Agas Creamed Spinach With Bechamel Sauce Recipes

GARLIC CREAMED SPINACH

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook and stir until tender, 5-7 minutes. Add spinach and garlic; cook 2 minutes longer. Stir in remaining ingredients; cook until cream cheese is melted.

CREAMED SPINACH III

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, mix heavy cream, butter, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer.
• Place spinach in a vegetable steamer, and steam until leaves are wilted. Drain in a colander, pressing out excess water with a large spoon.
• Coarsely chop spinach in a food processor, and gradually stir into the heavy cream mixture. Briefly return to boiling, then remove from heat.

BECHAMEL CREAMED SPINACH

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, melt the butter, add flour, and cook, stirring, until it turns a light golden color.
• Remove from heat, then mix in the broth and half-and-half.
• Return to heat and bring to a boil, stirring, until thickened.
• Season to taste with salt and nutmeg.
• Wash the spinach well, drain slightly, place in a 5- to 6-quart pan over low heat, cover, and cook in the water that clings to leaves until wilted (3-4 minutes), stirring occasionally.
• Drain well and chop.
• Combine spinach and bechamel sauce and serve.
• Makes 4 servings.
• Note: recipe has been revised since the "not enough sauce" review, reducing the amount of spinach by half.

SPINACH AND BECHAMEL GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Light butter 8-inch or 9-inch glass pie dish. Squeeze spinach very dry. Melt 3 tablespoons butter in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add spinach and sauté 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Spread spinach evenly in prepared pie dish.
• Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and whisk 2 minutes; do not let mixture brown. Gradually add cream, then milk, whisking until mixture is smooth. Cook until sauce is thick, whisking frequently, about 6 minutes. Add nutmeg and cloves. Season with salt and pepper.
• Spoon sauce over spinach. Sprinkle cheese over. Bake until cheese is golden and sauce bubbles, about 15 minutes.

CLASSIC CREAMED SPINACH

Steps:

• Blanch the spinach. Bring 1 gallon water to a boil in a large pot. Add a pinch of kosher salt. Place the spinach in the boiling water. After 45 seconds (exactly), remove the spinach leaves with a slotted spoon, spider or tongs and drain in a colander. Let cool completely.
• Use your hands to press the spinach against the sides of the colander. When most of the liquid has been released, squeeze handfuls of the spinach to make sure all of the excess water has been removed. Set aside.
• In a wide, high-sided saute pan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. With a wooden spoon, stir the flour into the melted butter to create a roux that will look like wet sand. Cook the roux for 3 minutes, stirring continuously to make sure it doesn't burn and it becomes a "blond" color. Add the milk to the roux, whisking vigorously to make sure that the roux completely dissolves into the milk without lumping.
• Turn down the heat to maintain a low simmer. You're making a bechamel sauce, which is the base for the creamed spinach. Next, whisk in the cream and return the mixture to a simmer. Cook the bechamel until thickened and smooth, about 5 minutes, stirring often. Season the sauce with the salt, pepper and cayenne.
• Preheat a small saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the oil and let heat for about 1 minute. Add the onions and season with a pinch of salt. Cook until the onions soften and become translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook an additional minute or two.
• Add the cooked onion and garlic along with the drained spinach to the bechamel, folding to make sure it's completely coated with sauce. Season with the nutmeg. Cook for 2 minutes, then taste the spinach. Adjust the seasoning with more salt and the nutmeg, and/or more cayenne if desired.