Sautéed Garlic Spinach with Pine Nuts and Lemon Zest

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Bright and tender spinach quickly sautéed with garlic and toasted pine nuts, finished with a fresh squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of zest for a flavorful side dish. This Mediterranean-inspired vegetarian recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs fresh baby spinach, extra virgin olive oil, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 100 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 10 min Serves 4 Mediterranean cuisine 100 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tbsp pine nuts and toast, stirring frequently, for 2-3 minutes until golden and fragrant; remove and set aside.
  2. Step 2: In the same skillet, add 3 thinly sliced garlic cloves and sauté over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and lightly golden, taking care not to burn the garlic.
  3. Step 3: Add 10 oz fresh baby spinach to the skillet and toss with the garlic and oil. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring gently until the spinach is wilted but still vibrant green.
  4. Step 4: Remove from heat and stir in 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp lemon zest, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Sprinkle the toasted pine nuts back on top before serving.

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