Baked spinach – Spinaci gratinati

Ingredients for 4 servings:

• 1 kg leaf spinach, fresh
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 30 g butter
• 1 garlic clove(s)
• Salt and pepper, from the mill
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp flour
• 250 ml milk
• 50 g Parmesan, freshly grated
• ½ lemon(s), juice
• nutmeg
• salt and pepper

Instructions

Working time approx. 20 minutes; Cooking/baking time approx. 20 minutes; Total time approx. 40 minutes

Recipe from Tuscany

Trim and wash the spinach leaves. Place the spinach, dripping wet, in a large pot and allow to wilt over high heat. Drain well in a sieve. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan, add the spinach, press in the garlic clove, season with salt and pepper, stir in the butter, and melt over low heat. Remove the pan from the heat. Preheat the oven to 200°C (top/bottom heat). For the sauce, melt the butter in a saucepan, stir in the flour, and sauté. Gradually add the milk, stirring constantly, and simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in 25g of Parmesan cheese, season with lemon juice, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Arrange the spinach in an ovenproof dish, pour the sauce over it, and sprinkle with the remaining 25g of Parmesan cheese. Bake in the oven for about 5 minutes.