Michelle Obama has only been a resident at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for 10 months, yet she's already managed to set an example for Americans to eat more fresh food, from planting a garden to starting a White House farmers market.
Earlier this year, I spotted a recipe for one of the first lady's favorite White House dishes, a creamed spinach without the cream. I bookmarked it, thinking it would make a satisfying yet light steak side, or a healthful addition to a large Thanksgiving feast.
The recipe calls for blanched, puréed spinach, which adds an airy, creamy taste without the calories. To see the technique, keep reading.
Adapted from Cristeta Comerford
Ingredients
2 pounds baby spinach, washed and cleaned
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 shallots, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
Salt
Freshly ground pepper
Directions
- Blanch half a pound of spinach in salted, boiling water. Immediately, “shock” the blanched spinach in a bowl of iced water. Drain and squeeze out the excess water. Puree in a food processor. Set aside.
- In a large skillet, sweat the shallots and garlic with the olive oil until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the rest of the spinach leaves. Toss and sauté until wilted. Fold in the spinach puree. Season with salt and pepper.
Serves 6.
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Hot Diamonds
This looks like a recipe I will be trying soon
1I love spinach but this doesn't come close to anything like creamed spinach. You can make a very good low fat healthy creamed spinach using some evaporated skim milk and some wedges of laughing cow cheese. Much more appealing and satisfying and still guilt free.
2LOVE LOVE LOVE Michelle Obama! She's going great NON-POLITICAL things for America.
3First Anonymous poster - I agree. This is nothing like creamed spinach. Come on - if you can't pig out on real creamed spinach at Thanksgiving, when can you?
4EvieJ, I'm with you. Its not like I eat creamed spinach all the time. Plus, hate to say it, it just looks like its swimming in some kind of liquid, but very appealing looking.
5I LOVE spinach but cannot stomach cream (at all, in any quantities, in any food object) so creamed spinach is not an option. However, this recipe sounds amazing, and if you want spinach with a little more flair you could add cheese e.g. ricotta (like for a gnocchi recipe) and it's definitely healthier than cream
6Okay, I agree - can we call things what they are. It's sauteed spinach period. Call it anything but no cream creamed spinach - the spin on words is maddening.
7Correction: I meant it looked "unappealing"
8I actually made this spinach tonight - it was ridiculously amazing. It tastes light and almost has the texture of being creamy. It's totally just sauteed spinach but it's easy, healthy and wonderful.
That sounds like a commercial for the spinach. I'm not a commercial. Just felt like I had to share how much I enjoyed it.
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