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    You are here Home » Recipes » food

    By: Melissa

    Spinach with Crispy Pancetta and Shallots

    Spinach with pancetta is a classic Italian way to eat spinach. This Italian spinach recipe which was inspired by one of my favorite restaurants here in Austin. It takes it to the next level because of the copious amounts of pancetta and shallots used. This Italian spinach also has a nice touch of butter that makes it so good. This easy Italian spinach recipe is perfect as a casual side dish but fancy enough to serve at the holidays.

    spinach and pancetta
    Jump to Recipe
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

    About this Italian Spinach Recipe

    This Italian spinach recipe is definitely an amazing way to eat spinach. It is especially loved by those who aren't usually big fans of it. It is my favorite spinach recipe!

    This traditional Italian Italian way to prepare spinach has salty bites from the pancetta, a light onion flavor added by the shallots and the fresh lemon squeezed over top at the end that brighten up all the flavors. 

    It is so delicious. I love serving this as a side to my grilled t-bone steak, lemon butter chicken or seared pork chops.

    This Italian spinach is so versatile with what you serve it.

    Ingredients needed

    There are not too many ingredients you need to make this easy Italian spinach. Here is what they are:

    • Baby spinach. This spinach is the most tender and the best to use for this recipe. If you can't find it, regular spinach will work but just make sure to remove the stems.
    • Pancetta. This is the salty bite in the recipe.
    • Olive oil, Just a little bit.
    • Butter. Just a little and it really makes this spinach and pancetta recipe so good.
    • Shallot.
    • Lemon. Lemon is squeezed over the spinach before serving and it helps brighten up the flavors and it helps with that gritty feeling that spinach can sometimes leave behind in your mouth.
    • Kosher salt.
    spinach and pancetta

    How to make

    This is such an incredibly easy spinach recipe but so big on flavor. Here is what the steps look like (full recipe below)

    • Saute: Shallots and pancetta and cook until the pancetta until very crispy. 
    • Add Spinach: Add baby spinach and cook until spinach just begins to wilt.
    • Add Lemom: Now squeeze ½ of your lemon over the spinach and toss again.
    • Pour into a serving bowl: making sure to get all of the yummy juices and bits of pancetta and shallots at the bottom.

    About Italian pancetta

    If you are not familiar with pancetta, it is a salty Italian bacon with a peppery bite. You can get this in thin slices already packaged near the deli or at the deli counter where you can ask them to slice a thick piece (about 1 inch thick) and then cube it up when you get home. I always prefer this method.

    You can stock up on these thick slices of pancetta and place them in the freezer for last minute meals like this pasta with pancetta, or as I like to call it, our Italian fast food. We also have our favorite pancetta recipes you can check out.

    If you cannot find pancetta, you could use an uncured peppery bacon or regular bacon and then add a little fresh ground black pepper. A few simple ingredients is all you need to make this. You will love this Italian spinach once you give it a try- I promise!

    What to serve with this Italian spinach

    We love serving this Italian spinach with so many recipes. Here are a few to give you some inspiration:

    • spaghetti aglio e olio
      Spaghetti with Olive Oil and Garlic - Aglio e Olio
    • Mediterranean yellowfin tuna
      Mediterranean Grilled Tuna Steak
    • dijon oven baked salmon
      Oven Baked Salmon in Cast Iron
    • veggie pasta sauce with meat 2
      Veggie Meat Sauce

    More Spinach Recipes:

    • Spinach and Pancetta Quiche
    • Pasta with Chickpeas Spinach and Kale
    • Spinach and Mushroom Salad
    • Ricotta Meatballs with Spinach

    Italian Spinach Recipe Faqs

    What are the types of Italian Spinach?

    Italian spinach is called merlo nero, a mild Italian spinach or viroflay, a large leaf Italian spinach.

    What is the Italian word for spinach?

    The Italian word for spinach is lo spinacio.

    spinach and pancetta
    Print Recipe
    5 from 3 votes

    Spinach with Crispy Pancetta and Shallots

    A delicious and easy spinach side dish that everyone will enjoy!
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time20 minutes mins
    Total Time30 minutes mins
    Servings: 4

    Tried the Recipe? We Would Love To Hear From You In The Comments Below!

    Author: Melissa

    Ingredients

    • 16 oz of baby spinach
    • 4 oz of diced pancetta
    • 2 tablespoon of olive oil
    • 2 tablespoon of butter
    • 1 shallot finely diced
    • 1 lemon for squeezing over top at the end
    • ¼ teaspoon of salt or to taste
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    Instructions

    • In a large heavy bottom pot over medium heat add your butter, olive oil, shallots and pancetta and cook until the pancetta is very crispy.  This is important.  You want it to the point it is just starting to brown like crispy bacon (5-10 minutes).
    • Now add your baby spinach to the pot and mix well making sure to coat your spinach in the pancetta and olive oil mixture. Cook until your spinach just begins to wilt.
    • Remove from heat.
    • Now add your salt and toss your spinach around in the pan again just to make sure you get all of the bits of pancetta and shallot from the bottom of the pan incorporated into your spinach.
    • Now squeeze ½ of your lemon over the spinach and toss again.
    • Pour into a serving bowl making sure to get all of the yummy juices and bits of pancetta and shallots at the bottom.
    • Enjoy

    Nutrition

    Calories: 264kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 344mg | Potassium: 729mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 10900IU | Vitamin C: 46mg | Calcium: 123mg | Iron: 3mg

    Nutrition Values are estimates only.

    See full nutrition disclaimer here
    Course :Side Dish

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Bethany says

      December 01, 2022 at 8:57 pm

      5 stars
      This spinach was amazing!

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        December 02, 2022 at 11:36 am

        Thanks Bethany! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂

        Reply
    2. Alexia says

      October 02, 2021 at 12:02 pm

      5 stars
      This was so good!

      Reply
    3. Tash (@FoodIFancy) says

      February 05, 2018 at 6:45 pm

      Lovely clean recipe. The lemon also helps to stop that filmy, coating, feeling on teeth that spinach often gives off.

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        February 05, 2018 at 8:06 pm

        Thank You Natasha! I thought I was the only one who noticed that filmy coating after eating cooked spinach 🙂 Glad I am not going crazy and thank you for that wonderful tip!

        Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Chicken with Tarragon and Cream Sauce • Keeping It Simple Blog says:
      August 3, 2021 at 7:49 pm

      […] Sauteed spinach […]

      Reply
    2. 10 Side Dishes To Serve With Salmon • Keeping It Simple Blog says:
      February 26, 2021 at 5:10 pm

      […] Get the recipe for Spinach and Pancetta with Shallots […]

      Reply
    3. Pasta with Chickpeas Spinach and Lemon • Keeping It Simple Blog says:
      January 14, 2021 at 3:43 pm

      […] ingredients (my pantry staples) are the start to so many great meals like my spinach with pancetta and shallots (I always keep some pancetta in the freezer to help with this one), my coconut curry ramen soup and […]

      Reply
    4. Spinach and Pancetta Quiche • Keeping It Simple Blog says:
      December 12, 2020 at 1:51 pm

      […] quiche is one of my favorite combos of flavor (I even make a side dish out of spinach and pancetta). It is also good for you with all of that spinach loaded in there. If you are not into making […]

      Reply
    5. Spaghetti with Pork Bolognese Sauce • Keeping It Simple Blog says:
      November 3, 2020 at 5:06 pm

      […] great side dish would be spinach with crispy pancetta! This is a classic that is always so delicious with a bolognese or as a side for other […]

      Reply
    6. Iron Boosting Sweet and Tart Green Juice • Keeping It Simple Blog says:
      October 31, 2020 at 1:50 pm

      […] you are looking for more food ideas for boosting your iron , you may like my Spinach and Pancetta or my Spinach and Mushroom salad. Hope you give this drink a try and love it as much as I […]

      Reply
    7. Easy and Delicious Turmeric Potatoes • Keeping It Simple Blog says:
      October 19, 2020 at 1:24 pm

      […] Sauteed Spinach with Shallots and Pancetta […]

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    8. Spaghetti with Pork Bolognese Sauce • Keeping It Simple Blog says:
      February 10, 2020 at 9:16 pm

      […] I do love beef with marinara as well and one of my favorite dishes is pasta with homemade Italian meatballs which is made with beef. For this dish, pork is definitely my favorite. Now, if you are looking to pull off the entire Italian restaurant style dinner to impress the people you are cooking for, then this olive oil and parmesan bread will go perfectly with the bolognese! Really easy to make and big on flavor. A great side dish would be spinach with crispy pancetta! […]

      Reply

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