When I’m looking for simple yet satisfying side dishes that are sure to please a crowd, I turn to favorites such as glazed carrots, fried corn and creamed spinach.
Creamed Spinach Ingredients
To make this savory creamed spinach recipe you will need spinach leaves, butter, onion, garlic, flour, half and half, salt, black pepper, nutmeg and parmesan cheese. Make this dish with your favorite Christmas recipes like smoked turkey breast, candied yams and instant pot cranberry sauce. You could also make a steakhouse dinner with sirloin steak, lobster mac and cheese and this creamed spinach.
How Do You Make Creamed Spinach?
Start this creamed spinach recipe by cooking your spinach in butter until it’s wilted. Remove the spinach from the pan. Be sure to drain off any excess liquid from the pan to prevent the finished dish from getting watery. Sauté onions and garlic in the pan with butter, then add flour to make a roux thickener. Pour half and half into the pan, and stir to combine. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then cook until just thickened. Stir in seasonings, along with parmesan cheese. Add the spinach back to the pan, and stir it into the sauce. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Tips For The Perfect Side Dish
I find that this dish has the best flavor and texture when made with fresh spinach. If you use frozen spinach, make sure to thoroughly thaw and squeeze any excess water out of the spinach before you add it to the recipe. Don’t omit the pinch of nutmeg! It may sound like an odd addition, but nutmeg pairs beautifully with spinach. It’s even better if you use freshly grated nutmeg. I like to use baby spinach leaves, it eliminates any need to chop them and the stems are more tender. If you have standard spinach leaves, you can coarsely chop them and remove any tough stems.
Flavor Variations
This spinach is delicious as-is, but you can absolutely add other ingredients to the dish to customize it to your tastes.
Greens: Instead of spinach, try kale for a different flavor and texture. Toppings: Add some fun toppings to your spinach such as sun dried tomatoes, bacon, pine nuts, French fried onions or sauteed mushrooms. Flavorings: Kick up your spinach with some spices such as crushed red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, Cajun seasoning or Italian seasoning. Fresh herbs such as parsley or dill are also a great addition.
Skip the steakhouse and make your own creamed spinach, you definitely won’t be disappointed!
Creamed Spinach Video
