Sooth This Summer With Some Refreshing Spinach Recipes

During summer we often look for light and refreshing recipes that protect us from the unbearable heat of this season. Starting from juicy fruits like mangoes and watermelons to cooling drinks like sattu sharbat, these recipes satiate our souls along with taste buds. There are many seasonal vegetables like bottle gourd, okra and pumpkin also available which provide essential nutrients to our body during summer. 

Loaded with vitamins and minerals, spinach is another vegetable that is available in the market in this season. However, most of us think this fibre-rich green belongs only to winter season. This is because of the wholesome and warming recipes prepared with spinach like soup and palak paneer. But the reality is, this nutrient-rich vegetable can be transformed into many refreshing recipes for summer. 

From smoothie to ice cream, here are five interesting recipes you can prepare with spinach this summer: 

Spinach Smoothie

Video Credits-Creative Cooking By Dr Kajal

Total Time-10 minutes 

Servings-5 

Ingredients 

• 1 cup ice cubes 
• 2 cups pineapple chunks 
• ½ cup banana slices  
• 1 cup diced apple 
• 2 cups baby spinach 
• ½ cup plain Greek yogurt  
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk

Method 

• Add ice cubes, pineapple, banana slices, diced apple, baby spinach, yogurt, and almond milk to the blender. 
• Cover and process on medium speed for about 30 seconds, using the tamper as needed. Increase to high speed for 15 to 30 seconds until thick and smooth. 
• Adjust with more almond milk if needed to reach the desired consistency. Serve.

Spinach Cucumber Soup 

Total Time-15 minutes 

Servings-2 

Ingredients 

• 7 ounces of baby spinach 
• 1 large cucumber 
• 1 cup yogurt 
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed 
• 1 cup fresh parsley, chopped 
• 1 toast bread slice 
• ¼ cup olive oil 
• 1 teaspoon tabasco sauce 
• ½ cup sparkling water 
• Salt 
• Pepper 
• 2 ounces feta cheese 
• 2 tablespoons of peanuts, crumbled

Method 

• Add the baby spinach to the mixer bowl. Cut 2/3 of cucumber into bigger pieces and add them, too. 
• Keep adding 1/2 of the yogurt, the garlic, and parsley. Break the toast into pieces and add it, too. Blend until smooth. 
• Strain this mixture into a bowl helping yourself with a rubber spatula. 
• Add the olive oil, the remaining yogurt, and the Tabasco sauce. Peel the remaining cucumber, dice it, then add it to the bowl, too. 
• Add the sparkling water and season with salt and pepper. Mix until even using a spatula. Serve with some feta cheese and crumbled peanuts.

Spinach Summer Salad 

Total Time-5 minutes 

Servings-4 

Ingredients 

• 120g baby spinach leaves, 
• 1 avocado, sliced 
• 1 red capsicum, thinly sliced 
• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced 
• 1/4 cup raisins, 
• 1/2 lemon, juice only 
• Olive oil for drizzling 
• Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Method 

• Simply throw together all ingredients in a bowl. 
• Top with olive oil and add a good squeeze of lemon. Serve.

Spinach Pasta 

Total Time-15 minutes 

Servings-2 

Ingredients 

• 2 cups cooked pasta 
• 3 oz fresh spinach 
• 1 handful of fresh basil 
• 1 cup light coconut milk  
• 2 tbsp nutritional yeast 
• 1 tbsp cornstarch  
• 2 cloves of garlic 
• 1 tsp onion powder 
• Salt to taste 
• Black pepper to taste 
• 1 pinch of nutmeg

Method 

• Blend all ingredients in a blender until completely smooth. 
• Transfer the mixture to a saucepan and bring it to a boil, stirring regularly. 
• Let it simmer for 1-2 minutes and stir frequently. 
• Mix with cooked pasta for two minutes and serve hot.

Spinach Ice Cream 

Total Time-30 minutes 

Servings-4 

Ingredients 

• 2 and 1/2 cup spinach 
• 1 cup half and half 
• 1 cup low fat milk  
• 1/4 cup honey 
• 2 tablespoon vanilla essence 
• 2 cup ice cubes

Method 

• Take a blender jar and add the spinach, half & half, honey, milk, vanilla essence along with the ice cubes to it.  
• Now blend all the ingredients so that they combine well.  
• Once done, transfer it to a jar and freeze it for a while. Once chilled, serve it in a waffle cone or a bowl and enjoy.