Fast and Easy Creamed Spinach

Description

This is a little easier, a little quicker, a little more contemporary, and believe it or not, a little lighter than traditional creamed spinach. Have all your ingredients ready to go ahead of time. It’s a classic steak side dish.

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 2 (16 ounce) bags fresh spinach
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
  • 1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2 tablespoons minced shallot
  • ¾ cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoons finely shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (Optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over high heat; add spinach
  2. cover
  3. and cook for 1 minute. Uncover and gently stir until most of the leaves are bright green and wilted
  4. about 2 minutes. Quickly drain spinach in a strainer and transfer to a plate lined with 4 or 5 paper towels. Once cool enough to handle
  5. squeeze as much liquid from the spinach as possible. Transfer spinach to a cutting board and coarsely chop.
  6. Mix cayenne pepper
  7. nutmeg
  8. salt
  9. and black pepper in a small bowl.
  10. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat; stir in shallot and cook until just barely golden and translucent
  11. 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in seasoning mixture and pour in cream; increase heat to medium-high and simmer until the cream sauce reduces by about half
  12. about 5 minutes. Stir in lemon zest.
  13. Reduce heat to low and toss spinach with cream sauce in skillet. Cook and stir until spinach is heated through and coated
  14. about 2 minutes. Stir in Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese until thoroughly combined. Serve immediately.

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 35 mins

Servings: 6

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