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Chickpeas, fiesta Friday, food, Popeye, recipes, Spinach, spinach soup
Stuck in my head was a verse:
“So, you want to be a super hero?” (to the tune of, SuperHero by Jane’s Addiction); you might notice I had the lyrics wrong? I’m always doing that; getting lyrics wrong and getting tunes stuck in my head. Somehow this got me to thinking about spinach, superheroes being strong and all.
Spinach was overrated in my book. In my whole set of encyclopedias, in fact. I did like Popeye and all, and particularly thought it was cool that he slurped down the green stuff (without a can opener) and became strong. Believe it or not, Popeye was not actually considered a superhero (I checked), but he did get superpowers from the spinach. I was okay with being weak; no spinach for me. For a little weakling though, I was actually pretty strong.
Ironically, as I began writing this post, I overheard two co-workers talking about Popeye and debating different theories concerning the characters. It seemed quite ironic as I hadn’t thought or heard about Popeye in many, many years, yet on my iPad sat a paragraph, beginning a post with Popeye’s mention. I couldn’t help but listen in on the debate.
A very quick synopsis of what I overheard:
Wimpy was the name of one of the characters (was this my character, I thought? Was I Wimpy?).
Olive Oyl was always getting Popeye into trouble (but spinach was always pulling him out).
Was the name of Popeye’s rival character named Bluto or Pluto (they settled on the wrong name, Pluto was their choice).
The conflict between Pluto and Popeye came from Olive Oyl (what, Olive Oyl was the antagonist? So is olive oyl good or bad for spinach?).
The whole spinach power thing was “wicked cool“ (dude).
I mentioned this to Tom on the drive home, who immediately said, “Bluto, not Pluto! Pluto was Mickey Mouse’s dog!”. That’s my Tom, vault of useless (+ useful) information (especially concerning cartoons, movie quotes, 80’s music, well, all things 80’s actually), much to my chagrin. He does make me laugh.
It wasn’t until one day while lunching with my former boss, that I discovered I had been missing out all along. When she ordered us a big plate of spinach sautéed with garlic and lemon to split as an appetizer, I wasn’t quite sure what to do. She could be, um, slightly judgmental, and I didn’t want to tell her I hated spinach, when she was so certain that this is what we needed to have. I knew I would need to eat it, what I did not know was that I would actually like it so much.
It has been some number of years since then and I have been happily munching on spinach ever since. Perhaps the difference between my like and dislike of the green stuff was all in the presentation. Wadded up and popped out of a can (the visual I gleamed from Popeye growing up) along with the frozen block out of a waxed box, soggy and slimy on the plate (the actuality of how mine was delivered growing up), versus freshly-sautéed in a bath of olive oil and lemon with aromatic bits of spicy garlic.
I love the latter of the above and cook mine by first putting a few pinches sea salt and fresh ground pepper into a pan and heating it until fragrant. I then drizzle in the olive oil, followed momentarily by the garlic and then finally the spinach. My spinach is always bone dry (as bone dry as spinach goes) as it hits the pan and must be tended to quickly, flipping, tossing and thrusting about. Within minutes, the whole process is complete, producing a wilted, yet perky result.
Spinach Soup
This soup is über-healthy, delivering an extra helping of “strong” while satisfying even the most skeptical spinach naysayer.
INGREDIENTS
1 celery stalk, chopped coarsely
2 leeks, cleaned, trimmed and sliced
2 garlic cloves, peeled, chopped
1/2 jalapeño, seeded, chopped
1 1/2 cups freshly cooked chickpeas, see how I cook mine here (or canned, rinsed, and drained)
2 cups chickpea cooking liquid (or vegetable stock if using canned beans)
1 tsp cumin
1 can lite coconut milk
1/2 cup vermouth
Juice of 1 lemon (approximately 3 TB)
1/2 lb fresh baby spinach, cleaned and dried
Sea salt
Fresh ground pepper
Sprouted pumpkin seeds and fresh Buffalo mozzarella for garnish
COOK
In a stockpot, sauté the celery, leek, garlic and jalapeño in a little olive oil until soft (approximately 5-7 minutes). Add the chickpeas/liquid, cumin, vermouth and lemon. Bring to a simmer. Continue cooking for a further 10-15 minutes, until the flavors have combined nicely.
Add the spinach and continue cooking until it begins to wilt; season with salt and pepper.
. Add the coconut milk and bring back to a simmer until the spinach is cooked through.
Purée in a food processor or by using an immersion blender.
Divide among bowls and garnish with the sprouted pumpkin seeds and fresh mozzarella (soft creamy piece torn off and plopped in). Paired with a salad makes for a fine lunch. Look out Popeye, I’ve got some olive oil too!
And head on over to Fiesta Friday for a dose of fun!
A soup fit for a super hero! What a tasty meal, Stacey. The addition of jalapeno must give it a nice little kick!
Thanks Patty. I find jalapeño makes many things taste better; I’m a big fan.
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What a delicious soup! I am a recovering cooked spinach hater as well. As long as it’s got lots of garlic and isn’t from a can, I can eat and enjoy it. -Julia
I love it “recovering cooked spinach hater”; that’s what we are. Thank goodness for that because it is so good (with garlic, lemon and olive oil or in soup).
I’m going to lie back for an afternoon of spinach soup and Popeye. The weekend starts here.
You’ll be strong to the finish if you eats your spinach. Lay back and enjoy your weekend; here at last.
Hello! So nice to “meet” you here on Fiesta Friday! My son hates courgettes and was faced with a pile of them on his plate the other day when visiting his friends – he ate them! I was so amazed! But he still doesn’t like them so not such a happy ending! Love your recipe and gorgeous photos too….
Well, I’m proud that he ate them. I tell my nieces that I have only one rule at the table, they must try one bite before they say they dot like something. If they decide they don’t like it, well? Then at least they gave it a chance.
Thanks for sharing and nice to “meet” you too.
I’m with you on the canned variety, Stacey…yuck-a do! But this soup?? I’d gladly take a bowl-full, no wimpy cup for me! (This was a delightful post to read, btw!)
“yuck-a do!” So true. I went for the big girl bowl too. Thanks for the kind words.
How did Popeye ‘disappeared’ in my thoughts, too? I remember that I love watching Popeye when I was… nevermind, I could not quite remember! Anyway, this sounds really good! Thanks for bringing it to Fiesta Friday! 🙂
Always fun to re-visit childhood characters. Happy Friday.
Yes, indeed! 🙂 Have a lovely week, Stacey. <3
You too.
What a fun read! Like your humor and love your soup! Funny, I never looked at Olive Oyl as an antagonist, but you are right! She is (was).
Thanks, so nice of you to say. I never saw her that way either, it was my co-worker that pointed it out and looking back, he was right.
this is a really yummy soup, full of flavors and is well-balanced. I love the addition of chickpeas and sprouted pumpkin seeds!
Thanks, it is quite delicious. The chickpeas add the creaminess and give it a nice body. The sprouted seeds are a nice textural nutty crunch.
Coconut milk in spinach soup sounds good! Love how you’ve added pumpkin seeds for the garnish!
Thanks. It is lite coconut milk so the flavor is rather mild but just right (and without the added fat). I am quite smitten with these sprouted pumpkin seeds.
This is definitely superhero food. It looks delicious. What great flavors. The chickpeas, pumpkin seeds, cumin, coconut milk…this is a keeper for sure. Is that the rest of the vermouth you’re drinking it with? I’m not sure I could part with it for a soup’s sake.
Thanks Amanda, glad it’s a keeper. It makes me feel like a super hero. It was a crisp Viognier in my glass and I often have to part with the vermouth for cooking; I’ll save some for you.
I feel stronger and feel of energy just looking a your bright green soup. I remember Popeye and your post made me a little nostalgic for afternoon cartoons, lol! Happy 50th post!
Thanks, me too. I am nostalgic for the old school cartoons that we used to look forward to on Saturday morning. They don’t make ’em like they used to…
Thanks for noticing my 50th post too.
I love the addition of chick peas, lentils and beans to a creamy soup. This one looks delicious and super flavourful… I am pinning this soup!
Thanks Catherine. I am a big fan of chickpeas and they are an excellent stand-in for cream. Hope you enjoy the soup.
I really like spinach but have not had it in a soup before. This looks good! 🙂
Thanks. I hadn’t either but when I found my self with a rather large quantity of spinach needing to be eaten, it seemed a good thing to do.
Yum! I am always looking for ways to sneak more greens into the day and your recipe is going to be one of them! I can’t wait! Thanks. 😀
Great, thanks; I hope you like it as much as me. …and to think, I used to hate spinach?
This was such a fun post, Stacey! We joke about spinach and Popeye still, must have stuck in our minds… maybe because of all the bad soggy spinach that we had to eat! But I would gladly down a big bowl of your soup, it sounds and looks fab! 😀
Ahhh, thanks. Cute that you joke about Popeye and the spinach too. Soggy spinach is all I ever had…until it wasn’t. The soup really is good; in fact, I ate it everyday for lunch until gone. I never do that.
I definitely sang “So, you want to be a super hero?” to the tune of “Do you want to build a snowman?” Anyway, this soup looks delicious and healthy- a true superhero. Thanks for sharing at the fiesta!
Hmm, I don’t know the “Do you want to build a snowman” song but as long as it makes sense in your head…I’m doing that all the time. Thanks for the thumbs up and I’ll be conjuring thoughts of snowmen now (rather fond of them myself – our Christmas tree is decorated with mostly snowmen).
Be grateful you don’t have any little kids around singing the soundtrack from Frozen, but it is a pretty good song. 🙂
Well-balanced, healthy and tasty dish! 🙂
Have a great weekend!
Thanks, it was a good soup. My weekend was grand. Have a nice week.
How could they have mistaken Pluto for Bluto? Didn’t they know anything? Did they also think it was Sweetie and not Sweepea? Oh, well, not everybody knows their cartoons.
Your spinach soup sounds like the best way to enjoy spinach, other than the quick sauté you described or saag paneer. Canned variety? Never. Unless I’m marooned somewhere. 🙂 Congratulations on the 50th post.
I know, I know, that’s what Tom said (but he’s a cartoon nut). But yet… Thanks Angie – chin chin to 50 more.
wow this looks really healthy iw ould love this for lunch, definitely scrapbooking this one x
Thanks. I really love your scrap blog idea.
Thank you x