This simple Asian spinach stir fry recipe is quick enough for busy weeknights, yet so delicious you'll want to make it all year round!
Fresh spinach is quickly cooked with fragrant garlic, a splash of soy sauce, and finished with toasty sesame oil for a light, flavourful side dish. Ready in under 15 minutes.
If you're looking for an easy stir-fried spinach recipe that tastes just like the ones served at home or in Chinese restaurants, this is one you'll make again and again.
My Bean Sprout Stir Fry and Garlic Green Bean Stir Fry recipes are also my readers' favourite vegetable stir fry recipes you don't want to miss out.
Family Favourite Spinach Side Dish
My mum often made this simple stir fry spinach for our family dinners. Some days she’d simply stir-fry it with garlic, while other days she'd add tofu, potatoes, or eggs to make it a little more filling. It was usually served alongside rice and a couple of other homemade dishes, and those simple meals are still the ones I crave the most.
Choosing and Preparing Spinach
Spinach Types
Fresh spinach gives the best texture for this recipe. Baby spinach has tender leaves and cooks very quickly, while mature spinach has a slightly heartier texture and works just as well.
Wash and Prepare
Spinach can sometimes hide dirt around the stems and leaves, so give it a good rinse before cooking. Fill a large bowl with cold water and gently swish the spinach around, then lift the leaves out instead of pouring away the water, as any grit will settle at the bottom.
Repeat until the water runs clear, then drain well before cooking. Shake off excess water. A salad spinner works well, or simply leave it in a colander for a few minutes.
Basic Ingredients You’ll Need
- Fresh spinach
- Garlic cloves
- Red chillies
- Soy sauce
- Sunflower oil or any neutral-flavour cooking oil
- Sesame oil
- Salt and white pepper to taste
- Toasted sesame seeds
How to Stir Fry Spinach Perfectly
- Sauté Garlic: Heat the oil in a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and stir-fry for a few seconds until fragrant and golden brown.
Remove the fried garlic from the pan and set it aside.
- Stir Fry Spinach: Add the spinach to the remaining oil and toss continuously as it begins to wilt.
- Add Seasonings: Season with the soy sauce, salt, and white pepper, then continue cooking for another minute or two until the spinach is just tender.
- Finish the Dish: Turn off the heat and stir through the sesame oil, sliced chillies, and toasted sesame seeds.
Serve immediately and garnish with the reserved crispy fried garlic.
Khin's Recipe Tips
Spinach naturally contains a lot of water, cook it over high heat and don't overcook it.
This helps any excess moisture evaporate quickly, keeping your spinach stir-fry light instead of watery.
Make sure the spinach is well-drained before adding it to the wok to prevent excess water.
Our Favourite Add-Ins
This spinach recipe is easy to adapt to whatever you have in the fridge. For extra protein, add scrambled eggs, firm tofu, sliced chicken, beef, prawns, or minced pork. Mushrooms are another favourite as they soak up the savoury sauce beautifully, while glass noodles turn it into a light yet satisfying one-pan meal.
Before serving, I sometimes finish it with crispy garlic, fried shallots, toasted sesame seeds, or a drizzle of chilli oil for extra flavour and texture.
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Spinach
Spinach stir fry is best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
To reheat, warm it in a frying pan or wok over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes until heated through. You can also microwave it in short bursts, though the spinach will become slightly softer. I don't recommend reheating it more than once.
FAQs
Can I use frozen spinach?
Yes. Fresh spinach gives the best texture, but frozen spinach works great too. Simply thaw it completely and squeeze out as much excess water as possible before stir-frying.
Why is my spinach watery?
Spinach naturally releases moisture as it cooks. Using high heat and thoroughly draining the leaves beforehand helps reduce excess liquid.
How long does spinach take to cook?
Usually just 1 to 3 minutes. Once wilted, it's ready to serve.
What oil is best for stir-frying spinach?
A neutral oil like sunflower, vegetable, or canola oil works best for Asian stir-fries. Only add sesame oil right at the end to give your garlic stir-fried spinach its lovely nutty aroma without burning the oil.
What We Love Having It With
We almost always enjoy this spinach dish with steamed jasmine rice, fried egg and a few other family favourite dishes.
It pairs wonderfully with Chicken and Green Bean Stir Fry, Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry, Chicken Chow Mein, or a simple fried Egg Foo Young when you want an easy meat-free meal.
For soup lovers, it's also delicious served alongside Egg Drop Soup, Wonton Soup, or a comforting bowl of Clear Chicken ABC Soup.
Tried this recipe?
If you've tried this spinach recipe and enjoyed it, leave a comment below and give me a ⭐ rating. I'd love to hear how it turned out for you.
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📖 Recipe
Spinach Stir Fry
Equipment
- 1 Large Wok or pan
Ingredients
- 300 grams Fresh Spinach or frozen spinach ( thawed ) About 10.6oz
- 4 cloves Garlic minced, Add more or less garlic to taste
- 6 Red chilli Cut thin slices
- 1 tsp Sesame seeds
Seasonings
- 1 tbsp Soy sauce Regular soy sauce or light soy
- 1 tsp Sesame oil toasted sesame oil
- Salt to taste
- White pepper taste or black pepper
Instructions
Saute the Garlic
- Heat the oil in a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat.
- Add the garlic and stir-fry for a few seconds until fragrant and golden crispy. Remove fried garlic from pan and set it aside.
Stir Fry the Spinach
- Add the spinach to the remaining oil and quickly stir fry the spinach, tossing continuously as it begins to wilt.
Season and Finish the Dish
- Season with the soy sauce, salt, and white pepper, then continue cooking for another minute or two until the spinach is just tender.
- Turn off the heat and stir through the sesame oil and sliced chillies and sesame seeds. Serve immediately and garnish with reserved fried garlic.
Notes
- Spinach cooks down quite a bit. Since it reduces in volume, start with a small pinch of salt and adjust to taste at the end. If you prefer, you can skip the salt and let the soy sauce do the seasoning.
- Wash and drain the spinach well to prevent excess water in the pan.
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Don't overcook the spinach. It only needs 1-2 minutes over high heat to stay vibrant and tender.
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