Description
Homemade southern-style creamed spinach delivers a rich, comforting side dish perfect for family dinners. Rich cream and tender spinach create a classic accompaniment that brings warmth to your table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 10 oz (283 g) fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- ½ cup (120 ml) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) butter
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tbsps (45 ml) all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Pinch of ground nutmeg (optional but classic)
Instructions
- Aromatic Foundation: Melt butter in a spacious skillet over medium heat, sautéing diced onions until translucent and softened.
- Flavor Infusion: Add minced garlic and quickly stir to release its aromatic essence, avoiding any burning.
- Roux Creation: Sprinkle flour over the aromatics, creating a smooth paste by continuous stirring to eliminate raw flour undertones.
- Sauce Development: Gradually whisk milk and cream into the mixture, allowing the sauce to simmer and thicken while stirring periodically to prevent lumping.
- Seasoning Harmony: Elevate the flavor profile with salt, freshly ground black pepper, and a delicate whisper of nutmeg, balancing the sauce’s complexity.
- Cheese Integration: Fold in grated Parmesan cheese, stirring until completely melted and seamlessly incorporated, enriching the creamy base with depth and character.
- Spinach Transformation: Introduce fresh or thoroughly drained frozen spinach to the sauce, gently folding in handfuls and allowing each batch to wilt and meld with the creamy mixture.
- Final Refinement: Simmer the creamed spinach for an additional 2-3 minutes, allowing flavors to harmonize and achieve a luxurious, velvety consistency before transferring to a serving dish.
Notes
- Control Butter Browning: Melt butter slowly on medium-low heat to prevent burning and maintain a smooth, rich base for the sauce.
- Prevent Lumpy Sauce: Whisk milk and cream gradually into the flour mixture, stirring constantly to create a silky, lump-free texture that coats the spinach evenly.
- Manage Spinach Moisture: Squeeze excess water from fresh or frozen spinach to avoid diluting the creamy sauce and maintain a thick, luxurious consistency.
- Optimize Flavor Layering: Add Parmesan cheese off the heat to preserve its nutty flavor and prevent potential separation, ensuring a rich and smooth final dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg