I’ve always loved spinach. That is, I’ve always loved fresh or frozen spinach. Cruising, neither one was practical: no room in the freezer and I only rarely found fresh, and there still would have been problems with storing it and all the water needed to wash it.
Canned spinach was readily available, even in tiny fishing villages. The only problem was that I had always detested canned spinach. But if I wanted spinach, I had to figure out a way to make canned spinach taste good.
I took an old recipe of my mom’s and began playing with it. Pretty soon, I’d come up with a way to make canned spinach taste good.
In addition to the canned spinach, you can use almost any type of greens in this recipe, and yes, it’s great with fresh or frozen as well. Originally, the recipe called for beet greens and beets (cooked until tender) instead of tomatoes.
Spinach and Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 1 can mushrooms, drained (8-ounce can OR 4 to 8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced)
- 1/4 large onion (slice into 2 1/4″ thick slices and quarter)
- 1 tablespoon butter (OR olive oil OR canola oil)
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (OR 1 clove garlic, minced)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1 can spinach, drained (16-ounce)
- 1 tomato (chopped in large chunks OR 3/4 cup grape tomatoes, cut in half)
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar (OR wine vinegar)
- 3 tablespoons pine nuts (OR walnuts OR pecans–toast if desired)
Instructions
- Sauté mushrooms and onions in butter until golden.
- Turn down heat to low and add garlic, salt and pepper and spinach. Very gently toss.
- Heat until spinach is warmed through and then remove from the fire.
- Add tomato and vinegar and quickly toss.
- Transfer to a serving bowl and sprinkle nuts over the top.
Want over 800 boat-friendly recipes, over 100 substitutions, and tons of tips for cooking on a boat?
Candy Ann Williams on Facebook says
We always keep canned spinach and canned greens on hand. They are good when you get hungry for something green and nothing fresh is around. 🙂
Michelle Beatty on Facebook says
yummy sounds great!!
Darlene Burnett Price says
Looks good. We’ve sworn off canned mushrooms since learning the ratio of pests allowed per can by the FDA and most are canned in China . I made salmon cakes from your book last night. They were scrumptious.
The Boat Galley says
Darlene — glad to hear that the salmon cakes were a hit . . . and you can do infinite variations with whatever is available! 🙂
Andrea Dollins says
I actually like canned spinach, makes my hubby gag everytime I open a can…lol 😉
The Boat Galley says
Andrea, you’re nuts! 🙂
Andrea Dollins says
Hahaha!!…thats what hubby says! 😉
S/V Dos Libras says
Nope! You’re not foolin’ ME!!!
Skylar Walker says
Sounds really good, thanks!
Marlene says
can spinach is ok, Will diffidently try this recipe.