Description
This creamy and indulgent creamed spinach recipe transforms fresh spinach into a rich, velvety side dish with tangy balsamic vinegar, melted cream cheese, and fontina, topped with crispy, lemon-zested panko breadcrumbs for a delightful crunch. Perfect as a comforting accompaniment to any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3 lbs fresh spinach, roughly chopped into 1 inch pieces
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 4 ounces grated fontina cheese (white cheddar also delish)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Wilt the Spinach: Heat the olive oil in a very large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the spinach in batches, stirring to wilt before adding more, until all the spinach is added. Cover the pot and cook on medium-low, stirring every few minutes, until the spinach is soft and tender, approximately 10 minutes. Stir in the balsamic vinegar. If the spinach begins to brown, reduce the heat to low and continue cooking gently.
- Prepare Toasted Panko: While the spinach cooks, melt the butter in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add the panko breadcrumbs, season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper, and sauté, stirring frequently, until the breadcrumbs turn golden brown, about 3 minutes. Stir in the lemon zest, then remove from heat and set aside.
- Melt the Cheeses into Spinach: Lower the heat under the spinach pot to low. Add cream cheese in small pieces, stirring continuously until fully melted and incorporated. Then add grated fontina cheese, lemon juice, and heavy cream, stirring and combining for about 1 minute until the fontina melts completely and the mixture is creamy.
- Serve: Transfer the creamy spinach mixture to a serving bowl and generously sprinkle the toasted, lemony panko breadcrumbs on top to add texture and flavor. Serve immediately for the best taste and texture.
Notes
- This creamed spinach pairs wonderfully as a side dish to steak, roasted chicken, or holiday meals.
- The toasted panko topping adds a crispy contrast to the creamy spinach, elevating the texture and presentation.
- You can substitute fontina cheese with white cheddar for a sharper flavor.
- Adjust seasoning such as salt, pepper, and lemon juice to your taste preference before serving.
- For a lighter version, heavy cream can be replaced with half-and-half, although richness will be slightly reduced.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 357 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 268 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 73 mg
