Creamed Spinach
As made for a particularly delicious un-Valentine dinner party.
Tasty stuff. And pretty too.
The spinach isn't bad either.
Tasty stuff. And pretty too.
The spinach isn't bad either.
Creamed Spinach
veg side
This is a quick, simple way to make a beautiful bright emerald creamed spinach,
without going to the trouble of simmering up a white sauce.
However, be warned - if you don't use it immediately (well, within say 15 minutes) the colour rapidly turns a dirty brown.
You can keep it fairly successfully if you tightly seal with cling-film, smoothing the film over the entire surface of the purée. You'll get some brown spots where there are air-pockets, but you can just scrape those away when you reheat - which you can do quite effectively with the cling-film still on in the microwave or steamer. I used a rubber band to seal my cling-film, which wasn't sticking particularly well to the pot I used.
You don't get much out of a 1lb of spinach leaves, but it's very rich and intense - a little goes a long way. Plenty for 2, a couple of spoonfuls each for 4.
You can keep it fairly successfully if you tightly seal with cling-film, smoothing the film over the entire surface of the purée. You'll get some brown spots where there are air-pockets, but you can just scrape those away when you reheat - which you can do quite effectively with the cling-film still on in the microwave or steamer. I used a rubber band to seal my cling-film, which wasn't sticking particularly well to the pot I used.
You don't get much out of a 1lb of spinach leaves, but it's very rich and intense - a little goes a long way. Plenty for 2, a couple of spoonfuls each for 4.
Makes about 150ml, enough for 2-4
Ingredients
- 3-4 tablespoons double cream
- 1 lb spinach leaves, washed, trimmed
- 1-2 cloves garlic, sliced optional
- grating nutmeg
- seasoning
- Parmesan optional, unless you're vegetarian
Wash the spinach thoroughly, go through and nip off all the thick stalks. Drain well.
Heat a large pan, give the barest of wipes with oil or butter, and throw in the spinach, stirring until it wilts down completely.
Heat the cream, put the spinach into a small container and blend with cream to taste. I use a stick blender in a measuring jug - there won't be enough spinach to use the pan you cooked it in.
Season with a grating of nutmeg and salt.
Either serve immediately or cover tightly with cling film.
Microwave or steam the covered pot to reheat.
Heat a large pan, give the barest of wipes with oil or butter, and throw in the spinach, stirring until it wilts down completely.
Heat the cream, put the spinach into a small container and blend with cream to taste. I use a stick blender in a measuring jug - there won't be enough spinach to use the pan you cooked it in.
Season with a grating of nutmeg and salt.
Either serve immediately or cover tightly with cling film.
Microwave or steam the covered pot to reheat.
Beautiful and delicious.
Feel free to throw some basil leaves in with the spinach, and a grating of parmesan to finish.
Feel free to throw some basil leaves in with the spinach, and a grating of parmesan to finish.
Alternatively - it ain't bad with blue cheese mashed through either.
You want to collapse the spinach all the way here - unlike a classic white sauce-based creamed spinach, for which you only just wilt the leaves.