Sauteed Spinach with Garlic and Lemon

Name: Sauteed Spinach with Garlic and Lemon
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: ¼ cup Extra virgin olive oil; 1 ¼ lb Spinach, trimmed, dried; 3 clove Garlic, sliced, peeled; 1 Lemon, halved; 1 pinch Generous red pepper flakes; 3 to taste Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper

Sauteed Spinach with Garlic and Lemon · ready in 10 min · 4 servings · 155 kcal per serving · very easy · 6 ingredients

Tender spinach quickly sautéed in fragrant olive oil, finished with golden garlic, a squeeze of fresh lemon, and a gentle kick of red pepper for a bright, savory side dish.

Prep: 5 min
Cook: 5 min
Total: 10 min
Serves: 4
kcal: 155
Difficulty: very easy

Italian Mediterranean Main dishes Side dishes Quick (30 min or less)Vegetarian Vegan Gluten-free Dairy-free Low-carb (20 g or less)

A QiMeal recipe · Updated 3 October 2026

Ingredients · 4 servings

¼ cupExtra virgin olive oil
1 ¼ lbSpinach, trimmed, dried
3 cloveGarlic, sliced, peeled
1Lemon, halved
1 pinchGenerous red pepper flakes
3 to tasteKosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper

Equipment

stovetop, saute pan, serving platter, wooden spoon

Instructions

Mise en place
Gather all ingredients and set a large saute pan on the stovetop with a wooden spoon ready.
What to look for: oil shimmering and lightly smoking
Heat olive oil
Heat the extra virgin olive oil in the saute pan over high heat until very hot and shimmering. · 2 min
What to look for: oil shimmers and looks fluid
Wilt spinach
Add the spinach to the hot oil and stir constantly until bright green and lightly wilted. · 2 min
What to look for: spinach turns bright green and collapses
Season spinach
Remove the pan from heat, add the garlic, squeeze in the lemon juice, then add red pepper flakes, kosher salt, and black pepper. · 1 min
What to look for: garlic is fragrant without browning
Toss and serve
Toss the spinach until evenly coated and serve immediately while hot. · 1 min
What to look for: evenly coated and vibrant

Nutrition (per serving)

kcal	155
Protein	5 g
Carbohydrates	6 g
of which sugars	1 g
Fat	14 g
of which saturated	2 g
Fibre	4 g
Sodium	180 mg

Nutri-ScoreA

Allergens

None of the 14 major allergens, per our data.

Storage and reheating

Fridge: up to 3 days
Freezer: not recommended

Ingredient substitutions

Extra virgin olive oil

avocado oil: Good high heat alternative with neutral taste.

Spinach

Swiss chard: Remove thick stems for even cooking.

Garlic

shallot: Sweeter, softer aroma than garlic.

Lemon

white wine vinegar: Add off heat to avoid harsh acidity.