Creamed Spinach With Bacon Recipe |
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Prep Time: 0 Minutes Cook Time: 25 Minutes |
Ready In: 25 Minutes Servings: 4 |
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Here is a creamed spinach dish that I found on Simply Recipes and made a few alterations . The spinach gets its creaminess from a bechamél sauce based on a flour and butter roux. The bacon adds wonderful flavor, but pancetta is better. Read more . I added mushrooms which gave a meatiness to the dish. Enjoy. Ingredients:
1 pound fresh spinach, about 2 large bunches (i used the packaged stuff ) |
3 to 4 strips of bacon, uncooked, finely chopped (i used some pancetta i had leftover) |
1 (+)clove garlic, finely chopped or minced |
1 medium onion, finely chopped |
pinch of nutmeg |
salt and pepper to taste |
2 tbsp butter |
2 tbsp flour |
1 cup whole milk (or can use heavy cream) |
2 cups cremini mushrooms (optional - i added this from the original recipe) |
Directions:
1. Cut off the thick stems of the spinach and discard.
2. Note: This next step can be omitted if using packaged spinach. Clean the spinach by filling up your sink with water and soaking the spinach to loosen any sand or dirt. Drain the spinach and then repeat soaking and draining.
3. Blanch the spinach in a pot of boiling water until the spinach is wilted, about 1 to 2 minutes.
4. Drain and rinse in cold water to stop the spinach from cooking further.
5. Squeeze the spinach to remove all the moisture possible.
6. Chop the spinach and set aside.
7. Heat a large skillet on medium high.
8. Add the chopped bacon and sauté until the bacon begins to render some of its fat.
9. Add the chopped onion and garlic (I added the mushrooms here). Sauté until onions are translucent.
10. Béchamel sauce: -
11. Melt butter in a small saucepan on medium/low heat until it just starts to bubble. Add the flour and cook, stirring until smooth, about 2 minutes. Slowly add the milk, whisking continuously, cooking until thick.
12. Combine spinach, bacon and onion mixture, and béchamel sauce into one pan. Add nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste.
13. Bring to a simmer, remove from heat and serve.
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