Baby spinach is easy to find—either loose at farmers’ markets or prewashed and bagged at supermarkets. If possible, get the curly-leaf (crinkled) type, as it doesn’t shrink as much during cooking as the flat-leaf variety does.
Recipe information
Yield
serves 6
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Heat 1/2 inch vegetable oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Meanwhile, put the flour in a bowl, and season with salt and pepper. Dredge the shallot rings in the flour all at once. When the oil is hot (a shallot ring will sizzle on contact), fry the rings in batches, shaking off excess flour before transferring them to the skillet. Fry until golden brown and crisp, 1 to 3 minutes. Transfer the shallot rings with tongs or a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.
Step 2
Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a Dutch oven or shallow stockpot over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add the spinach (if it doesn’t fit all at once, wait to add more until some of it cooks down, or cook in two batches). Season with salt and pepper. Cover; cook, uncovering occasionally to toss, until the spinach is wilted, 2 to 3 minutes.
Step 3
Transfer the spinach to a serving bowl with tongs or a slotted spoon, leaving any excess liquid in pot. Sprinkle with the shallot rings; serve immediately.
