A classic Creamed Spinach recipe that tastes just like your favorite steakhouse. Made with real cream, frozen spinach, and parmesan cheese. It's also a great side dish for the holidays!
Lookings for more easy side dishes? Try my Hasselback Potatoes, Caesar Salad, or Sauteed Broccoli next!
About This Recipe
With Christmas fast approaching, I thought it would be fitting to make one of my favorite holiday side dishes: creamed spinach!
If you've never had creamed spinach before, it's a super popular side dish at steak houses, and it's an equally popular dish at Thanksgiving and Christmas. When I was a kid, I used to always order it when we went out for a nice dinner- either that, or twice-baked potatoes.
A few weeks ago, I noticed I had two blocks of frozen spinach in my freezer, so I've been thinking about this recipe since then. And this week, I happened to have a lot of leftover cream from my chicken and gnocchi soup recipe- so it felt like the perfect time to whip this up!
One thing about creamed spinach is that it's quite a heavy dish. But hey, it's the holidays, right? This is the time of the year when it's OKAY to be a little unhealthy. My creamed spinach is incredibly rich, creamy, and delicious. The secret is to simmer the cream for 8-10 minutes so that it thickens up. Once the spinach is mixed in, it'll absorb up all that deliciousness.
Key Ingredients
Spinach: I use frozen spinach because that's always how I've eaten it at steak houses, but fresh spinach can work too. If you use frozen spinach, make sure to defrost it and squeeze it over the sink to get rid of all the moisture. If you use fresh spinach, just make sure to cook it long enough so that the water evaporates; otherwise, the sauce will be watery.
Onions and garlic: For savory depth.
Olive oil: For sauteeing the onions and garlic.
Heavy cream: You will need 1 cup of heavy cream per 1 pound of spinach. My recipe uses 2 pounds of spinach, so you'll need 2 cups.
Seasonings: A pinch of nutmeg, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper.
Parmesan cheese: For cheesy, savory depth.
Instructions
STEP 1: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic cook for about 4-5 minutes until soft.
STEP 2: Stir in the heavy cream, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook for 8-10 minutes until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
STEP 3: Add the spinach and mix until evenly coated. If the spinach releases too much water, just keep cooking it until the mixture thickens. Stir in the Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
๐ Recipe
Creamed Spinach
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ยฝ small onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ยฝ teaspoon salt
- ยผ teaspoon ground black pepper
- pinch nutmeg
- 2 pounds frozen spinach leaves (thawed and squeezed very dry)
- ยผ cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic cook for about 4-5 minutes until soft.
- Stir in the heavy cream, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook for 8-10 minutes until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Add the spinach and mix until evenly coated. If the spinach releases too much water, just keep cooking it until the mixture thickens. Stir in the Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
Leave a Reply