The CHEESIEST Spinach Casserole Recipe | That Low Carb Life (2024)

FAQs

How many carbs are in a spinach casserole? ›

Spinach Casserole (1 cup) contains 21.3g total carbs, 18.3g net carbs, 14.8g fat, 15g protein, and 272 calories.

You might not want to use frozen spinach in dishes that rely on the texture of fresh spinach, such as spinach salads, but you can use it in place of fresh spinach in dishes like soups and baked goods.

Defrosted frozen spinach can be added to any recipe that calls for leafy greens. "Once defrosted, squeeze out excess water, and add to fritter batters, smoothies, soups, stew, a pot of creamy beans, or my favorite, as a lasagna layer," Bruning says.

Spinach, raw (2 cup) contains 2.2g total carbs, 0.8g net carbs, 0.2g fat, 1.7g protein, and 14 calories.

Spinach is also low in carbs, but the carbs become more concentrated as the leaves are cooked down and lose their volume. For example, one cup of cooked spinach contains 7 g of carbs with 4 g of fiber, whereas one cup of raw spinach contains 1 g of carbs with almost 1 g of fiber.

Yes — but don't overdo it! Fresh spinach releases a lot of water as it cooks, which can result in a soggy lasagna. That's why you'll want to sauté the spinach until it just wilts, which prevents it from releasing too much liquid too quickly.

Quick cooking: Spinach cooks quickly, so it's best to cook it for a short period of time, such as steaming for 1-2 minutes or blanching for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Avoid boiling: Boiling spinach for an extended period of time can cause significant nutrient loss, including vitamin C.

Have you ever wondered why so many recipes suggest mixing in milk, cheese, or other dairy products when you're preparing spinach? It's a pairing that's not only tasty, but also healthy.

In the case of soup, no. A little extra water never hurt a broth. But when it comes to pretty much everything else—be it eggs, quesadillas, or skillet pizza—moisture is the enemy, so you're going to want to let the spinach thaw.

Which is better frozen or fresh spinach? ›

Even better, one cup of frozen spinach has more than four times the amount of nutrients, including iron, vitamin C and calcium, compared to a cup of fresh spinach.

You can save time by using well-drained thawed spinach instead of blanching fresh spinach. These are of course just a few ideas — you could also add frozen spinach to smoothies, sauces, and other blended foods, or bake it into savory muffins, or use it in a whole host of other recipes.

While cooking times may vary depending on the amount of spinach you're preparing, it generally takes four to six minutes of cooking to properly defrost and heat up a package of frozen spinach on the stove. Once all of the leaves are heated through, remove the spinach from the pan and place it on a serving platter.

So when you defrost your frozen spinach, it has already been wilted down and cooked to some degree. The best way to defrost frozen spinach is to warm it in the microwave for a few minutes or warm it over low heat on the stove in pot and strain excess water with a mesh sieve or colander.

Cooked Spinach Spaghetti Without Salt (1 cup) contains 36.6g total carbs, 36.6g net carbs, 0.9g fat, 6.4g protein, and 182 calories.

Green leafy veggies are extremely low in carbs, making them excellent for keto. They're also rich sources of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants (45). In particular, dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, and collard greens are packed with vitamin K and iron (45).

On the other hand, a cup (180g) of boiled spinach contains a slightly higher amount with 41 calories and about 8 grams of carbs. This is because cooked spinach has lost most of its water, making it denser in nutrients and volume than raw spinach.