Creamed Spinach

Name: Creamed Spinach
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Ingredients: 2 lb fresh baby spinach; 3 tbsp unsalted butter; 1 small shallot (finely minced); 2 garlic cloves (finely minced); 2 tbsp all-purpose flour; 1 cup whole milk; 1/2 cup heavy cream; 2 oz cream cheese; 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan; 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg; cayenne (pinch); 1/2 tsp kosher salt (plus more to taste); freshly ground black pepper

Steakhouse-style creamed spinach with cream cheese and Parmesan for body and a little tang, finished with nutmeg.

VVegetarian

Part of Prime Rib Dinner

INGREDIENTS

6 SERVINGS

2 lbfresh baby spinach
3 tbspunsalted butter
1small shallot, finely minced
2garlic cloves, finely minced
2 tbspall-purpose flour
1 cupwhole milk
1/2 cupheavy cream
2 ozcream cheese
1/2 cupfinely grated Parmesan
1/4 tspfreshly grated nutmeg
cayenne, pinch
1/2 tspkosher salt, plus more to taste
freshly ground black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

8 STEPS

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spinach and blanch for about 30 seconds, then immediately transfer it to ice water.
fresh baby spinach
Drain the spinach, then squeeze it very dry — this matters, since excess water will thin the cream sauce. Roughly chop the spinach.
Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the shallot and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until soft.
3–4 MINunsalted butter · small shallot
Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Sprinkle in the flour and stir constantly for about 1 minute.
garlic cloves · all-purpose flour
Slowly whisk in the milk and heavy cream. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, until slightly thickened.
2–3 MINwhole milk · heavy cream
Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the cream cheese, Parmesan, nutmeg, cayenne, salt, and several grinds of black pepper.
cream cheese · finely grated Parmesan · freshly grated nutmeg · cayenne · kosher salt · freshly ground black pepper
Fold in the spinach and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes. The finished spinach should be creamy but thick enough to hold its shape on the plate.
3–5 MIN
Taste and adjust the salt, pepper, and nutmeg.

Notes

The cream cheese is doing useful work here — it adds body and a slight tang without making the spinach taste overwhelmingly cheesy. Parmesan brings the savory flavor, and nutmeg is classic in steakhouse creamed spinach.

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