I need to up my iron intake - anyone got any good spinach recipes?

[curlyLJ]

Title says it all really. I am pg, my iron is low and although I am taking supplements now, I want to increase my iron intake from food. Apparently spinach is best but i am a bit lacking in the recipe/inspiration department...

Was thinking of a curry recipe (with prawns maybe) or maybe in a pasta dish (preferably not with ricotta) but I need some good recipes.

Any ideas anyone?

Lamb? Beef?

I love a tin of tuna mixed with a desert spoon of mayonaise then a bag of spinach (or that Tesco superfood salad) mixed in. You have to mix gradually so it goes a bit soggy. Not really a recipe!

I thought it's a big myth that spinach contains a lot of iron. you can google iron-rich foods, though.

If you insist on spinach: wash, let wilt in a pan, add tons of butter and grated parmesan and bob's your uncle.

Spinach's reputation for iron goes back to a misplaced decimal point, doesn't it?

How about beef?

If you need to up your iron intake, spinach is probably not the best bet, to be honest. It has a natural chemical called oxalic acid that binds to iron, meaning that your body can not absorb the iron. Cooking it helps a bit. The best bet would probably be dried apricots.

That's what I thought too. Popeye is based on a miscalculation I heard.

When you do eat iron rich foods, have them with something that contains vitamin c, as that aids absorption.

I also seem to remember you should limit caffeine as that can inhibit absorption? I may have got mixed up on that though.

In any case my favourite spinach recipe is cooking chilli and garlic in butter, throw a load of fresh spinach in and then add cooked pasta straight after. Yum.

There are plenty of other iron rich foods.

Be careful not to have too much tuna as you are pg, if you follow dingle's suggestion.

Get some goji berries. You can eat them on their own or just throw a handful in whatever you are cooking. Tesco sell them now.

Ive not tried it but theres something called spatone water thats meant to be good for iron. You can buy it from their website, amazon and boots. Might be worth looking into.

Wilted then whizzed together with some Boursin or herby Philadelphia makes it into a v easy, creamy pasta sauce - sticks well to spirals.

Thanks all, I have been looking at websites to see what's rich in iron - there's something different about the iron found in meat and that found in veg and I know I need plenty of vit c too so my body absorbs it. Funnily enough, my GP was the one who told me lots of spinach was best though!

The amount of people who have told me to drink Guinness is unreal - but i think that is a myth!

I do love a steak, so I think that might actually be on the menu tonight

Does it matter if I cook the dried apricots? I don't really like them as a snack, but do like them in say a moroccan lamb tagine-y type thing...

Spinach and orange soup is lush and easy.

Think anything green veg wise is good for iron so doesn't need to be spinach. Drink orange juice with meal to improve absorption of iron

Ooh I like the sound of those Rooble and frugal

I already have spatone but I also wanted to get some from what I am eating as well as supplements.

You can make a fruit soup by chopping up apples, pears, adding raisins, prunes, dried apricots, simmer in water until soft. You may like to sweeten it with a little sugar, or add some black currants. I guarantee it is yummy as a pudding. Vtamin C and Iron in one healthy warm soup dessert!

Dried apricots are the best for iron. They make me parp though so I used to soak them first, and yes, you can put them in a meal.

And definitely drink something with a lot of vit C (like orange juice) with your meal.

Beans and pulses are good for iron too, and a lot of bread/cereals are fortified with iron so double check labels and swap brands if necessary for an easy way to get more.

Spanakopitta. It's a Greek spinach pie. You layer filo sheets then fill with a mixture of beaten egg, dill, parsley, feta and spinach. Fold the filo over the top and bake in the oven for half hour.

It's very easy and lovely with salad or potatoes.

Also try broccoli and walnut soup.

Watercress is rich in iron and makes great muffins, fritters and soup.

Calcium hinders the uptake of iron, so dont drink milk or eat yoghurt in meals containing iron, it wont be absorbed.

wishing Spatone is the business. Have it between meals with a glass of orange juice for maximum absorption. Boots often have it as 2 for 3. kids can have it too.

I am also liking Feroglobin at the moment cos it tastes of Malt and has other good things in it.

Any kind of leafy green vegetable: steam, put on your plate and drizzle with good quality olive oil and some fresh lemon juice= iron+vitamin C!

Bran flakes good apparently and butter beans

Get those bags of frozen chopped spinach then just chuck it into anything (pie, soup, stew)

I kept my iron up when pg by having any iron fortified breakfast cereal with a glass of orange juice every morning. Cornflakes, branflakes, most are fortified. My midwife was really impressed that as a veggie my iron levels were still pretty okay towards the end of pg, and said this must have been the reason.

I am shocked no one has so far said SAG ALOO! It is sooo easy, it's cheap and really really delicious.

Serves 2, as a side to a meat/pulse dish:
2 tbsp sunflower oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, sliced
1 tbsp chopped ginger
new potatoes, cut into 2cm, ¾in chunks
1 large red chilli (or chilli flakes, or leave out altogether if you want aromatic but not hot), halved, deseeded and finely sliced
½ tsp each black mustard seeds, cumin seeds, turmeric
250g spinach leaves or 4 cubes of frozen spinach defrosted and excess water squeezed out.
Heat the oil in a large pan, add the onion, garlic and ginger, and fry for about 3 mins. Stir in the potatoes, chilli, spices and pinch of salt and continue cooking and stirring for 5 mins more. Add a splash of water, cover, and cook for 8-10 mins.
Check the potatoes are ready by spearing with the point of a knife, and if they are, add the spinach and let it wilt into the pan. Take off the heat and serve.

Eggs Florentine is lovely and so easy. Quite rich though.