Editor: Chinese Food Network Mobile site
Most people enjoy eating spinach leaves.but they do not like the stems as much.The leaves are smooth and soft, whereas the stems are somewhat firmer.However, if cooked properly, the spinach stems can also become a delicious dish.Let's get to know the spinach stems!
How to make cold stir-fried spinach stems
On a hot summer day, prepare some light and refreshing cold stir-fried spinach stems for a cool and detoxifying treat.Moreover,the ingredients are simple and easy to cook.When you remove the stems from fresh spinach, those who enjoy eating spinach can try making some small dishes with the stems.Let's give it a try!
Prepare: spinach, appropriate garlic, whitesesame,mashed peanuts, and so on.Seasoning: cooking oil, soy sauce, vinegar, salt, and a little white vinegar.1. Wash the spinach stems and cut them into small pieces about 2 cm long. Boil them in hot water until soft, then soak them in cold water to cool down and reserve.
Squeeze out any excess moisture from the spinach stems, spreading them out evenly.Season with salt, marinating them.2. Crush the garlic into a paste.Mix the garlic paste with two spoons of vinegar, one spoon of soy sauce, and two spoons of cooking oil to make a dipping sauce.3. Arrange the spinach stems on a plate, sprinkling a little white sesame and peanuts on top.4. Pour the sauce evenly over the arranged spinach stems when serving;or directly pour it onto the arranged spinach stems.
Can you eat spinach stems?Some people think that spinach stems are inedible or not very tasty, which they might throw away, thus wasting them.In fact, spinach stems can be eaten too.
Due to sunlight exposure, the leaf chlorophyll content may be higher, and the leaves contain more nutrients than the stems.However, the stems are also suitable for cooking.
Cold stir-fried spinach stems or using the stems to cook mushrooms
can be equally smooth and refreshing, with a firmer texture compared to fresh spinach.If you dislike the softness of spinach, choosing this crunchy and firm spinach stem dish might suit your taste better.
However, note that when blanching the spinach stems, ensure proper heat control to avoid overcooking or becoming too mushy. Rinse with cold water after cooking for a vibrant green color and better texture.
Nutritional value of cold stir-fried spinach stemsThe spinach beloved by Popeye not only promotes blood circulation but also maintains metabolic balance, detoxifies, and reduces swelling.
Actually, the nutritional content of spinach stems is similar to that of the leaves. Let's look at what nutrients are found in spinach stems?1. Spinach stems contain significant amounts of betacaroteneand iron, as well as excellent sources of vitamin B6, folate, iron, and potassium.2. With a high water content (90% to 93%) and low calorie count, spinach stems are rich in magnesium, iron, potassium, and vitamin A;they also provide calcium and vitamin C as excellent sources, with phosphorus, zinc, pantothenic acid, and vitamin B6 being relatively abundant.
3. The protein-to-calorie ratio of spinach stems is almost the same as that of cream cheese, with 500 grams of spinach providing as much protein as two eggs.
Eating spinach stems can compensate for foods where phosphorus content exceeds calcium, such as eggs, fish, legumes, meat, nuts, and seafood.
The nutritional value of spinach is rich. Spinach contains abundant water, carbohydrates, protein, vitamin C, and folate.Mushrooms are a high-potassium, low-sodium food that can provide the body with various nutrients;their iron content also aids in treating iron deficiency anemia.Eating cold stir-fried spinach stems has several benefits:
1. Spinach is rich in vitamins and helps prevent symptoms such as angular cheilitis and night blindness due to vitamin deficiencies.2. Spinach contains a large amount of antioxidants, which can slow aging, promote cell growth, activate brain function, enhance youthfulness, and help prevent age-related cognitive decline.3. Spinach is rich in plant fiber, promoting intestinal peristalsis and aiding digestion. It can also treat symptoms such as hemorrhoids, chronic pancreatitis, constipation, and anal fissures.
4. The betacarotenein spinach can be converted into vitamin A in the body, maintaining normal vision and skin health, enhancing immune function, and promoting children's growth and development.
5. Spinach contains abundant beta-carotene, vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, as well as beneficial components like iron and vitamin E,mushroomsare a high-potassium, low-sodium food that can provide the body with various nutrients;their iron content aids in treating iron deficiency anemia.What are the benefits of eating cold stir-fried spinach stems?Harvard University research suggests that elderly people should appropriately consume spinach to reduce the risk of retinal degeneration, thus protecting vision.The functions of spinach stems and leaves are similar.
Here are a few points:
Spinach is rich in vitamins, preventing symptoms like angular cheilitis and night blindness due to vitamin deficiencies.
Spinach contains a large amount of antioxidants that can slow aging, promote cell growth, enhance brain function, increase youthfulness, prevent cognitive decline, and help prevent Alzheimer's disease.
Spinach has abundant plant fiber that promotes intestinal peristalsis and aids in digestion. It is beneficial for treating hemorrhoids, chronic pancreatitis, constipation, and anal fissures.The betacarotene
in spinach can be converted into vitamin A in the body, maintaining normal vision and skin health, enhancing immune function, and promoting children's growth and development.
Spinach contains abundant beta-carotene, vitamins C, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and vitamin E,
mushroomsare a high-potassium, low-sodium food that can provide the body with various nutrients;
their iron content aids in treating iron deficiency anemia.Notices for making cold stir-fried spinach stemsSpinach contains a large amount of oxalate. However, boiling it briefly before cooking removes 80% of its oxalate, so this is not an issue.
What else should be noted when making cold stir-fried spinach stems?1. Ensure proper heat control when blanching the stems to avoid overcooking or becoming too mushy. Rinse with cold water for a vibrant green color and better texture.2. If you are concerned about calcium stones, eat more alkaline foods like vegetables and fruits with spinach to promote oxalate dissolution and excretion, preventing stone formation.3. Do not consume spinach and cucumbers together as the vitamin C in cucumber can be destroyed by its decomposition enzymes.
4. Spinach should not be consumed with cheese due to chemical components that affect calcium absorption from spinach.
5. Leftover cold stir-fried spinach stems should not be eaten on the second day.Cooked spinach left overnight is unsuitable for consumption as nitrate in it will convert into nitrite under the action of reducing enzymes, potentially causing poisoning.
Blanch the spinach stems until cooked but not overcooked, ensuring a bright green color and better texture; rinse with cold water afterward.
If you're concerned about kidney stones from eating spinach, consume more alkaline foods like vegetables and fruits to promote the dissolution and excretion of oxalates.
Spinach should not be eatenwith cucumbers,as the vitamin C in spinach can be destroyed by the enzymes in cucumbers.
Spinach should not be eatenwith cheese,as it contains chemicals that can affect the absorption of calcium in spinach.
Leftover cold-prepared spinach stems should not be consumed on the second day.Cooked spinach left overnight is not suitable for consumption as nitrates in spinach may convert to nitrites under enzyme activity, potentially causing poisoning.