I am a very lucky mother…my son loves spinach.  It was the first veggie we fed him when he was a baby and he’s gobbled it up ever since.  But spinach usually gets a bad wrap from kids…they say it looks gross and tastes weird.  Well, they’re wrong.  And sometimes you just have to look them straight in the eye and tell them that.  “Hey buddy, you’re wrong, spinach is awesome, it’s a superfood!”  Yeah, go the superhero route.  And throw in the word epic, they’re saying that these days…totally.

But spinach is a super food; it packs a punch of vitamins, minerals, and fiber.  It’s low in calories and fat, is a cancer-fighter and a good source of antioxidants.  It’s a veggie with truly superhero status; it just needs a cape…and a sidekick.  That’s where avocados come in.  Avocados also get a bad wrap…for being too fattening.  But these baseball-sized gems are incredibly nutritious and provide the good fat we need (monounsaturated & polyunsaturated).  They’re also high in vitamin C, so they make a great companion to spinach–which needs to be eaten with a good source of vitamin C to enable iron absorption.  So, Batman has found it’s Robin.      
   
Health talk aside, this dip is intensely flavorful.  If guacamole and spinach dip had a love child, this would be it.  It’s bright, buttery, and has the slightest hint of heat.  Adults will love it just as much (or more) than the kiddos.  I served it for a St. Patty’s Day party and it was a hit with both the wee ones and the tall ones!  And kids love dips anyway…just call it “Incredible Hulk dip” and they’ll dig right in! 

It’s also wonderfully versatile and beautifully bright green. You can serve it with carrots, crackers, or tortilla chips; spread it on toast or wraps; slather it on sandwiches and burgers; add it to cooked pasta; even make a vinaigrette out of it by adding extra citrus or vinegar and a little more olive oil.  It’s the Batmobile of dips; it can do anything!   

Greenest of Greens Veggie Dip

Adapted from the Healthy Family and Home

Ingredients

6 cups spinach, chopped
1/2 bunch cilantro
3 avocados, chopped
1/2 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic
1 1/2 tsp garlic chili paste
juice from 1 1/2 lemons
juice from 1/2 lime
1 T olive oil
salt & pepper

Put everything into a food processor and process until pureed.  Adjust for seasoning and serve.