Spinach Chips Recipe

We all know about the popular kale chips but I wanted to introduce you to my newest addiction, spinach chips! With so many different flavors to choose from, the possibilities are endless. These crispy green delights are extremely easy to make, only require a few ingredients and the baking time is super short. Spinach is not only a tasty green vegetable but it’s packed with tons of beneficial vitamins and minerals! This green powerhouse has anti-inflammatory properties and is an excellent source of antioxidants such as Vitamin C, beta-carotene and manganese. (1) Now on to the fun part- batching and baking these beauties! If you’ve ever cooked or steamed spinach, you know that a full bag of raw spinach wilts down to a small amount of cooked spinach and these chips are no exception. Some people prefer to space them out so that there’s no overlapping but I usually use a large baking tray and place them close together with little breathing room until the tray is full! This doesn’t get them as dry and crispy as spreading them out but they’re still delicious. I’m more of a make it up as you go person and don’t usually measure when I cook so don’t feel pressured to follow the exact recipe! If you want to try other spices or if you have a favorite seasoning- use it! I’ve made this spinach chips recipe numerous times with different spices (I’ve added cayenne, chili flakes and even just plain Himalayan sea salt) and loved them all. Here’s how I made this batch:

Ingredients:

• 2 large handfuls of Spinach
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1-2 cloves of garlic, minced or chopped
• Sprinkle of garlic powder
• Sprinkle of pepper
• Sprinkle of salt

Preparation:

First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Place the raw spinach in a medium glass mixing bowl, sprinkle garlic powder, salt and pepper, add the minced or chopped garlic then drizzle the olive oil and use your hands to massage the spinach until every leaf is thoroughly coated. If you prefer to not get your hands too messy you can throw the ingredients in a ziploc bag and shake it up! Cover a baking pan with either parchment paper or aluminum foil and place the leaves in a single layer. Spread them out for even cooking if you prefer them extra crispy or keep them close together in a single layer to get more chips out of a batch. Cook for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from the oven and let them sit for another 5 minutes. Enjoy! -Bella SOURCES: 1. "Spinach Health Benefits." New Health Guide. Web. 8 Sept. 2015. http://www.newhealthguide.org/Spinach-Health-Benefits.html.