Creamed Spinach Recipe
Creamed Spinach is a classic, creamy side dish featuring fresh baby spinach cooked in a rich sauce made from butter, sweet yellow onion, garlic, half-and-half, and cream cheese. This recipe uses a blanching technique to preserve the vibrant green color and tenderness of the spinach before combining it with a luscious, savory cream sauce infused with nutmeg and seasonings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Spinach Preparation
- 20 ounces fresh baby spinach, stems removed and roughly chopped (two 10-ounce packages)
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup minced sweet yellow onion (Vidalia)
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon salt (plus additional for boiling water)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ cup half-and-half
- 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
Instructions
- Prepare Spinach: Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Prepare a bowl of ice water and set it aside for blanching the spinach.
- Blanch Spinach: Add the spinach to the boiling water in 1-2 batches. Blanch for 30-60 seconds until the spinach is wilted but still bright green.
- Shock Spinach: Using a large slotted spoon, transfer the blanched spinach immediately into the ice water to stop the cooking process and preserve color.
- Drain Spinach: Transfer the cooled spinach to a colander set in the sink. Squeeze out as much moisture as possible from the spinach to avoid watery creamed spinach.
- Sauté Aromatics: In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and add the minced onion, garlic, salt, black pepper, and ground nutmeg. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onion is tender and translucent.
- Make Cream Sauce: Add the half-and-half to the skillet. Stir in the cream cheese until completely melted and smooth. Allow the sauce to simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Combine Spinach and Sauce: Break apart the drained spinach as you add it to the cream sauce. Stir thoroughly to evenly incorporate the spinach into the sauce. Remove from heat and transfer to a serving bowl.
Notes
- Be sure to squeeze out excess water from the spinach to prevent the dish from becoming watery.
- Use fresh, high-quality spinach for the best flavor and texture.
- Room temperature cream cheese blends more easily into the sauce, preventing lumps.
- Adjust seasoning to taste, especially salt and pepper.
- Optional: Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg or Parmesan cheese for extra flavor.
Keywords: creamed spinach, spinach side dish, creamy spinach, easy creamed spinach, stovetop creamed spinach
Find it online: https://kitchenbyclara.com/creamed-spinach-recipe/
