Description
A rich and creamy creamed spinach recipe featuring tender fresh spinach cooked in a flavorful sauce made with butter, shallots, garlic, cream, and Parmesan cheese, finished with a touch of fresh lemon juice for brightness.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 shallots, diced (⅔ cup)
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 garlic cloves, grated
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, plus more to taste
Main Ingredient
- 20 ounces fresh spinach
Instructions
- Prepare the base: Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced shallots, sea salt, and several grinds of black pepper. Cook for 4 minutes, or until the shallots are softened and fragrant.
- Add garlic and flour: Stir in the grated garlic cloves, then sprinkle the all-purpose flour over the mixture. Cook for a minute while stirring to combine and cook out the raw flour taste.
- Add cream and simmer: Pour in the heavy cream and reduce the heat to low. Let the mixture simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 10 minutes until the cream thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Incorporate cheese: Add the freshly grated Parmesan cheese and stir until fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Cook the spinach: Add the fresh spinach to the skillet. Stir frequently as it wilts down. The sauce will thin slightly from the moisture released by the spinach. Continue cooking for an additional 2 to 3 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken again.
- Finish with lemon juice and seasoning: Stir in the fresh lemon juice to brighten the flavors. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream.
- Use fresh Parmesan cheese for the best flavor and meltability.
- Be careful not to overcook the spinach; it should be just wilted, maintaining some vibrant green color.
- If spinach releases too much liquid, increase heat slightly to help thicken the sauce.
- Adding a pinch of nutmeg can enhance the flavor of the creamed spinach.
- This dish pairs well as a side for steak, chicken, or fish meals.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
