on how to prepare leeks.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving Size | |
| Amount Per Serving | As Served |
| Calories 52kcal Calories from fat 17 | |
| % Daily Value | |
| Total Fat 2g | 3% |
| Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
| Sodium 253mg | 11% |
| Carbohydrate 8g | 3% |
| Dietary Fiber 2g | 8% |
| Sugars 1g | |
| Protein 3g | |
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:
| Calories | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | Less than | 65g |
| Sat Fat | Less than | 25g |
| Cholesterol | Less than | 300mg |
| Sodium | Less than | 2,400mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 300g | |
| Dietary Fiber | 25g | |
First of all – so sorry to hear about the passing of your cousin. She sounds like she was a beautiful person, inside and out. Unfortunately, its only moments like these that we realize how short life is and how we should live each day to the fullest and not dwell on unimportant things. Hugs to you, my friend.
About this recipe…I love leeks! I didn’t realize how good they were for you so I’m going to have to up my intake for sure! I tried growing them in the garden the other year and it didn’t work out so well for me for some reason so to the grocery store it is. I would definitely have to use parm here because CHEESE 🙂 Pinning! I usually like mine sautéed with pasta, but I’m pretty sure I would like ’em any way!
Try to have a nice weekend and my thoughts are with ya! XOXO
Thanks so much Dawn! That really means a lot 😊
Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry! My deepest, sincerest condolences for the loss of your cousin. My prayers go out to you and your family, Kathryn! It sounds like she was an amazing woman, inside and out, and the world will be a lesser place without her in it. But know she is up there in heaven and smiling down upon you. <3 Life is entirely too short and it's a painful reminder whenever someone is taken from us much too soon. I'm sending you all the love and hugs, dear friend!!!
Hard to transition, but this dish looks absolutely delicious! I adore a big 'ole beautiful plate of green deliciousness, so you know I'd gobble this up in about 3 seconds flat. Pinned!
I'll be thinking about you, my dear. Take care of you and your family. XOXO
Thanks so much my friend – it means so much! XO
So simple yet so delicious! I can’t wait to try this!
Thanks Lauren! I hope you love it!
I’ve never eaten leeks before! Sounds like I need to try them.
Yes you do Katherine! They’re SO good! 🙂
I joined WW a couple of weeks ago, and I’ve been on the hunt for recipes to fit the program and expand our food horizons at the same time. This seems like a really tasty, flavorful recipe that isnt laden with hidden calories! thanks, I am definitely going to try…..oh and also looking up your leek and salmon recipe!
ps….sorry about your cousin. Losing someone you love is never easy…
Thanks so much for your kind words Liz! I hope you love this for an easy side dish – and the salmon one too! 😊
Dear Kathryn,
I always put leeks in a green chicken or shrimp curry…yum!
Yours etc
Christine
Great idea Christine – thanks for sharing!
You mentioned sauce in your recipe what a sauce?
I’m sorry Lorraine – that was an autocorrect error that I didn’t notice. It should read “sauté” not sauce. I’ve fixed it in the recipe card. Hope you give this a try!