Creamed Spinach With Poached Eggs And Brioche Croutons Recipes

CREAMED SPINACH

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the shallots and cook, stirring frequently, until soft and translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute more. Do not brown. Add the heavy cream, salt, pepper, and nutmeg and bring to a gentle boil. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the cream is thick enough to coat a wooden spoon, about 10 minutes. Add the cheese and stir until melted. Add the spinach and stir until evenly combined with the cream sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. (If the spinach seems a little watery, cook over medium-low heat until any excess liquid evaporates.) Serve warm.
• Note: Cut leaf spinach is not the same as chopped spinach. If your market doesn't carry cut leaf spinach, look for frozen whole leaf spinach. (Chopped spinach will work but the texture won't be as appealing.) Some markets carry 1-lb bags and some carry 10-oz boxes; if you can only find the 10-oz boxes, you'll need three of them. If you'd like to start with fresh spinach, you'll need about 2 pounds baby spinach leaves. Steam and drain the baby spinach, then roughly chop and measure out 2 packed cups.
• Make-Ahead Instructions: This dish can be made and refrigerated a day ahead of time. Reheat in the microwave, uncovered, stirring every 30 seconds or so, until hot, a few minutes. When reheated, the spinach won't be quite as creamy-looking as it was originally (though the taste will be the same); you can add a bit of cream when reheating to get a creamier consistency, if you'd like.

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 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.

SAUTEED SPINACH WITH POACHED EGGS

Steps:

• In a straight-sided skillet, heat 2 inches water over medium to a gentle simmer until a few bubbles break the surface.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Add spinach to pan and toss until slightly wilted. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook 1 minute. Add 3/4 cup cilantro, then transfer to a colander and press excess liquid from greens.
• Crack 1 egg into a small bowl and gently tip into simmering water. Repeat with remaining 3 eggs. Cook until whites are set and yolks are runny, 2 to 3 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Divide quinoa, spinach, and eggs among 4 bowls, and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cilantro, and drizzle with olive oil to serve.