Spinach Pancakes
I love breakfast for dinner. It's a delicious way to make a new dish without having to cook two different menus. I also enjoy the challenge of coming up with unusual dishes that have been around for a while but have been given an inventive twist, such as omelets stuffed with cheeses, garlic, and spinach.
In this recipe, I've taken fresh chopped spinach and two eggs. I've poured the mixture into a pancake-like form and cooked them in a skillet until they are blistered and golden brown.
I eat these spinach pancakes plain, topped with grated Parmesan cheese and a few drops of hot sauce, or I plate them with maple syrup, fresh fruit, or yogurt.
I've also had them served as part of an omelet. These pancakes can also be made in a muffin pan for individual servings.
Spinach pancakes are best served alone or with some other dishes. They can be cooked in a skillet, on the stovetop, or microwaved. Ideally, the spinach mixture should be boiling when poured into the pancake-like form. If it cools too much, it will not hold together adequately for cooking.
I find that about ¼ cup of chopped spinach per pancake works best for this recipe. Of course, we have to blend the spinach fine enough to incorporate with the eggs and other ingredients, but we don't want so many ingredients to make them challenging.
Benefits of Spinach
Spinach is among the most popular vegetables available today. It is a leafy green that belongs to the Chenopodiaceae, or goosefoot, plant family and has been cultivated in ancient times. Spinach's rich texture makes it highly sought-after by chefs and home cooks alike.
Spinach contains various vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for overall health. This article explains why spinach is so beneficial, and its common uses.
Benefits of Spinach: Its Nutritional Value
Spinach is a good source of vitamin C. Although it lacks folate and B twelve, which are nutrients in foods rich in folic acid, it seems to impact levels of these vitamins that are comparable to the effects from eating foods rich in the nutrients. It also contains calcium, iron, phosphorus, and various other minerals that are helpful for bone health and heart health.
The amount of vitamins and minerals in spinach depends on the type of soil it grows in and how long it grows. For example, spinach that grows in soil rich in iron can end up with as much iron as beef liver, while spinach that grows in soil poor in iron will contain less iron.
1. Vitamin C
Spinach contains a wide variety of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C. Each serving of spinach contains around 10% of the daily-recommended amount of vitamin C, which is a very high amount considering that most vegetables contain just a few percentage points of that recommended amount per serving. The vitamin C in spinach helps increase iron and calcium absorption levels from vegetables and an individual's nutrients. Vitamin C is essential for wound healing and reducing inflammation, particularly in gums and teeth. It can also help boost an individual's immune system, which can help prevent colds and infections.
2. Iron
Spinach contains a good amount of iron, although it is not as rich in iron as other foods. Each serving contains anywhere between 6 and 14% of the recommended daily amount of iron. The iron in spinach is good for maintaining normal hemoglobin levels in the blood and helping to improve the absorption of calcium and iron in the digestive tract. Iron deficiency can lead to anemia or fatigue, while iron over-consumption can cause heart arrhythmia and organ damage.
3. Folate
Spinach contains only a minimal amount of folate, around 3% per serving size, which is not enough to support a healthy diet for an individual with folic acid deficiencies. Therefore, this vegetable is not recommended for individuals with poor folate or B12 absorption.
4. Vitamin B12
Spinach appears to have the same impact on an individual's vitamin B12 levels as it does for folic acid and iron. However, this vegetable is not recommended for people with vitamin B12 because it contains only a tiny nutrient. Additionally, it is not known whether or not spinach has any side effects on an individual who already has a deficient level of vitamin B12 in their body.
5. Vitamin K
Spinach contains a moderate amount of vitamin K, which helps maintain good heart health and healthy blood pressure. It is also beneficial for maintaining an individual's bone health and preventing blood clotting.
6. Magnesium, Phosphorus, and Potassium
Spinach contains a wide variety of minerals vital to the body, including magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. Magnesium is involved in more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body necessary for maintaining metabolic processes, while phosphorus keeps solid bones and teeth with the help of calcium. Potassium can help maintain normal blood pressure levels and assist with muscle control.
Common Uses for Spinach: Its Usage
Spinach is used in many dishes, supplements, cosmetics, and even medicines. It has historically been used as a fertilizer to improve soil quality. It has also been used to treat cataracts, ulcers, and asthma.
Spinach powder can be added to the diet of both humans and animals because it contains very few calories. As with many other foods with this effect, spinach can increase the amount of calcium an animal ingests.
About this recipe
This recipe with spinach is so easy and simple to make. You just need 2 ingredients. That is spinach and eggs. Then, you can add whatever you want with the spinach pancakes. This time I ate the pancakes with chicken with tomato sauce, but you can add so many things. Like, Hummus, avocado, couscous, and much more.
I used olive oil to make the pancake, but you can use coconut oil or avocado oil instead.
And it's so tasty!
Enjoy!
Ingredients:
2 Eggs
Spinach (1 big cup)
Olive oil