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 (450 g) baby spinach leaves, washed and dried
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter, divided
- 1 an 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 of cayenne pepper, optional
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese, 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
*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.