Description
A classic side dish featuring fresh spinach cooked in a creamy, cheesy sauce with a hint of lemon. This creamed spinach recipe is rich, flavorful, and perfect for pairing with roasted meats or as a comforting vegetarian option.
Ingredients
Scale
Main 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
- 20 ounces fresh spinach
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, plus more to taste
Instructions
- Melt Butter and Sauté Shallots: Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced shallots, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 4 minutes or until the shallots are softened.
- Add Garlic and Flour: Stir in the grated garlic, followed immediately by the all-purpose flour. Cook for about 1 minute to remove the raw flour taste, stirring constantly to combine.
- Create Cream Sauce: Slowly add the heavy cream while reducing the heat to low. Simmer the mixture, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 10 minutes or until the cream is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Incorporate Parmesan Cheese: Add the freshly grated Parmesan cheese to the cream sauce and stir until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Add Spinach and Wilt: Add the fresh spinach to the skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until the spinach is just wilted. Note that the sauce will thin out slightly from the moisture released by the spinach.
- Thicken Sauce: Continue to cook the mixture for an additional 2 to 3 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken again, stirring occasionally.
- Finish with Lemon Juice and Season: Stir in the fresh lemon juice and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half or milk for heavy cream, but the sauce will be less rich.
- If fresh spinach is unavailable, frozen spinach can be used; be sure to thaw and drain thoroughly before adding.
- Adding freshly grated nutmeg can enhance the flavor of the creamed spinach.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for best flavor and smoother melting.
- Serve immediately to enjoy the creamy texture at its best, as the sauce may thicken more upon standing.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 200 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
