Cooking is always my favorite hobby because seeing others enjoying my food is a delight. I didn’t know how to cook until two years ago; my dad showed me how to prepare my very first egg fried rice. Unlike other cuisines, I notice that Cantonese cuisine focuses on the natural flavor of the ingredients instead of using copious spices. Since then, I can’t help but indulge in cooking. Indeed, attending college keeps me engaged in all sorts of activities, and wears me out at times, but a self-made refreshing meal is beyond compare to any other recreations.
When it comes to cooking, the freshness of food is of paramount importance. When the ingredients are newly picked, they tend to have higher nutritional values and of course, provide a savory taste. Also, I am not saying spices are detrimental to the plate, I just believe that they might cover its original flavors.
Spinach is generally said to come from Persia, and it entered China and Europe in the seventh century and 13th century respectively. It is believed that Catherine de Medici, the wife of King Henry II, deemed that any dish with spinach be called “Florentine" to honor her Italian descent.
As one of my beloved healthy vegetables, spinach is rich in dietary fibers, minerals, and vitamins. As we all know, dietary fibers can prevent constipation and lower the risk of diabetes. While spinach contains ample magnesium and iron, there are several health benefits to both of the minerals. Iron is essential in red blood cells formation and magnesium helps maintain normal function of muscles. In addition, spinach is a great source of Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Vitamin A plays an essential role in bone growth and immune system health, and Vitamin K serves as a vital component for blood clotting.
Stir-fry is an easy cooking method that takes a little time and preserves the natural taste of the food. In the following, we will only use garlic to remove the grassy flavor of the spinach and salt for seasoning.
Ingredients:
-Three cloves of garlic
-Two cups of spinach
-Three tablespoons salt
-Four tablespoons grapeseed oil/ olive oil
Preparation time: five minutes
Cooking time: fifteen minutes
Steps:
1. Rinse the spinach. Remove the skin of the garlic and cut it into medium slices.
2.Heat four tablespoons of oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until oil is hot and shimmers.
3. Add garlic slices into the skillet and fry them for two minutes over medium heat. Flip the garlic to the other side until both sides are brownish. Then add spinach into the skillet. Use a turning spatula to stir the spinach and garlic. Do not let the garlic stay in the bottom to prevent it from burning.
4. After frying the spinach for two minutes, add three table spoon of salt into the spinach and stir it well.
Tips:
- If the spinach in the skillet is too dry, add a half cup of water into the pan so the spinach won’t be burned. Taste one small piece of spinach and adjust the seasoning. Add more salt if you want it saltier.
