Spinach Yogurt Dip Persian Style (Borani Esfenaj)

5 from 10 votes
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Borani Esfenaj is a classic Persian spinach yogurt dip that’s usually served with bread. With a lot of spinach and garlic, this delicious dip is something you don’t want to miss!

Spinach yogurt dip is served with toasted bread.


 

Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dips and spreads are perfect for parties because of their flavor. I love Persian cucumber yogurt dip Mast-o-Khiar, hummus and baba ganoush for a nice side dish or appetizer. Today I’m sharing one of my all time favorite recipes with you. This delicious healthy yogurt dip is one you’ll love and want to have all the time!

What is Borani?

Borani is a Persian style dip that’s made of yogurt and vegetables. It’s smooth, flavorful, healthy and versatile. Borani can be made with eggplant, zucchinis, spinach and many other vegetables. One of the most eye-catching dips you can make is Persian yogurt beet dip, known as borani laboo.

Spinach Yogurt Dip

The borani we are doing today calls for a lot of spinach and some garlic and is packed with flavor, just like our spinach artichoke dip. It’s very simple and easy to make and it’s a great addition to your dinner table or your appetizer platter. If you love spinach as much as I do, you should try my Greek spinach rice too!

As you might have guessed, in Farsi, spinach is called esfenaj which is what our recipe today is calling for. This Greek yogurt spinach dip is an all time favorite of ours and is the perfect way to have your family eat some vegetables. What I love the most about this recipe is that it’s very simple to put it together and it’s very healthy as spinach is a great source of iron and yogurt is one of the best sources of probiotics.

A bowl of spinach yogurt dip served with bread sticks.

Ingredients

Spinach – Baby spinach works best for this recipe because of its texture. However, if baby spinach is not available, you can use regular spinach, simply chop it into smaller pieces.

Garlic – The more the merrier! Don’t skip the garlic in this recipe. The amount of garlic I’ve used would add a nice flavor to this dip but if you like it super garlicky, definitely add more.

Yogurt – Whole milk yogurt is perfect to make dips since it’s creamy and has a lot of flavor. I’ve tested this recipe with low-fat and no-fat yogurts and those work as well, however, my preference is whole milk, as it is with cacik and tzatziki as well.

Salt and pepper – You only need salt and pepper to season this dip since the focus of flavor is on spinach and garlic.

Instructions

Cook the spinach

Place a pan over medium heat and add the spinach. You don’t need any oil. Slowly start stirring so the spinach starts wilting and releasing its liquid. Add in minced garlic (the more the merrier) and stir over medium low heat until excess water is evaporated.

Make the dip

Turn the heat off and let the mixture cool. Mix it the Greek yogurt and season with salt and pepper to your tasting.

Pro-tip: 
Traditional yogurt and spinach dip is made with yogurt, cooked spinach and garlic. However, I sometimes add caramelized onion to the dip and it takes it to a whole new level. The caramelized onion gives a delicious subtle sweetness to the dip and compliments the yogurt very well. 

Serving suggestions

Serve this spinach yogurt dip as part of an appetizer spread with Kashke Bademjan (Persian Eggplant Dip) and some fresh bread such as barbari, lavash, pita or naan. If you’re craving something crispy, whole wheat crackers or pita chips would work best.

To make this dip, saute spinach with some oil and garlic. Mix with plain Greek yogurt and refrigerate for thirty minutes.

Frequently asked questions

Should I use fresh or frozen spinach?

You can use either. If using frozen spinach, squeeze the leaves well to get rid of the excess water. I personally prefer fresh spinach because of the tender leaves. They also absorb flavors better once they’re cooked fresh. 

How should I store fresh spinach?

It’s best to consume spinach within 3-5 days after purchasing. You can store spinach in a container lined with paper towel. Place the spinach on the paper towel in the container and top with another paper towel. The spinach should hold up to 7 days with this method. 

Can I make this yogurt dip ahead of time?

Yes! This dip tastes better if it’s made a day in advance. The flavors combine well and make a flavorful dip. You can make this dip a day or two before in advance and simply give it a nice stir and season with salt and pepper if needed before serving. 

Notes and tips to make borani esfenaj:

  • 6 cups of spinach might seem a lot but spinach wilts as it cooks so be generous with spinach.
  • Get the firmest yogurt you can find. Runny yogurt is not suitable for this dip. A combination of half sour cream and half Greek yogurt would work great, too.
  • It’s important to use freshly minced garlic in this spinach yogurt dip as it gives way more flavor than garlic powder or pre-minced garlic. 
  • About the spinach stems, it’s up to you to remove them or not. If using baby spinach, I usually don’t remove them because they’re very tender and have a lot of flavor. 
Borani esfenaj is usually served with pita or any other fresh bread.

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5 from 10 votes

Borani Esfenaj – Persian Spinach and Yogurt Dip

Borani Esfenaj is a classic Persian spinach yogurt dip that's usually served with bread. With a lot of spinach and garlic, this delicious dip is something you don't want to miss!
Prep: 3 minutes
Cook: 2 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
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Ingredients 

  • 6 cup Baby Spinach
  • 2 cloves Garlic, Minced
  • 2 1/2 cups Plain Greek Yogurt
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions 

  • Heat a pan on medium heat. (No oil needed)
  • Place baby spinach in the pan, lower the heat and wait so that the spinach starts wilting. 
  • Once the spinach is wilted, add in mined garlic and stir. Cook for 5 minutes over medium heat or until the excess water is evaporated. 
  • Mix the yogurt, spinach and garlic in a bowl.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Serve with toasted Iranian bread, naan, toasted bread or pita chips.

Video

Notes

  • 6 cups of spinach might seem a lot but spinach wilts as it cooks so be generous with spinach.
  • Get the firmest yogurt you can find. Runny yogurt is not suitable for this dip. A combination of half sour cream and half Greek yogurt would work great, too.
  • It’s important to use freshly minced garlic in this spinach yogurt dip as it gives way more flavor than garlic powder or pre-minced garlic. 
  • About the spinach stems, it’s up to you to remove them or not. If using baby spinach, I usually don’t remove them because they’re very tender and have a lot of flavor. 

Nutrition

Calories: 86kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 81mg | Potassium: 427mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 4220IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 185mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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About Shadi HasanzadeNemati

I'm here to show you how to make delicious Persian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food at home. My easy to follow recipes will bring exciting new flavors to your table!

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5 from 10 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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14 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    We’ve actually tried something like this before and it’s so good! The garlic is a nice added flavor to the dip!

  2. 5 stars
    Your Persian spinach and yogurt dip sounds yummy. I like recipes that are simple to make but are tasty too.

  3. 5 stars
    Love easy dips! Yogurt is my favorite dip base, since it’s healthy and add great taste! Thanks for sharing your heritage recipes 🙂

  4. Only four ingredients? I’m totally sold! This sounds like it would be so good dolloped on top of some spicy soup or lentil chili.

    1. Oh wow never though of adding it on top of spicy soup but knowing what is in it, I’m telling you it’s gonna taste great!