Sautéed Garlic Spinach with Toasted Sesame and Lemon
A quick sauté of fresh spinach with garlic, finished with toasted sesame seeds and a splash of lemon juice for bright, earthy flavor. This Mediterranean-inspired vegetarian recipe (gluten free), ready in about 10 minutes, pairs fresh spinach leaves, olive oil, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 70 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with rice, quinoa, or a quick salad. 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.
Ingredients
- 8 cups fresh spinach leaves
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3, thinly sliced garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add 3 thinly sliced garlic cloves and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and just golden — do not burn.
- Step 2: Add 8 cups fresh spinach leaves to the skillet and toss continuously for 3-4 minutes until the leaves are wilted but still vibrant green.
- Step 3: Remove from heat and stir in 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds, 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Toss well and serve immediately as a side dish.







