Spinach is on the first foods as a kid you’re told that’s healthy. Popeye would always be ingesting this stuff, for some reason it was from a can. Because what says healthy like eating greens from a can? *Fun fact, it’s been said that the popularity of Popeye and spinach are related to one another.
The question is. Is spinach actually healthy? The short answer is…YES. It’s really healthy, it’s chock full of all sorts of vitamins and minerals, but most folks don’t really get those in their food because I’m sure cooking spinach basically nukes those healthy vitamins away. This recipe is probably not the healthiest thing you can make, but it is tasty and it gives you the illusion of healthy eating (my favorite!)
Creamy cheesy spinach is not really a health food, as a child when you eat something green, you’re basically going vegan. At least in the kid’s mind. At least back then it was, now probably kids are going vegan and being insufferable. (don’t send me hate mail if your kid is a vegan, it’s a joke, laugh and move on =) )
For me there was nothing better than strolling up to the Boston Market counter and asking for the creamed spinach side to go along with my meal. The delicious cheesy goodness that was the spinach side was the perfect partner in crime to the bright orange mac & cheese they serve at Boston Market. Now as an adult, there’s nothing I love more than being able to make this spinach dish, I don’t make it often because of the obvious LB’s it would add. But it’s a great side. In order to replicate the awesome corporate deliciousness that is Boston Market’s creamed spinach I searched the interwebs and found this recipe. I changed the ingredients ever so slightly, but it was delicious nonetheless.
Recipe – Creamy Spinach
Ingredients
1 – 20 ounce package of frozen spinach
1/2 Cup of Water
4 Tbsp. Butter
3 Tbsp. Flour
1 Cup of Heavy Cream
1 Cup of Gouda Cheese
1/2 Cup Sour Cream
2 Tbsp. Onion Powder
1 Tsp. Salt
Method
Step 1 – Prepare spinach, pour water in pot and then add spinach.
Step 2- Cook spinach then strain out excess water and set aside.
Step 3- Prepare Bechamel sauce, heat butter in medium sized pan.
Step 4- As butter heats and foams (medium heat) slowly stir in your flour until it turns golden brown in color.
Step 5- Slowly stir in heavy cream until you have a creamy thick white sauce.
Step 6- Add your sour cream,onion powder, and salt. Then stir.
Step 7 – Now add your cheese. Stir.
Step 8 – Once cheese sauce is completely melted and homogenous, pour into your spinach and simmer for a few minutes.
