Classic Creamed Spinach Casserole Recipes

CREAMED SPINACH CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 6 minutes. Add the heavy cream, nutmeg and cayenne and bring to a simmer. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Mix in the spinach, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan. Add the cream cheese and stir until melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Transfer the mixture to a 1 1/2- to 2-quart baking dish and sprinkle with the panko and remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan. Bake until bubbling and light golden on top, about 15 minutes.

CLASSIC CREAMED SPINACH

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, cook spinach in oil until wilted, 3 minutes. Remove from pan; set aside. Melt butter in the Dutch oven; add onion and saute until crisp-tender, 2 minutes. , Stir in flour, salt and nutmeg until combined. Gradually whisk in milk until blended. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, 2 minutes. Add the chopped spinach. Reduce heat to low; cook, uncovered, until heated through, 5 minutes.

CLASSIC CREAMED SPINACH

Steps:

• Blanch the spinach. Bring 1 gallon water to a boil in a large pot. Add a pinch of kosher salt. Place the spinach in the boiling water. After 45 seconds (exactly), remove the spinach leaves with a slotted spoon, spider or tongs and drain in a colander. Let cool completely.
• Use your hands to press the spinach against the sides of the colander. When most of the liquid has been released, squeeze handfuls of the spinach to make sure all of the excess water has been removed. Set aside.
• In a wide, high-sided saute pan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. With a wooden spoon, stir the flour into the melted butter to create a roux that will look like wet sand. Cook the roux for 3 minutes, stirring continuously to make sure it doesn't burn and it becomes a "blond" color. Add the milk to the roux, whisking vigorously to make sure that the roux completely dissolves into the milk without lumping.
• Turn down the heat to maintain a low simmer. You're making a bechamel sauce, which is the base for the creamed spinach. Next, whisk in the cream and return the mixture to a simmer. Cook the bechamel until thickened and smooth, about 5 minutes, stirring often. Season the sauce with the salt, pepper and cayenne.
• Preheat a small saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the oil and let heat for about 1 minute. Add the onions and season with a pinch of salt. Cook until the onions soften and become translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook an additional minute or two.
• Add the cooked onion and garlic along with the drained spinach to the bechamel, folding to make sure it's completely coated with sauce. Season with the nutmeg. Cook for 2 minutes, then taste the spinach. Adjust the seasoning with more salt and the nutmeg, and/or more cayenne if desired.