Spinaci Alla Fiorentina (spinach Florentine Style)

Total Time: 50 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 cups milk
• 3 lbs fresh spinach
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large garlic clove, minced
• 4 tablespoons freshly grated parmigiano
• salt
• pepper
• 1 pinch grated nutmeg
• butter, to grease the pan

Recipe

• 1 make a balsamella by melting the butter in a heavy saucepan on low heat. when the butter reaches the frothing point add the flour. mix well with a spoon and let cook until the color is a light brown -- don't over cook -- undercooking is preferable -- meanwhile heat the milk in a small pan -- when the milk is warm add a little at a time to the flour mixture -- the origional recipe calls for adding all the milk at once but i find i get less lumps if i add a little at a time whisking continuously -- your goal is a nice creamy sauce. remove from heat an cover until needed.
• 2 make sure spinach is clean and cut out any tough stems. chop coarsely.
• 3 place olive oil in a pan and warm on medium heat. add the garlic and spinach. toss and cook until wilted and the garlic is lightly browned.
• 4 toss the spinach with the balsamella. add the cheese, nutmeg salt and pepper to taste.
• 5 butter the bottom and sides of a 13 1/2 x 8 3/4 inch baking dish.
• 6 pour the spinach mixture into the dish and bake in a preheated 375 f oven for about 25 minutes. the top should be a little brown and bubbling.