Mashed Potato Casserole with Creamed Spinach & Baked Eggs Is The Veggie-Packed Dish You Need
Vegetarians are often faced with the same dilemma time and time again: eat a salad or something that's light, yet definitely not filling. All that is about to change with this hearty layered casserole dish made up of creamed spinach and mashed potatoes, and topped off with nutritious "fried" eggs. As a main dish—be it or for breakfast, lunch, or dinner—it not only satisfies the greatest hunger, but it's also quite delicious.
You'll need:
For the spinach filling:
- 1¾ oz butter
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 3⅓ lbs fresh spinach leaves
- salt & pepper
- nutmeg
- sugar
- 3⅓ fl oz cream
For the potato purée:
- salt
- 3⅓ lbs Idaho or russet potatoes, peeled
- nutmeg
- 1¾ oz butter
- 5 fl oz cream
- 5 fl oz milk
You'll also need:
- 8 eggs
- salt & pepper
- fresh chives, chopped
Here's how:
1. To create the spinach filling, first melt the butter in a large pan and then fry the onions in the liquid. Add the spinach leaves and let them cook for awhile before seasoning with salt, pepper, nutmeg, and sugar. Add the cream while the mixture is still cooking and let it all simmer together until the liquid reduces. Then spread the mixture in a casserole dish and smooth it out.
2. Bring salted water to a boil in a pot, add the peeled potatoes, and let them cook. Drain the water and vigorously stir the potatoes. Season with salt and nutmeg and then add the butter, cream, and milk. Squash the potatoes with a potato masher to create a purée.
3. Evenly spread the mashed potatoes over the creamed spinach filling in the casserole dish and smooth it out. Then crack the eggs over the casserole so that they too are evenly distributed. Cook for 30 minutes at 360°F.
4. As a final garnish, you can sprinkle salt, pepper, and fresh chives over the top of the cooked egg surface.
This recipe proves once again that even the greatest culinary delicacies can be easy to make. It's also a great way to reunite the classic spinach, egg, and potato trio and bring them to the table in an appealing way, no matter what time of day.