Spinach puree with vegetables and bacon

Name: Spinach puree with vegetables and bacon
Ingredients: 450 g chopped spinach (frozen) 3 green onions 2 green garlic stalks 1 carrot 300 g bacon 100 ml oil 1 teaspoon salt pepper 2 bay leaves 2 tablespoons tomato paste 500 ml water 1 tablespoon flour 2 tab

Children - Spinach puree with vegetables and bacon by Antonela F. - Recipia

Spinach puree with vegetables and bacon is one of the dishes I make quite often at home. This time, I prepared it in a multicooker, where the onion, garlic, carrot, and bacon sauté together in the same pot, and the spinach cooks without needing to keep a constant eye on the pot. In the end, milk mixed with flour thickens the sauce, and fresh parsley enhances the flavor. We usually serve it with fried eggs. Quick Info Total time: approximately 45 minutes Preparation time: unspecified; includes chopping vegetables and preparing ingredients Cooking time: 15 minutes on the FRY setting and 30 minutes on the STEW setting Servings: unspecified; the quantity is suitable for multiple servings Difficulty: easy Recipe type: main dish, spinach dish, prepared in a multicooker Ingredients 450 g chopped frozen spinach 3 green onions 2 green garlic stalks 1 carrot 300 g bacon 100 ml oil 1 teaspoon salt Pepper, to taste 2 bay leaves 500 ml boiling water 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1 tablespoon flour 2 tablespoons cold milk 1 bunch of fresh parsley Preparation method 1. Add 100 ml of oil to the multicooker pot and select the FRY program for 15 minutes. Wait until the oil starts to sizzle slightly. 2. Meanwhile, chop the green onions and green garlic into rounds. Cut the carrot into rounds as well. Cut the bacon into small strips for easier browning. 3. When the oil is hot, add the bacon to the pot. Stir a few times with a spatula until it browns on all sides. 4. Add the onion, garlic, and carrot to the bacon. Let the vegetables sauté until almost the end of the FRY program, stirring occasionally. There’s no need to stir continuously, but it’s good to avoid leaving them unmoved all the time. 5. Add the chopped frozen spinach. Season with salt and pepper, then add the bay leaves and the 500 ml of boiling water. 6. Close the multicooker lid and set the STEW program for 30 minutes. Let the spinach and vegetables cook during this time. 7. About 15 minutes before the STEW program ends, add the tomato paste and stir. It will incorporate into the liquid in the pot and give the dish its characteristic flavor and color. 8. To thicken, mix the flour with the cold milk in a small bowl. It’s important that the flour is well dissolved before it goes into the dish. 9. About 5 minutes before the end, take some hot liquid from the pot and gradually add it to the flour and milk mixture. Stir, then pour the mixture into the multicooker in a thin stream while continuously stirring. This way, the flour distributes better in the dish. 10. After the STEW program ends, turn off the appliance and add the chopped fresh parsley. Stir gently and serve the dish warm. Why I make this recipe often It’s a practical dish when I have frozen spinach on hand and want to use just one pot for cooking. The bacon adds flavor and texture, while the vegetables make the dish more enjoyable than just plain spinach puree. The multicooker is handy here because the transition from sautéing to boiling is done without needing to transfer the food to another pot. Spinach puree can be served as a main dish alongside fried eggs or can be placed on the table as a side dish. The amount produced is enough for several servings, making it suitable for a family meal. Tips and Variations Tips Use boiling water when adding liquid to the pot. This way, boiling starts quicker, and the cooking program isn’t interrupted by a large amount of cold water. The bacon should be cut into small strips and browned before adding the vegetables. This step locks in its flavor in the dish. Mix the flour with cold milk before adding it to the pot. If the flour is added directly to the hot liquid, it can clump. Gradually adding a small amount of hot liquid helps temper the mixture. Be cautious with the salt, as the bacon may already be salty. It’s easier to adjust the flavor at the end than to try to correct an overly salty dish. Substitutions Chopped frozen spinach is the ingredient used in the original recipe. No direct substitute is specified, and changing it would alter the dish's texture. Green onions and green garlic can be used in the indicated amounts. If they are thinner or thicker, the flavor may vary, but the steps remain the same. Variations For a meatless version, the bacon can be omitted, but this will change the recipe in terms of taste and texture. Since bacon contributes both fat and salt, the result will need to be adjusted based on what is used instead. You can adjust the amount of pepper to your preference. The tomato paste is added in the second half of the cooking process, as per the recipe, not at the beginning of sautéing. Serving Ideas Serve the spinach puree warm, topped or alongside fried eggs. This combination is mentioned in the original recipe and pairs well with the creamy texture of the spinach and the salty flavor of the bacon. It can be plated as a main dish or served as a side alongside a heartier meal. The parsley is added at the end, after the appliance is turned off, to keep its aroma fresher. Frequently Asked Questions Is frozen spinach used directly? Yes. The recipe is formulated for 450 g of chopped frozen spinach, which is added after the bacon and vegetables have been sautéed. No separate thawing step is mentioned. Can I use a different program instead of FRY? The recipe is designed for a Philips multicooker and uses the FRY program for 15 minutes, followed by the STEW program for 30 minutes. To maintain the original steps, it is recommended to use these programs if your appliance has them. When is the tomato paste added? The tomato paste is added 15 minutes before the end of the STEW program. If the program lasts 30 minutes, the paste goes into the pot after the first 15 minutes of cooking. Why is hot liquid added to the flour and milk mixture? Hot liquid is added gradually to thin and temper the mixture before it goes into the pot. This way, the flour incorporates more easily, reducing the risk of clumping. Can it be served without eggs? Yes. Fried eggs are a serving suggestion and are not part of the ingredients used to prepare the spinach puree. Nutritional Values The values are estimates and primarily depend on the type of bacon, the amount of oil absorbed, and the number of servings. For guidance, if the dish is divided into 4 servings, one serving may contain approximately: Calories: 850-950 kcal Protein: 20-25 g Fat: 75-85 g Carbohydrates: 20-25 g Fiber: approximately 4-6 g Most calories come from bacon and oil. Spinach and carrots contribute fiber and micronutrients, while flour and tomato paste add a smaller amount of carbohydrates. These estimates do not include the eggs served alongside. Storage and Reheating After cooling, place the spinach puree in a covered container and store it in the refrigerator. It is recommended to consume it within 2-3 days. Reheat only the necessary amount, in a pot or in the multicooker, stirring gently until heated evenly. If the texture becomes denser after storage, stirring helps to homogenize it. Do not leave the dish at room temperature longer than necessary.

Preparation

We put the oil in the multicooker pot and set the FRY program for 15 minutes. We chop the onion and garlic into slices and also the carrot. When the oil starts to sizzle, we add the bacon cut into small strips and stir it a few times with a spatula to brown it on all sides. We add the onion, garlic, and carrot and let everything sauté until nearly the end of the time, stirring occasionally, then we add the spinach. We season with salt and pepper, add the bay leaves and boiling water, close the lid, and set the STEW program for 30 minutes. 15 minutes before the time is up, we add the tomato paste. We dilute the flour in cold milk, then add a little of the boiling liquid from the pot and pour it into the dish while stirring continuously. We do this operation 5 minutes before the time is up. After the time is up, we add the chopped parsley. Served with fried eggs, it is delicious!!

Spinach puree with vegetables and bacon

Preparation

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