Cheesy Spinach Bake

Method9 steps · about 35 min

1. 1

   Step 1: Cook bacon (3 slices) using your favourite method until thoroughly crispy. This is what I do: Line a large, microwave-safe plate with 2-3 layers of paper towel. Lay the bacon strips on the paper in a single layer and cover with another 2 layers of paper towel—this is so it doesn’t make your microwave greasy! Microwave on high for 2 minutes. Then remove from microwave and flip the bacon (if you don’t do this I find the bacon will stick to the paper towel). Microwave again for 2-3 minutes or until browned and crispy. The total time will vary depending on your microwave power and also how much bacon you are cooking. 3 slices in my 1580-watt microwave takes about 4.5 minutes.

   Uses 3 slices bacon

2. 2

   Step 2: Let the bacon cool down, then lightly crush them in a mortar and pestle until they’re broken into small bits.

   Uses three bacon slices fully cooked crisp and cooled

3. 3

   Step 3: Melt butter (2 Tbsp) in a LARGE pot or a wok, then add onion (0.5), garlic (4 cloves) and a pinch of salt, and saute over medium low heat until soft and the onion begins to browns slightly.

   Uses 2 Tbsp butter (unsalted) · 0.5 onion · 4 cloves garlic · A pinch of salt

4. 4

   Step 4: Add black pepper and nutmeg (¼ tsp) to the softened onion and garlic and sauté for 20 seconds. Add spinach in batches if necessary, turning constantly until all of it wilts.

   Toast pepper nutmeg · 1 minUses 1 lb fresh baby spinach (if not using baby spinach, roughly chop) · ¼ tsp ground nutmeg · black pepper · onion garlic and pinch salt sauteed in butter until soft

5. 5

   Step 5: Once the spinach is wilted, keep cooking until there is no more liquid pooling at the bottom.

   Uses spinach wilted with black pepper and nutmeg in onion garlic butter

6. 6

   Step 6: While you wait for the spinach to dry, stir a little milk (¾ cup) into the flour (1 Tbsp) to dissolve, then pour the slurry into the remaining milk. Once the spinach is dry, add the milk mixture to spinach, and cook for a few more minutes until thickened and luscious. Stir in parmesan cheese (15 g) and bacon bits and stir until the cheese is melted.

   Uses 15 g Parmesan cheese · 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour · ¾ cup whole milk · wilted spinach cooked until no liquid pools at bottom · cooled crisp bacon broken into small bits

7. 7

   Step 7: Remove from heat, then taste and add more salt as needed, keeping in mind that you will have some cheese on top as well.

   Uses additional salt to taste after cheese and bacon · dry spinach thickened with flour and milk and combined with melted Parmesan and bacon bits

8. 8

   Step 8: Preheat the broiler on high and place a rack on the top level.

9. 9

   Step 9: Place the spinach in casserole dish or ramekins. Then using a pair of clean scissors, cut through the spinach a few times to shorten long pieces. Top with grated mozzarella (1 cup) and broil on high until golden brown on top

   Uses 1 cup mozzarella · cooked spinach mixture tasted and adjusted with optional salt