3 ways with spinach

Spinach-and-sweet potato soup

• Heat 2T oil in a pan and sauté 1 sliced onion for 2 minutes until soft but not brown. Stir in 2 crushed garlic cloves and 4 chopped spring onions and cook for 1 minute. Add 1 peeled and cubed sweet potato and cook for 5 minutes, stirring continually, until it begins to soften.
• Pour in 2 1⁄2 cups chicken stock and bring to a boil, then simmer for 8–10 minutes, or until the sweet potato is almost cooked.
• Add 500 g chopped baby spinach and cook for a further 3–5 minutes, or until the spinach starts to wilt. Remove from the heat and add a handful of basil, 1⁄2 t ground nutmeg and juice of 1⁄2 lemon. Season to taste.
• Cool slightly and blend in a food processor until smooth. Pour into bowls while still warm and drizzle with olive oil or cream. Serve with Parmesan wafers and bread.
• To make the Parmesan wafers, preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a baking tray with greased baking paper. Sprinkle 1 cup finely grated Parmesan onto the paper in circles. Bake for 8–10 minutes until golden. Remove from the oven and cool slightly.

Baby marrow ribbon salad with hazelnuts, mint and spinach

• Shave 250 g baby marrows into ribbons using a vegetable peeler. Pan-fry with 1 clove minced garlic in
  1 T olive oil over a high heat until charred.
• Toss with roughly chopped Bright Lights spinach, 100 g roasted and chopped hazelnuts, lemon juice, olive oil and fresh mint, and season to taste.
• Top with Parmesan shavings.

Spinach and Ricotta dumplings

• Mix 200 g blanched and chopped spinach with 1 cup ricotta, 90 g grated Parmesan, 1 grated clove garlic, 2 t chopped chives and 2 eggs. Add 60 g flour and 1⁄2 t salt and mix until well combined.
• Shape the mixture into golf ball-sized dumplings and chill for 15 minutes.
  Poach the dumplings in simmering, salted water for 3 minutes.Remove using a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper.
• Heat 1 T olive oil in a large pan and fry the dumplings until golden brown. Drain on kitchen paper and serve with crispy bacon bits and fried mushrooms, garnished with parsley.

Discover more satisfying spinach recipes here.