Best Spinach Maria Recipes

CALHOUN'S KNOXVILLE TENNESSEE SPINACH MARIA

Steps:

• Thaw spinach.
• Squeeze as much excess water as possible from spinach.
• Heat milk and spices in a 4 qt.
• saucepan on medium heat to just below a boil.
• Reduce and simmer.
• Saute chopped onion in 1 TBSP butter on medium heat for 5-8 minutes.
• Add onion to saucepan.
• Combine the 5 TBSP melted butter with the flour in a small saucepan.
• Mix until completely blended.
• Cook on low heat 2-3 minutes.
• Add to milk in saucepan and mix.
• Continue to cook until sauce thickens.
• Cut cheeses into small cubes and add to saucepan.
• Continue to mix until all the cheese is completely melted and blended into the sauce.
• Be CAREFUL not to BURN the sauce while cheese is melting.
• Remove from heat.
• Allow to cool for 15 minutes.
• Add drained spinach to cheese sauce and mix till completely blended.
• Spoon into a 11x9x2 or large casserole and top with grated Monterey jack cheese.
• Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes, until hot and bubbly.
• This can be served as a side dish or as an appetizer with tortilla chips.

SPINACH MARIA

Steps:

• Heat milk with the mustard,garlic& red pepper in pan to 190 degres,just below boiling point.
• Reduce heat.
• Crumble Velveeta cheese into a glass bowl and microwave until melted.
• Add milk to mixture, stirring until mixed.
• Saute onion in 1 tbsp butter, then add to the cheese sauce.
• Combine 5 tbsp melted butter and flour in small skillet,mix until blended.
• Cook over low heat for 3-4 minuest to make a roux, stirring constantly.
• Add roux to the cheese sauce.
• Cook over medium heat until the cheese sauce thickens, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat and cool 15 minutes.
• Squeeze excess water from spinach and add to the cheese sauce; mix until just blended.
• Spoon in 2 greased 9x10" baking dishes.
• Sprinkle each with Monterey Jack cheese.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until brown.

SPINACH MARIA

Steps:

• 1. Thaw spinach & squeeze as much excess water as possible from spinach
• 2. Heat milk and spices in a 4 qt.saucepan on medium heat to just below a boil. Reduce and simmer. NOTE: the spice quantities listed (mustard, garlic, red pepper flakes) give the dish just a "flavor" but little kick. I will usually double the spices for more flavor & heat (it is not too much). If I have a crowd that likes it hot, I will replace the teaspoon measurement with tablespoon for all three spices...at this level you get a slow burn that lingers but isn't a 4-alarm fire.
• 3. Saute chopped onion in 1 TBSP butter on medium heat for 5-8 minutes. Add onion to saucepan.
• 4. Combine the 5 TBSP melted butter with the flour in a small saucepan. Mix until completely blended. Cook on low heat 2-3 minutes. Add to milk in saucepan and mix. Continue to cook until sauce thickens.
• 5. Cut cheeses into small cubes and add to saucepan. Continue to mix until all the cheese is completely melted and blended into the sauce. Be CAREFUL not to BURN the sauce while cheese is melting.
• 6. Remove from heat. Allow to cool for 15 minutes. Add drained spinach to cheese sauce and mix till completely blended
• 7. Spoon into a 11x9x2 or large casserole and top with grated Monterey jack cheese. Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes, until hot and bubbly
• 8. I often like to add a dab of horse radish to indiviual servings...gives it a really nice kick...this way your guests can opt in or out for some heat. Taste it first though, as you may love the kick as it is.

MARIA'S GARLIC RICE WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a 2-quart saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Add the onion and saute until softened but not browned.
• Add the rice and cook, stirring, until the rice has absorbed the oil and is lightly golden. Add the wine and cook until the rice has absorbed the wine. Add the stock, cover, and turn the heat to low. Cook without peeking until the rice is done, about 15 minutes. Keep warm.
• While the rice is cooking, chop the garlic with the salt until it is almost a paste. The salt will bring the juices out of the garlic and help with the chopping as well as season the rice.
• When the rice is done, fluff it with a chopstick or fork. Stir in as much of the garlic paste as you have the nerve for. Stir in the spinach and replace the lid for 5 minutes; the spinach will steam with the heat from the rice. Serve as soon as possible.

SPINACH MARIA

Steps:

• melt butter in pan over medium heat.
• thaw spinach (I do it in the microwave) and add to pan.
• cut up cream cheese into chunks and add
• cut up artichokes and add also.
• I season with salt, chili powder and salt.
• I use more than you would think until it tastes right.
• Sometimes I'll sprinkle it with Parmesan Cheese and broil it for a few minutes in the oven.

SPINACH MARIA RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place 1 tbsp. butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Once it's melted, add the onion and cook until the onion has softened and turned lightly golden, about 4-5 minutes. Add milk, garlic powder, red pepper flakes and mustard powder into the saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring regularly. As soon as it starts to boil, reduce the heat to simmer, leaving it there to thicken. Melt the remaining 5 tbsp. butter in a smaller saucepan, then sprinkle 5 tbsp. flour in it. Stir the flour in to form a paste, cooking over low heat for about 2-3 minutes. Add this mixture to the large saucepan filled with milk and spices. Stir to combine. Reduce the heat on the large saucepan to medium, then gradually add the Velveeta and cheddar cheese, stirring regularly so that the cheese melts, creating a thick sauce. Add in 1/2 c. Monterey Jack cheese, setting aside the other cup for topping the spinach dish. Once all of the cheese has melted, remove the saucepan from heat. Drain any excess water from the thawed spinach. Add it to the cheese sauce, mixing to combine. Pour the mixture into a large casserole dish and top with remaining Monterey Jack cheese. Cook in the oven for 15-17 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the mixture is bubbly slightly.

MARIA ATHANS' SPINACH PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray bottom and sides of a 9x13-inch square baking dish with cooking spray.
• Melt 1/4 cup of butter in a large skillet, and cook the spinach and green onions, stirring occasionally, until the white parts of the onions are translucent, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat, and allow to cool for about 10 minutes; mix in the eggs, cottage cheese, feta cheese, and dill until thoroughly combined.
• Melt remaining 3/4 cup of butter in a saucepan. Place 1 sheet of phyllo dough into the prepared baking dish, and brush with melted butter. Repeat laying down and buttering sheets until half the sheets have been used. Spread the filling over the sheets in an even layer. Place remaining phyllo sheets on the filling, buttering each sheet as before. Brush the top sheet with butter.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 45 to 50 minutes.

COPYCAT CALHOUN'S SPINACH MARIA

Steps:

• Thaw spinach in refrigerator for 24 hours. Squeeze as dry as possible. Heat milk and spices on medium heat to just below a boil (190 degrees F). Reduce heat and simmer.
• Finely chop the onion and saute it in 1 Tablespoon butter on med. heat 5 to 8 minutes. Add to milk. Combine melted butter w/ flour in small saute pan. Mix until completely blended. Cook on low heat 3 to 4 minutes to make roux. Add roux to milk; mix well. Cook until sauce thickens.
• Cut cheeses into cubes and add to milk. Mix until cheese melts. (Be careful! Burns easily!) Remove from heat. Allow to cool 15 minutes. Add drained spinach to cheese sauce, mix until completely blended. Spoon into 11x9x2-inch dish. Top with grated Jack. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes until hot and bubbly.
• Recipe Source: Calhoun's Restaurant, Knoxville, TN via Knoxville News Sentinel, date unknown
• cook's notes This is light years away from being low fat/cal; but I can honestly say it's the best creamy/cheesy spinach dish I have ever eaten... and I love spinach, so I've tried lots of them!