Creamed Spinach Recipe
User Reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Excellent
Creamed Spinach Recipe
Report
Creamed Spinach is a quintessential steakhouse side! See how easy it is to make this rich, delicately-flavored dish at home with fresh spinach and homemade cream sauce. Don't miss the variations in the recipe notes for customization ideas!
Share:
Ingredients
- 2 pounds spinach leaves , cleaned (I often use baby spinach, but you can also use regular - see notes)*
- 2 cups half and half (or whole milk)
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion
- 4 cloves garlic , minced
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
- Kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper
Add to Shopping List
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of lightly-salted water to a boil. Blanch the spinach in 2-3 batches (depending on the size of your pot), just until tender (about 30-40 seconds). Strain the spinach leaves out of the water and immediately plunge them into a bowl of ice water to cool.
- Drain well and press or squeeze excess water out of the spinach in a fine mesh sieve or a clean kitchen towel. (For the creamiest spinach don't skip this step!) If desired, roughly chop the spinach.
- In a large pot or deep skillet, melt butter until foaming subsides. Add onions with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Saute until onions begin to soften, about 4-5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir in flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute longer. While continuing to stir, pour half and half into the pot in a steady stream. Add an additional 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, and cayenne pepper (if using). Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until sauce is thickened and coats the back of a spoon, 3-4 minutes.
- Add spinach to the pot and stir well until well combined. It takes a bit of stirring to get all of the spinach leaves evenly coated with the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a little extra milk or half and half until your desired consistency is reached.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.
Notes
- *Baby spinach has a more delicate flavor than regular/mature spinach and will yield a milder dish. If you prefer a stronger spinach flavor, use regular spinach leaves, but make sure you clean them well and remove tough stems if buying in a bunch. Regular spinach should be chopped after blanching.
- You can also substitute an equal quantity of frozen chopped spinach, cooked according to package directions and drained well.
- Make it Cheesy: Stir 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano (or more, to taste) into the sauce. Keep in mind that the cheese will thicken the sauce a bit, so you might have to add a little extra milk or cream, to taste, once the spinach is incorporated. The cheese will also add salt, so adjust your salt additions to taste.
- Make it Smoky: Chop 4-5 slices of thick-cut bacon and start the sauce by sautéing it until crisp in your skillet or pot. Remove the bacon and all but 2 tablespoons of drippings from the pan. Add 1/4 cup unsalted butter and proceed with the recipe as written, stirring the crisped bacon back into the sauce when you add the spinach.
- Make it Nutty: Stir 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts into the spinach before serving
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
393kcal
(20%)
Carbohydrates
20g
(7%)
Protein
11g
(22%)
Fat
31g
(48%)
Saturated Fat
19g
(95%)
Cholesterol
89mg
(30%)
Sodium
232mg
(10%)
Potassium
1464mg
(42%)
Fiber
5g
(20%)
Sugar
2g
(4%)
Vitamin A
22220IU
(444%)
Vitamin C
67.2mg
(75%)
Calcium
367mg
(37%)
Iron
6.5mg
(36%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4to 6 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 393 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 393kcal | 20% |
| Carbohydrates | 20g | 7% |
| Protein | 11g | 22% |
| Fat | 31g | 48% |
| Saturated Fat | 19g | 95% |
| Cholesterol | 89mg | 30% |
| Sodium | 232mg | 10% |
| Potassium | 1464mg | 31% |
| Fiber | 5g | 20% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 22220IU | 444% |
| Vitamin C | 67.2mg | 75% |
| Calcium | 367mg | 37% |
| Iron | 6.5mg | 36% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
12 reviews
Excellent
Other Recipes
You'll Also Love
