Spinach, Roasted Pepper and Parmesan Pudding

Prep: 20 mins | Cook: 45 mins | Total: 1 hr 20 mins | Servings:8

I'm often asked about side dishes. I'm sort of bizarre about side dishes, I suppose. I come from the restaurant world, where ... side dishes don't often exist. Typically, a plate is composed, meaning it's not a compartmentalized selection of unrelated things ... a chicken breast, with a side of broccoli, a cheese sauce and a side of roasted potatoes. Most of my personal experience has been more in creating dishes where every bite contains a little bit of something on the plate. This creates more of a mélange ... or a potpourri of ingredients, specifically matched and designed to taste great and look great, with everything else on the plate. For better or for worse, this is my training and my background!

So, when it comes time to creating a "side" dish ... it's challenging for me. In order for me to really think about the side ... I can't help but need to know what it's on the side OF!

For example, I probably wouldn't serve a habenero tickled bed of spicy peppers as a side for ... Petrale Sole. The sole would get lost amidst the spice! I'm also unlikely to suggest a lightly poached cauliflower, leek and micro-chervil salad with ... say ... Boldly Roasted Bone-In Leg of Lamb. While I'm sure it would be tasty, the lamb commands a heartier side than a dainty little salad like that.

So ... when it comes time to create a side dish ... my mind argues with me ... I go back and forth and back and forth, to try and create something that would generally match pretty much everything! In this case?

For this recipe, I think it's a perfect match for something like pork. A pork chop, or a roasted pork loin. Smoked turkey breast? What about a roasted chicken. Perfect! This is a perfect accompaniment to pork and poultry, but ... I'd skip the fish ... and the red meats with this one. For whatever reason ... my brain says no.

Ah, this particular dish is just outstanding, by the way! It's like a thick, creamy and velvety pudding. It's a bit of extra work to make and does require a quick roux is made from the tapioca flour, but the end result is a silky smooth texture, blended with the colorful vegetables, it makes for a special side dish ... no matter WHAT my history would have you believe. Enjoy this one. WELL worth the effort!

Note: We all have our peculiarities. For this, you could use frozen spinach (just be sure to defrost and squeeze out any extra water) and roasted peppers from a jar or can. I love the vibrancy of fresh spinach and find roasted peppers in jars to be about as good as the real thing ... so I tend to always use fresh spinach and always use jarred peppers. However ... you could use frozen spinach and roast your own peppers ... if you wanted to be different!

. .
Ingredients	Calories	Fat	Protein	Carbs	Fiber	SA's	Net Carbs
2 lb (908g) fresh spinach leaves, washed and stems removed	208.84	0	27.24	36.32	18.16	0	18.16
2 small (148g) roasted red bell peppers, peeled, seeded and cut into thin strips	45.88	0	1.48	8.88	2.96	0	5.92
3 tbsp (42g) fresh whole butter	300	33	0	0	0	0	0
1 medium (110g) onion, diced	44	0	1	10	2	0	8
4 each (12g) garlic clove, minced	16	0	0	4	0	0	4
3 tbsp (23g) tapioca flour (Buy Now)	75	0	0	19.5	0	0	19.5
1 cup (240g) almond milk, unsweetened (Buy Now)	45	3.5	2	3	1	0	2
3/4 cup (178.5g) cream, heavy whipping	615.75	66	3.75	5.25	0	0	5.25
1 cup (100g) grated parmesan cheese	431	29	38	4	0	0	4
4 large (200g) eggs	286	19	25.1	1.4	0	0	1.4
salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Totals (of 8 Servings):	2067.47	150.5g	98.57g	92.35g	24.12g	0g	68.23g
Per Serving:	258.43	18.81g	12.32g	11.54g	3.02g	0g	8.53g *

Method:

Pre-heat oven to 350 F (177 C).

Grease a 2 1/2 quart (2.35L) casserole dish and set aside.

Bring a medium sized pot of water to a boil, over high heat.

Gather a bowl with ice cubes and water, as well as a colander or straining device, of some kind. Once the water boils, add a nice amount of salt. Place your spinach into the boiling water and allow to swirl around for about 30 seconds. Remove the spinach with the strainer and immediately plunge it into the ice water. When it is thoroughly cooled, remove the spinach and squeeze it, by clinching it in your fists (or with a cloth), until all the water has been squeezed out. You should have a sizeable lump of bright green cooked spinach.

Coarsely chop the spinach and set in a small mixing bowl. Add the roasted peppers and mix. Evenly distribute the mixed spinach and pepper mixture along the bottom of the casserole pan.

Place a medium sized sauce pan on the stove over medium heat. Melt the butter and add the onions and garlic with a bit of salt and pepper. Cook until the onions are translucent, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add the tapioca flour and stir in and cook for a further 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Quickly whisk in the cold cream and almond milk. Bring this mixture up to a slow simmer. Once it is simmering, whisk in the grated cheese. Taste the sauce and adjust with a bit of salt and pepper.

In a medium mixing bowl, place your four eggs. Carefully and quickly whisk about 1/4 of the hot cheese sauce. You want this to be quick and incorporate the eggs ... not "scramble" the eggs. Once this is whisked in, whisk in the remaining sauce.

Pour your pudding base over the top of the spinach mixture, in an even layer. Bake for about 45 to 55 minutes or until golden, firm and lightly puffed in the center. Remove and allow to rest for 15 minutes before serving.

Serve!

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* Learn More: More about this recipe and nutrition ...

Comments
wow, never would have guessed that spinach had that many carbs or protein. Would the numbers be around the same if I used broccoli? Sandy 6/18/2016 Reply ---Reply posted by DJ on 6/19/2016 Hi Sandy, no ... Broccoli would be less. See, the thing about spinach is ... it's mostly water. I'm using 2 lbs. of spinach in this recipe, but when it's cooked, cooled and squeezed of all its water ... you're left with likely less than 1 cup of cooked spinach. This spinach is packed with all kinds of goodies (including carbs ... KALE, the super-food of the Paleo people is also quite high in carbs). That said, both are full of nutrients. So, while you may be getting a few extra carbs ... you're also getting the benefit of that spinach. I somewhat consider it a draw. It's one of the cases where a few extra carbs might be worth it. In any event ... I wouldn't suggest using 2 lbs. of broccoli to replace the spinach. I'd use maybe 2 cups of florets, but blanch and shock them in the ice water, like the spinach. Maybe 1 minute in the boiling salted water. You won't need to squeeze it, but let it drip dry and maybe pat it down with some towels. The extra water can leach out and destabilize your pudding ... In any event, I hope this helps. It's a tasty recipe. I hope you enjoy it! :-)
I just found your blog and you are my new best friend! My hubby and I have been trying to follow atkins diet and though we feel we are following pretty closely, we have had little weight loss. My husband loves to have variety and sometimes that is so hard on a diet. I will be visiting often! Thanks so much and congrats on the lifestyle change! Leigh 5/11/2015 Reply
Hi Mo ... no, unfortunately, neither of those will work. You CAN, however, use arrowroot or cornstarch in its place. Sorry! :/ DJ 8/15/2014 Reply
Possible to use almond or coconut flower in place of tapioca? (ack...I'm buying this stuff as fast as you list it but I can't seem to get my kitchen fully stocked!) :) Mo 8/10/2014 Reply

Comments

wow, never would have guessed that spinach had that many carbs or protein. Would the numbers be around the same if I used broccoli?

Sandy 6/18/2016

---Reply posted by DJ on 6/19/2016
Hi Sandy, no ... Broccoli would be less. See, the thing about spinach is ... it's mostly water. I'm using 2 lbs. of spinach in this recipe, but when it's cooked, cooled and squeezed of all its water ... you're left with likely less than 1 cup of cooked spinach. This spinach is packed with all kinds of goodies (including carbs ... KALE, the super-food of the Paleo people is also quite high in carbs). That said, both are full of nutrients. So, while you may be getting a few extra carbs ... you're also getting the benefit of that spinach. I somewhat consider it a draw. It's one of the cases where a few extra carbs might be worth it. In any event ... I wouldn't suggest using 2 lbs. of broccoli to replace the spinach. I'd use maybe 2 cups of florets, but blanch and shock them in the ice water, like the spinach. Maybe 1 minute in the boiling salted water. You won't need to squeeze it, but let it drip dry and maybe pat it down with some towels. The extra water can leach out and destabilize your pudding ... In any event, I hope this helps. It's a tasty recipe. I hope you enjoy it! :-)

I just found your blog and you are my new best friend! My hubby and I have been trying to follow atkins diet and though we feel we are following pretty closely, we have had little weight loss. My husband loves to have variety and sometimes that is so hard on a diet.

I will be visiting often! Thanks so much and congrats on the lifestyle change!

Leigh 5/11/2015

Hi Mo ... no, unfortunately, neither of those will work. You CAN, however, use arrowroot or cornstarch in its place. Sorry! :/

DJ 8/15/2014

Possible to use almond or coconut flower in place of tapioca? (ack...I'm buying this stuff as fast as you list it but I can't seem to get my kitchen fully stocked!) :)

Mo 8/10/2014