Popeye and his spinach

Cinzia Cuneo 26 marzo, 2010 verdure

Who doesn’t remember Popeye, the famous cartoon sailor from our childhood, who used to get superhuman strength by gulping down a can of spinach? This legend probably had something to do with the content of iron in spinach, as iron is a mineral that protects against anemia and the feeling of weakness that results from it.

But in fact, iron from any vegetal source can only be properly absorbed by the body if eaten with foods rich in vitamin C, such as sweet peppers or citrus fruits. Apart from iron, there are many other good reasons for including this leafy vegetable in your menu: it’s an excellent source of folate, vitamin A and K, a good source of magnesium, manganese et copper, and it also contains antioxidants.

Spinach was unknown to the Greeks and the Romans and it was first introduced in southern Europe by the Arabs, before spreading to the rest of Europe. Catherine de Medici liked this vegetable so much that she carried it (along with her cooks) to the court of the French king in 1533.

A few of our recipes that feature spinach:

• Portobello Egg on Spinach
• Salmon and Spinach with a Balsamic Sauce
• Spinach à l’étuvée
• Spinach and Mushroom Salad

An unusual presentation for a very simple dish.

Originally published in the Journal de Montréal on June 28, 2008.

Autori

Cinzia Cuneo

Italiana di nascita e canadese d'adozione, Cinzia ha deciso di coniugare le sue competenze professionali e la sua passione per la buona tavola sviluppando un servizio per aiutare i numerosi «aventi bisogno» a riprendere il controllo della loro alimentazione. Così è nata SOSCuisine. Ingegnere di formazione al Politecnico di Torino, Cinzia ha conseguito un Master's Degree in scienze applicate all'École Polytechnique de Montréal.