Martha Stewart Just Shared the Simple Side Dish That Her Thanksgiving Guests Can’t Resist

Imagine spending Thanksgiving with the Martha Stewart. I assume that everything on her table would be carefully chosen or cooked by her, from the cabernet to the cranberry sauce. Oh, and the table settings are probably elegant enough to rival a state banquet at Buckingham Palace.

Most of us will never end up at Martha’s Thanksgiving table (and that’s a good thing, because I’d surely use the wrong fork or something). But one thing we can do is whip up the recipe for Martha Stewart creamed spinach, the dish that Martha herself told Parade is the first item gobbled up on her Thanksgiving table. And, while you’re cooking everything on your Thanksgiving day menu, you can also stir up Martha’s favorite cocktail to serve on Thanksgiving. If you’re plating greens with your bird and mashed potatoes, don’t forget to read up on Martha’s tips for restaurant-worthy salads either.

Martha Stewart Creamed Spinach Recipe

Martha says the secret to her creamed spinach recipe is her homemade cream cheese sauce. Follow the measurements below or tweak the ingredients based on your taste preferences. This recipe makes four servings.

Ingredients

• 2-1/2 pounds spinach, trimmed and cleaned
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 medium onion, minced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into pieces
• 1/2 cup milk
• Pinch ground nutmeg
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

Step 1: Cook and chop spinach

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the trimmed spinach and cook only until the leaves wilt, which will only take about one minute. Drain the spinach, then rinse it with cold water until completely cool. Using your hands, squeeze the spinach to remove as much liquid as you can before chopping the spinach coarsely.

Step 2: Prepare saucepan

Heat a large saucepan over medium heat and add butter. Add the onion and garlic, season it with salt and pepper, and cook until the onion softens, three to five minutes.

Step 3: Add in final ingredients, simmer and serve!

Next, add cream cheese and mash the cream cheese into the onion mixture until everything is smooth. Whisk in the milk, followed by the spinach, then stir until well-incorporated. Simmer over medium heat until the mixture thickens, eight to 10 minutes. Season with nutmeg and more salt and pepper if desired.

Tips for Martha Stewart’s Creamed Spinach Recipe

Can you use frozen spinach instead of fresh?

Yes, you can use frozen spinach. You’ll have to defrost it and squeeze out all the moisture before adding it to the recipe.

Can you use heavy cream instead of milk?

If you want to substitute heavy cream for milk, dilute the cream with some water to keep the texture of the recipe intact. The heavy cream will yield a very rich creamed spinach.

What should I serve with creamed spinach?

While Martha serves this with her Thanksgiving menu, creamed spinach is a steakhouse favorite, so keep this one in your repertoire for the next time you cook one of your favorite steak recipes. You can also spread the leftovers on baguette slices, pita chips, tortilla chips or anything you might use for spinach or artichoke dip.