Easy Creamed Spinach
Easy Creamed Spinach does not get easier! This simple homemade side dish is so much better than store bought! Wilted spinach is mixed through a silky smooth white sauce, flavoured with sautéed onion and garlic, then served with parmesan cheese. This is the side dish of your dreams!
Servings: 4 serves (as a side)
Ingredients
- 16 ounces baby spinach leaves washed and dried
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter divided
- 1 onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic finely chopped or minced
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk or half and half
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg optional
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper optional
- 1/4 teaspoon salt to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese grated, to serve
Instructions
- Melt 1/4 cup of butter in a medium-sized pot over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for a couple of minutes until light golden. Add in the onion and cook until transparent (about 2-3 minutes), then add the garlic and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds).
- Pour in the milk (or half and half), whisking constantly until the white sauce thickens (about 5 minutes). Season with salt, pepper, nutmeg and cayenne (If using). If the sauce is too thick, add another 1/4 cup of milk to the sauce, whisking it through until reaching your desired thickness.
- For the spinach: melt the remaining butter in a separate pan, and add spinach in batches, wilting each batch before adding the next, until all spinach is wilted. (Add a small spoon of water if the pan gets too dry.)Alternatively: Cook the spinach in a pot of boiling water for just one minute; then immerse in a cold water bath to stop the cooking process. Squeeze out any excess water from the leaves and set aside.
- Season the cream sauce with salt, pepper, nutmeg and cayenne. Add wilted spinach to the cream sauce, stirring gently to combine. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve immediately.
Notes
Tip: Instead of fresh spinach, you can use 1 x 16 ounce package of frozen chopped spinach. Thaw and squeeze dry before adding to the sauce.
Nutrition
Calories: 251kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 302mg | Potassium: 791mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 11.237IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 234mg | Iron: 4mg