Spinach and Meat Stew

Spinach is believed to be of Persian origin. By the 12th century, it spread across Europe, and it is a tender leafy green plant. Its leaves are consumed fresh, frozen, canned or dried.

Spinach has been a versatile and commonly used vegetable in the Syria. Eating and preparing spinach is simple and easy, since it tastes good raw or cooked. It can be easily incorporated into many dishes. It is easy to serve raw spinach in salads or sandwiches or as a complement to soups, meat, fish, or other vegetable dishes.

There are many ways to cook spinach, it can be prepared with vegetables such as olive oil, lemon juice, onions, and garlic, and it cooked with lamb meat and chicken are the most used, and with beef, goat and fish in some regions, as in coastal areas.

Spinach is an extremely nutrient-rich vegetable. It packs high amounts of carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin K, folic acid, iron, and calcium, and it prevent cancer, and reduce blood pressure levels.

Ingredients

6 servings

2 kg spinach, thoroughly cleaned and coarsely chopped

500 g finely ground meat

2 onions, finely chopped

2 tablespoons raw pine nuts

1 cup water

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

2 teaspoons salt

Preparation

1-Place a deep pot on high heat, heat the vegetable oil and fry the onions until golden.

2-Add the pine nuts to the onions then add the meat and brown it. Add salt and pepper. Stir well. 

3-Add the spinach and water to the pot. Leave on medium heat for 30 min. Stir occasionally. If needed add more water. 

4-Turn off the heat and pour the lemon juice over the spinach.

5-Once served with lemon juice and salt to taste, and serve with vermicelli rice.

Hamsa.Zoghib