Creamed Spinach with Crispy Cheese
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream
- One 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
- 1 cup grated white Cheddar
- Juice from 1/2 lemon
- Hot sauce, to taste
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan
- Melt the butter in a medium pot over medium heat.
- Add the onion and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Cook until the onion is soft and translucent, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook for about a minute longer.
- Stir in the flour until combined and cook for 2 minutes to cook out the flour taste.
- Add the heavy cream and cook, stirring, until the sauce is thick and free of lumps, about 5 minutes.
- Add the spinach, breaking up any frozen chunks with the back of a wooden spoon.
- Stir to combine with the creamy mixture until uniformly incorporated.
- Taste and season with salt. Cook until the spinach is heated through and the mixture begins to bubble, about 3 minutes.
- Add the Cheddar, lemon juice, and hot sauce.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Turn to the lowest setting.
- Heat a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Make 2-tablespoon mounds of Parmesan in the pan, leaving 3 inches between each (work in batches if your pan isn't large enough).
- Allow the Parmesan to melt and bubble until it starts to brown around the edges.
- Use an offset spatula to carefully lift each cheese crisp to the lined baking sheet.
- Allow to cool for 2 minutes.
- Crumble or serve whole on top of the creamed spinach.