The Ultimate Creamed Spinach

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 2 1/2 lbs fresh spinach, washed, stems trimmed
• 4 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk, scalded
• 1/4 cup roughly grated gruyere cheese
• 2 tablespoons finely grated parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup roughly grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 dash hot pepper sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
• 1/2 cup fresh breadcrumb

Recipe

• 1 cook the spinach, covered, in boiling salted water until tender, about 4 minutes. rinse under cold running water; drain, pressing out all liquid with the back of a spoon. chop fine.
• 2 in a medium saucepan over low heat, melt 2-1/2 t. of the butter. stir in flour. cook, stirring constantly, 2 minutes. whisk in hot milk. cook until thick, about 2 minutes. add gruyere cheese, the 2 t. finely grated parmesan, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and hot pepper sauce. stir in spinach; remove from heat. stir in lemon zest; mix thoroughly. transfer to a shallow, buttered, 4-cup baking dish.
• 3 in a small skillet over medium heat, melt remaining 2 t. butter. stir in bread crumbs. cook, stirring constantly, until golden. spoon crumbs evenly over spinach mixture. sprinkle with 1/4 cup of roughly grated parmesan.
• 4 bake in a preheated 425-degree oven for 14 minutes.