Stir-Fried Spinach With Garlic

By
Rhonda Parkinson
Rhonda Parkinson
Rhonda Parkinson is a freelance writer who has authored many cookbooks, including two Everything guides to Chinese cooking.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 05/15/24
Tested by
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Tested by Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 5 mins
Total: 10 mins
Servings: 3 to 4 servings
Yield: 1 1/2 cups

For this recipe, you'll start with fresh spinach leaves. You can use baby spinach if you prefer. Find these in the grocery store, seasonally at the farmers' market, or even better—from your garden. Be sure to wash the spinach well to remove any sand or grit.

Stir fry spinach with garlic recipe

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Even if your family or guests often turn up their noses at this healthy green, they may discover how wonderful spinach is when cooked quickly and perfectly seasoned. It is as far from slimy-boiled canned spinach as you can get. The fat and calories are also far less than in creamed spinach, which is often offered as a vegetable side for steak.

This simple Chinese-style spinach stir-fry with garlic pairs has a bit of sweetness and a bit of spice to blend with the bite of the garlic. To make it a well-rounded, rice meal, pair it with proteins like a perfectly grilled steak, quick chicken with oyster sauce, or a colorful and nutritious kung pao tofu.

What Does “Wilt Spinach” Mean?

When heat is applied to a tender, leafy green like spinach, it begins to break down and lose some of its water, and in turn, its volume. This is known as wilting. The spinach goes from crisp, perky leaves to a tender, cooked vegetable. Raw spinach is often used in salads, and cooked spinach can be found in soups, stir-fries, and other hot dishes.

What Is Chili Paste?

Asian-style chili paste is made primarily from chili peppers. Labeled chili paste, chili paste with garlic, Szechuan, or sambal oelek, chili paste is found in the Asian section of most large supermarkets. Substitute with a a dash of crushed red pepper flakes or Sriracha sauce.

Tips for Making Stir-Fried Spinach With Garlic Recipe

  • Wok or frying pan? - You can make this recipe in a wok or a large skillet, and the directions would be the same. If you use a nonstick frying pan, you can reduce the oil a bit.
  • Leftovers are the best! - Garlic spinach will go with a wide variety of cuisines. You can refrigerate any leftovers and reheat them in the microwave. Leftovers can easily be added to noodle and rice dishes or used in an omelet the next morning.
  • Your personal touch - As always, how much seasoning to add is a personal preference. Feel free to reduce the amount of salt and/or garlic if desired, or to increase the amount of spinach to 12 ounces. Of course, if you’re a fan of garlic you can always add more.


What You'll Need to Make This Stir-Fried Spinach Recipe
Joseph Joseph Garlic Rocker
A Great Garlic Press
Amazon Yokusata The Wok Shop Carbon Steel Wok with Wood Side Handles
A Fantastic Wok
OXO-good-grips-wooden-corner-spoon
A Good Spatula

"The stir-fried spinach with garlic was perfectly seasoned and delicious, and it only took 10 minutes to prep and cook. Make sure you have all of your ingredients measured and ready because the garlic, seasonings, and spinach cook quickly." —Diana Rattray

Overhead of stir-fried spinach with garlic in a bowl
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons peanut, or vegetable oil

  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic

  • 1/4 teaspoon chili paste, more to taste

  • 1/2 teaspoon fine salt, more to taste

  • 10 ounces fresh spinach, rinsed and dried

  • 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar

  • 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for stir-fried spinach with garlic gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Preheat the wok on medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons peanut, or vegetable oil, swirling it in the pan to coat the wok about halfway up the sides.

    Oil being heated up in a wok

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  3. When the oil is hot, add 1 teaspoon minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon chili paste, and 1/2 teaspoon fine salt. Stir for a few seconds until the garlic is aromatic.

    Minced garlic, chile paste, oil, and salt being cooked in a wok

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Add 10 ounces of fresh spinach, rinsed and dried to the wok. Stir-fry until the leaves are almost wilted, 1 to 2 minutes.

    Spinach being cooked in a wok and stirred with chopsticks

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar and 1/4 teaspoon toasted sesame oil.

    Spinach being cooked with sugar and toasted sesame oil added

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  6. Sprinkle the spinach with 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, if using. Serve immediately.

    Spinach cooked in a pan and sprinkled with pepper

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

How to Store Stir-Fry Spinach

  • Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
  • To freeze, transfer the cooked spinach to a resealable freezer bag. Label the bag with the name and date and freeze for up to 3 months.
  • Reheat the spinach in the microwave or over low heat on the stovetop.

Feeling Adventurous? Try This:

  • Add color and flavor -fry about a dozen halved cherry tomatoes with the spinach.
  • Make it gingery - Add 1 teaspoon of freshly grated ginger to the wok with the garlic for a mild ginger flavor.
  • Extra aromatics - Garnish the stir-fried spinach with crispy fried shallots or onions.
  • Experiment with oils - try a different oil like coconut or use an oil infusion for extra flavor.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
81 Calories
7g Fat
3g Carbs
2g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories 81
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g 9%
Saturated Fat 1g 3%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 135mg 6%
Total Carbohydrate 3g 1%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 20mg 102%
Calcium 72mg 6%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 399mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)