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Creamed Spinach and Pearl Onions

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 4

Ingredients

1 1/4 pounds spinach, tough stems discarded, leaves rinsed well (do not pat dry)
10 ounces white pearl onions (2 1/2 cups)
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups milk
3/4 cup chopped slab bacon (3 ounces)
1/2 cup heavy cream
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat a large pot over high heat until hot. Cook the spinach (with water still clinging to the leaves) in the pot, covered, until beginning to wilt, about 1 minute. Stir, and cook, covered, 1 minute more. Uncover; stir the spinach until completely wilted.

    Step 2

    Transfer the spinach to a colander; rinse under cold water. Squeeze dry in a clean kitchen towel. Finely chop; set aside.

    Step 3

    Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Add the onions; cook until the skins soften, about 3 minutes. Remove the onions with a slotted spoon (reserve the water in the pot); rinse. Trim the root ends, and remove the skins. Halve the onions, if large. Return the onions to the cooking water. Cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain, and rinse.

    Step 4

    Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour, and whisk until smooth. Whisking constantly, pour in the milk in a slow, steady stream. Boil, whisking constantly, 1 minute. Remove from heat.

    Step 5

    Melt the remaining tablespoon butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the bacon; cook, stirring occasionally, until well browned, about 6 minutes. Stir in the onions and spinach. Stir in the cream and reserved milk mixture. Add 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and nutmeg. Cook, stirring, until heated through and thick, about 10 minutes (do not boil). Stir in the lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.

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Reprinted with permission from The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The New Classics by Martha Stewart Living Magazine, copyright © 2007. Published by Clarkson Potter, a division of The Crown Publishing Group. Buy the full book from Amazon.
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