Creamed Spinach With Croutons Recipes

CREAMED SPINACH

Steps:

• Wash the spinach in several changes of water to get rid of any grit. Drain the spinach but keep some of the water clinging to the leaves. Heat the butter and oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the spinach and garlic. Cook, turning frequently, until the spinach has wilted down evenly. Remove the garlic and put the spinach into a colander and let it drain well. Press out as much liquid as you can from the leaves and chop them coarsely.
• Heat the skillet again over medium-high heat and add the cream and nutmeg; cook until it reduces a bit, about 5 minutes. Add the spinach and parmesan and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the spinach is hot, about 5 more minutes. Serve immediately.

CREAMED SPINACH WITH POACHED EGGS AND BRIOCHE CROUTONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt 2 tablespoons butter, toss with brioche cubes, and spread on a rimmed baking sheet. Toast until golden and crisp, about 8 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Melt remaining 5 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and cook, stirring, until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk in 3 cups milk and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Cook, stirring, until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in nutmeg and pepper to taste. Press parchment paper directly on surface of bechamel to cover.
• Place half of spinach in a large pot over medium-high heat. Cover and cook just until spinach wilts, about 2 minutes. Add remaining spinach, cover, and cook until it collapses, about 2 minutes more; drain. When cool enough to handle, squeeze as much liquid from spinach as possible. Coarsely chop and stir into bechamel.
• Bring 1 1/2 inches of water to a simmer in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in vinegar. Crack 1 egg into a small bowl. Holding bowl just above surface of water, gently pour egg into skillet. Repeat with 3 more eggs. Poach eggs, adjusting heat to maintain a simmer, just until whites are firm and yolks are still runny, about 4 minutes (for firmer yolks, poach 1 to 2 minutes more). Gently remove eggs from water with a slotted spoon, allowing excess water to drain, and transfer to a plate. Poach remaining eggs in 2 more batches. Use immediately or transfer to a bowl of ice-cold water.
• Uncover creamed spinach and heat with remaining 1/4 cup milk in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring, until warmed through. If necessary, transfer poached eggs to a large pot of simmering water with a slotted spoon and cook until warmed through, about 30 seconds. Divide spinach evenly among 12 small ramekins or bowls, top with poached eggs and croutons, and season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

CREAMED SPINACH

Steps:

• Combine milk, spinach liquid and garlic in a 1-quart microwave-safe measuring cup or small bowl covered with a saucer, and microwave (or heat slowly in a medium saucepan) until very hot and steamy. Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes to soften garlic.
• Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Whisk in flour. Add hot milk mixture all at once, then whisk until smooth. Stir in spinach; cook until sauce is thick and bubbly and spinach is tender but still green, about 5 minutes. Stir in cheese, nutmeg, and a generous sprinkling of salt and pepper. Serve hot.

CREAMED SPINACH WITH CROUTONS

Steps:

• Make the croutons:
• Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a small bowl toss the bread cubes with the butter and salt to taste, spread them on a baking sheet, and bake them in the middle of the oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until they are golden.
• Make the creamed spinach:
• In a kettle cook the spinach in the water clinging to the leaves, covered, over moderate heat, stirring once or twice, for 5 to 6 minutes, or until it is wilted, refresh it under cold water, and drain it well in a colander. Squeeze out the excess water by handfuls and in a food processor purée the spinach.
• In a heavy saucepan cook the shallot in the butter over moderately low heat, stirring, until it is softened, add the flour, and cook the roux, stirring, for 3 minutes. Add the milk, whisking, bring the mixture to a boil, whisking, and simmer it, whisking, for 3 minutes. Add the spinach purée, the sour cream, the nutmeg, the lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste and heat the creamed spinach over moderately low heat, stirring, until it is heated through. Serve the creamed spinach topped with croutons.

COCONUT CREAMED SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the mushrooms, shallot, and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and fragrant, about 3 minutes.
• Gradually add spinach by handfuls, stirring until it wilts. Continue until all the spinach is in the skillet, about 5 minutes.
• Gradually pour in coconut milk and vinegar and bring to a simmer. Simmer until mixture thickens, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Season with salt, pepper, and a sprinkle of freshly ground nutmeg. Serve immediately.

CREAMED SPINACH WITH CROUTONS

Steps:

• Wash the spinach in cold water; drain.
• Drop into a kettle of boiling salted water.
• Return the water to a boil.
• Cook slowly, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
• Drain the spinach in a colander.
• Immediately rinse under cold running water for 1 minute. Squeeze the spinach, a handful at a time, to extract as much water as possible. Chop very fine. Heat the butter until bubbling in a saucepan over moderately high heat. Stir in the spinach.
• Continue stirring for 2 to 3 minutes until all moisture has evaporated.
• Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg.
• Lower the heat to moderate. Sprinkle on the flour and cook, stirring for 2 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat. Add the cream by spoonfuls while stirring until 2/3 cup has been added.
• Return to the heat and bring to a simmer.
• Cover and cook very slowly for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding the remaining 1/3 cup cream by spoonfuls.
• Remove the spinach from the heat. Stir in the butter (1 Tbsp). Transfer the creamed spinach to a deep serving dish and mound it decoratively with a spatula.
• Garnish the spinach with sieved egg yolks and croutons.
• For the Croutons: Cut decorative shapes out of the bread using a Christmas cookie cutter.
• Toast the bread under the preheated broiler.
• Place around the spinach for garnish.