Creamed Spinach Garlic Bread
Sure, you could have regular old garlic bread.
It's warm, garlicky, and of course, buttery.
But why not throw some creamed spinach into the mix, creating a garlic bread with a creamy, spicy base that also gives you a Popeye’s dose of spinach?
Everyone loves creamed spinach, but when you layer creamed spinach on crunchy bread, add a kick of garlic, and smother the top in cheese, you will not just be in love—you will be obsessed!
And that's okay, because this recipe is easy and you can say you've had your greens today!
Granted, your greens were smothered in cheese and garlic, but hey, it's still spinach!
I'm not going to take that away from you!
Creamed Spinach Garlic Bread
makes: 10 pieces of garlic bread
Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 8 garlic cloves, sliced
- 10 cups baby spinach (10 ounces)
- ⅔ cup grated Parmesan cheese (3 ounces)
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 loaf French or Italian bread, halved lengthwise + horizontally
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 ounces)
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Directions:
- Preheat the broiler to high. In a large pot over medium heat, cook the oil and garlic until the garlic is fragrant and tender—about 5 minutes. Add the spinach and cook until it is wilted and most of the liquid is gone from the pan—5 to 7 minutes more.
- Add the Parmesan and cream and cook until the cheese has melted—about 3 minutes. Add the salt, nutmeg, and ground black pepper, stir to combine, and remove from the heat.
- While the creamed spinach cooks, place the bread cut-side-up on a baking sheet, then bake it (on a lower oven rack if possible) until it is dried out around the edges and lightly toasted—1 to 5 minutes, depending on your oven and type of bread. Remove from the oven and set aside.
- Remove the spinach mixture from the heat and spread it on top of the cut side of the bread, spooning any remaining liquid in the pan over the top of the bread as well. Divide the mozzarella among the bread halves, then sprinkle with the red pepper flakes (if desired). Broil the bread on high (this time on a higher oven rack) until the cheese is melted and slightly brown—2 to 5 minutes. Cut and serve.
