Some people might find it funny, but I love spinach. I love all kinds of spinach dishes, but one spinach recipe that is so warm and hearty for the colder season is the creamed spinach recipe. A bowl of warm and creamy spinach can make a cold winter night a little cozier. It’s also an addition to holiday meals like Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas, although it could be a great side dish to many wonderful main courses.

It has a silky texture with a mild earthy tone and is packed with umami flavor. Even those people who usually don’t like spinach would love this. Plus, it’s loaded with nutrients, making this dish both delicious and nourishing.

Traditional Creamed Spinach

Creamed spinach is believed to be from French cuisine in the 17th and 18th centuries, when many vegetables were cooked with cream. The rich sauces made from butter, cream, and flour were used during this time, which is the base for the traditional creamed spinach. Later, this dish spread to other parts of Europe and America.

My First Encounter in Italy

I tried this creamed spinach for the first time when I lived in Italy. There was a small restaurant right next to my college, and they would serve this creamed spinach as part of their aperitif menu. I immediately fell in love with the dish. You could taste the spinach flavor ever so slightly, and you’d mostly taste the rich flavor of milk, butter, and cream. When I got a spoonful of the silky creamed spinach, it just melted in my mouth.

Variations of Creamed Spinach

Today, it is not only enjoyed worldwide, but it also has many variations, including lighter versions or vegan versions to make the dish dairy-free. But fear not, these variations still captured the rich flavor with the velvety texture of the original. As I have a plant-based diet now, I created my vegan creamed spinach recipe. I share this with you in the hope of making this dish enjoyable to everyone, including my vegan, lactose-intolerant, or dairy-allergic friends!

Health Benefits of Vegan Creamed Spinach

There are many health benefits of spinach that we know of, but what about the vegan creamed spinach? I wanted to mention that this applies only to this recipe, as I cannot guarantee the same effects for all the other recipes. Also, the traditional creamed spinach recipe has quite high saturated fat and lactose from milk, cream, and butter. It could potentially cancel out the health benefits of spinach.

• Rich in vitamins A & K and minerals, such as folate, iron, and calcium
• Heart-healthy from whole-food plant-based fats
• Dairy-free & lactose-free
• High in antioxidants, e.g., lutein and beta-carotene
• Much lower in calories than the traditional version

You can read more about it on the Leafy Green List to learn why you need to eat more.

Ingredients for Creamed Spinach

Main Ingredients

• Fresh or frozen spinach leaves
• Olive oil or vegan butter
• Onion
• Garlic
• All-purpose flour
• Plant-milk
• Sunflower seed butter (or finely ground sunflower seed powder)
• Nutritional yeast
• Salt & pepper

Optional Ingredients

• Vegan parmesan cheese (Like this famous NOOCH IT vegan parmesan cheese)
• A drizzle of olive oil
• Black pepper

Detailed Step-by-Step Instructions for Creamed Spinach

I thawed some frozen spinach here.

1. Prepare the Spinach

If you are using fresh spinach, blanch it in boiling water very briefly until the spinach is wilted and still vibrant in color. It should take about 30 seconds. Squeeze out excess water. If using frozen spinach, simply thaw and squeeze out water. I love using frozen spinach for this, as it is as easy as letting it thaw and simply squeezing out the water!

2. Make the Sauce Base

In a large skillet, heat olive oil or vegan butter over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté. Add minced garlic and cook briefly until garlic is golden brown.

3. Create the Roux

Sprinkle the flour into the pan and stir continuously for about a minute. This is called a roux, the base of the creamy sauce for the creamed spinach.

Fun fact: “Roux” is pronounced as [roo].

4. Add plant milk and cream

Slowly whisk in the oat milk to the roux. Add in sunflower seed butter. If you don’t have sunflower seed butter, finely grind sunflower seeds in a food processor and add that in. Stir until smooth and thickened for 5 minutes. Add more milk to find the desired consistency.

5. Season and add spinach

Stir in the spinach, nutritional yeast, salt, and pepper. Optionally, you can also add a sprinkle of nutmeg. Stir for a few minutes until everything is well incorporated and the spinach is fully coated with the cream.

6. Taste and serve

Taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve warm as a side dish with mashed potatoes, rice, or toast.

Serving Suggestion

Vegan creamed spinach pairs well with these dishes.

• Meatloaf, including vegan meatloaf
• Cutlets (tofu cutlets for vegetarians)
• Breakfast toast

I like to serve it with a warm bowl of rice for a cozy dinner.

Tips for Perfect Vegan Creamed Spinach

1. Don’t skip the roux step!

You might want to throw every ingredient into the pot to cook the creamed spinach. I know, because I feel the same way sometimes. But please take it step-by-step to make the roux to create the creamy texture of the roux.

Cook the spinach just well enough to have the vibrant color and become soft.

2. Do not overcook

I absolutely love creamed spinach, but it can be overcooked quite easily. Once the spinach leaves are thoroughly coated with the cream, they are best served right away. Or you can take it away from the heat to stop the dish from overcooking and reheat it before serving. Otherwise, the creamed spinach can turn into a mushy, greenish-grey-colored, and unappetizing food.

3. Make homemade sunflower seed butter

You could buy sunflower seed butter, but it could easily be made at home. It is the secret to the luxurious texture and the deep umami flavor of the vegan creamed spinach. To make it:

1. Soak 1 cup of sunflower seeds in hot water for 30 minutes.
2. Drain water. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and blend it until silky smooth.
3. Store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Variations of Creamed Spinach

1. Coconut Creamed Spinach

This is something that can satisfy even meat-lovers alike; I urge you to try it! Replace sunflower seed cream with coconut milk for the creamiest, tropical, and slightly sweet twist.

2. Mushroom Creamed Spinach

Slice some champignons and sauté them. Add it to the dish when making the sauce base. It is packed with umami flavor and adds some nice texture to the creamed spinach.

3. Gluten-Free Creamed Spinach

Use rice flour instead of wheat flour to make the dish gluten-free.

Vegan Creamed Spinach Recipe | Easy Dairy-Free Comfort Food

Kreamy Vegan

Creamed Spinach (Plant-Based)

A delicious, comfy, healthy side dish made with spinach!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: French

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

Vegetable Ingredients

• 1 lb Fresh Spinach (or frozen spinach, thawed) 450 g
• 2 tbsp Olive oil Can be substituted with vegan butter or butter
• 1 Small onion Finely chopped
• 2-3 cloves Garlic Minced

Roux & Cream Base Ingredients

• 2 tbsp All-purpose flour Or oat flour
• 1 cup Unsweetened oat milk Or soymilk
• 1/2 cup Sunflower seed butter or 2/3 sunflower seed powder
• 2 tbsp Nutritional yeast
• 1 tsp Salt* * 1/2 tsp salt will be added twice throughout the recipe
• 1 pinch Nutmeg Optional

Method

 

1. Using fresh spinach: blanch it in boiling water for 30 seconds. Drain immediately and rinse with cold water. Squeeze out excess water.

   Using frozen spinach: Simply thaw. I prefer using whole leaves, not the chopped spinach, for more texture.
2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil or butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and 1/2 of the salt and sauté for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
3. Creating the Roux: Sprinkle flour into the pan. Stir continuously for about a minute.
4. Add the milk and stir. Add sunflower seed butter or sunflower seed powder. Read more about this above on how to make sunflower seed butter. Stir until smooth and thickened, about 3-5 minutes.
5. Stir in the spinach, nutritional yeast, another 1/2 tsp salt, pepper, and optional nutmeg. Stir while cooking for another 2-3 minutes. The spinach should be fully coated in cream.
6. Add more milk if the cream is too thick. Adjust the seasoning with more salt, pepper, or nutmeg to taste.
7. Serve warm and enjoy it with your favorite main dish! Creamed spinach goes great with mashed potatoes, rice, or toast as well.

FAQs About Vegan Creamed Spinach

1. What is the best plant milk for vegan creamed spinach?

Unsweetened oat milk creates a soft, mild flavor that anyone would like. Unsweetened soy milk is also great to give a deep umami flavor. Alternatively, you can also use full-fat coconut milk and skip the sunflower seed butter to create a deep flavor and creamy texture.

2. How can I make it nut-free?

If you are allergic to sunflower seeds, you can use coconut cream or a plant-based cream that is made of soy or oats.

3. Can I store leftovers?

Yes! Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in a microwave before serving. You can also freeze the creamed spinach for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

But like most food, the creamed spinach tastes the best when it is freshly made.

Summary of Homemade Creamed Spinach

This plant-based creamed spinach recipe is a great comfort food that can be served on any dinner table, but especially during the cold season. It’s a great side dish for holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas. This vegan creamed spinach is not only dairy-free and vegetarian-friendly but also can be made nut-free and gluten-free, which makes it an ideal allergy-free choice for a party. I hope you enjoy this recipe.

I’ll see you again with another comforting and nourishing recipe!

Other Frozen Spinach Recipes

Frozen Spinach Recipes | 5 delicious ways using frozen spinach