panisdead: (Default)
panisdead ([personal profile] panisdead) wrote in [community profile] gluten_free2022-07-30 12:23 pm

Creamed Spinach

I had A LOT of bagged frozen spinach and half-and-half to use up following a grocery store mix-up. I made creamed spinach using the Healthy Recipes blog recipe as a jumping off point and modifying a fair amount. Modifications under the cut.



Ingredients:

1 lb frozen chopped spinach
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
1-2 Tbsp minced garlic (I used jarred)
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp nutmeg
about 3/4 cup half-and-half (start with 1/4 cup and add more as needed)

Instructions:

*Thaw spinach according to package directions. When thawed, remove most of the excess liquid. You can do this a number of ways; I dumped the thawed spinach into a colander to let it drain, then squeezed by hand until it was wet but no longer soggy or dripping when I picked up a handful.

*In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add garlic and saute until starting to turn golden.

*Stir in the spinach, salt, pepper, and nutmeg and mix thoroughly.

*Add 1/4 cup of half-and-half and heat 2-3 minutes. Add 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup more half-and-half until the spinach reaches the consistency you want. Remove from heat and serve.



Notes:

The most time-consuming part of this recipe is thawing and draining/squeezing the spinach. After that, it's at most ten minutes to put together. I was surprised by the nutmeg, but it seemed to bring out the butter flavor and I would include it again. I liked this recipe and will make it a second time to use up ingredients, but I did find this round to be a little too rich. I'll probably decrease either the butter or the amount of half-and-half I include next time.
jesse_the_k: White bowl of homemade chicken soup, hold the noodles (chicken soup)

[personal profile] jesse_the_k 2022-07-30 11:01 pm (UTC)(link)

That sounds so luxurious!

lunabee34: (Default)

[personal profile] lunabee34 2022-07-31 11:10 am (UTC)(link)
We do a version of this that is almost exactly the same except with pepper jack cheese melted in and we use heavy cream instead, so it's cheesy and spicy.

So yummy.

The nutmeg is really key.
lunabee34: (Default)

[personal profile] lunabee34 2022-08-01 11:25 am (UTC)(link)
It is so yummy. It's one of the slate of dishes we always make at Thanksgiving. If we make it outside of Thanksgiving, we leave out the cheese and make it as you have described here.

I like that it's just super easy to make.
mific: (Default)

[personal profile] mific 2022-07-31 05:05 pm (UTC)(link)
I've made something like this with nutmeg and yes, it really adds something special.
lunabee34: (Default)

[personal profile] lunabee34 2022-08-01 11:26 am (UTC)(link)
The nutmeg makes the dairy more *chef's kiss*.

If you ever have a recipe with dairy in it, if you add a smidge of nutmeg, it will make the dairy more yummo.
Edited (please do not eat your diary) 2022-08-01 11:26 (UTC)