African stewed spinach is one of my favorite easy weeknight dinners. Frozen chopped spinach is thawed, squeezed, and stewed with tomatoes, onions and a protein for a comforting, flavorful dish.
This stewed spinach pairs beautifully with corn fufu, sweet fried plantains, boiled plantains or boiled white yams. It’s versatile, satisfying, and quick to prepare.
African Stewed Spinach Recipe
When we first moved to the United States I worried I’d lose access to the fresh leafy greens I loved. At first my family bought dried greens like bitterleaf and njama njama, but a visit with a Ugandan family changed everything. They served a simple, delicious mix of collard greens and spinach, which inspired me to develop my own version of African stewed spinach.
I experimented with many variations, sometimes combining spinach with other greens or adding it into soups and stews. Over time I found that plain spinach works wonderfully on its own when prepared the African way — smoky, lightly stewed, and seasoned with crayfish and smoked meat.
I usually buy fresh spinach and blanch it: rinse, chop, boil water with a pinch of salt and a dash of baking soda, plunge the leaves into the boiling water for 2–5 minutes, then strain, rinse with cold water and squeeze out the excess. For convenience in this recipe I used frozen chopped spinach — simply thaw, squeeze, and it’s ready to use.
Ingredients Needed
- Chopped spinach (frozen and squeezed or fresh blanched and squeezed)
- Fresh tomatoes, chopped
- Onion, chopped
- A protein of your choice — I used smoked turkey and dried fish; shrimp, fish fillet or chicken also work well
- Crayfish (roughly blended), seasoning cubes, oil and salt
How To Make It
Heat oil in a pot over medium heat and sauté the onions until translucent. Add the chopped tomatoes and fry, stirring occasionally, until the acidity cooks away and the tomato mixture is fragrant. Add the blended crayfish and stir to release its aroma.
Stir in seasoning cubes and salt, then add your pre-cooked smoked turkey, dried fish, or other protein. If the mixture seems too dry, add a tablespoon of water and stir to loosen it.
Fold in the squeezed spinach and mix thoroughly to combine. Let the pot sit on medium-low heat for about 5 minutes, stirring lightly from time to time so flavors meld and the spinach heats through without becoming mushy.
The finished stew should be tender with a slight bite, displaying smoky and earthy notes from the smoked meat and crayfish. Serve warm with boiled plantains, yams, cassava (yuca), or rice.
More African Recipes You’ll Love
- African Chicken Peanut Stew
- Jollof Rice with Chicken
- African Okra Soup
- African Fried Rice
- African Chicken Stew
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African Stewed Spinach
Ingredients
- 40 ounces spinach (frozen or blanched and squeezed fresh spinach) — I used 4 × 10 oz packs
- 5 large tomatoes, chopped
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup oil (I used canola)
- 1/2 pound meat/fish (smoked turkey and dried fish shown)
- 3 small seasoning cubes (Maggi)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup crayfish, roughly blended
Instructions
- Heat oil in a pot over medium heat and sauté the onions until translucent. Add the tomatoes and fry until the acidity cooks away, stirring so they don’t burn.
- Add the blended crayfish and stir to release its aroma.
- Add seasoning cubes, salt, and your cooked protein. If the mixture is dry, add a tablespoon of water and stir.
- Add the squeezed spinach and mix well with the tomato and protein mixture. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Serve warm with boiled plantains, cassava (yuca), yams or rice.
Notes
If using fresh spinach you’ll need about 6 bundles or bags. Rinse and chop the leaves. Boil water with a pinch of salt and a dash of baking soda, then plunge the spinach in and cover for 2–5 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water, squeeze out excess liquid and use.
Nutrition
Calories: 461 kcal | Carbohydrates: 19 g | Protein: 28 g | Fat: 33 g | Fiber: 9 g | Vitamin A, C, Iron and other nutrients per serving as indicated above.
Additional Info
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: African
Calories: 461