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Spenótfőzelék
Creamy spinach stew with egg
Spenótfőzelék: Hungarian creamy garlic spinach stew in a milk roux, topped with a fried egg
Bright green, smooth and garlicky, spenótfőzelék is the dish half of Hungary remembers from the school menza, usually with a fried egg on top and a slice of bread to wipe the plate. Grown-ups in Budapest still order it at weekday lunch counters, sometimes with a fried egg, sometimes with sliced hard-boiled egg or a couple of croquettes. The spinach is cooked down, chopped fine and stirred into a light milk roux with garlic and a whisper of nutmeg, so it is silky rather than stringy. A common mistake is skipping the squeeze after blanching: watery spinach makes a pale, thin stew. Chef's tip: stir the garlic in right at the end, off the heat, so it stays fresh and sharp instead of fading into the milk.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the spinach
- 1 ¾ lb fresh spinachwashed, or 600 g frozen leaf spinach, thawed
- 1 oz butter
- 1 oz plain flour
- 1 ¾ cups milk
- 3 garlic clovescrushed
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 pinch grated nutmeg
To serve
- 1 tbsp sunflower oil
- 4 eggs
- 4 slices white bread (optional)
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Drop 1 ¾ lb fresh spinach into a large pan of boiling water and cook for 1–2 minutes, until wilted and bright green. Drain, rinse under cold water and squeeze out as much water as you can with your hands.
4 minStep 2: Chop the spinach very finely, or blitz it briefly in a food processor to a coarse purée.
2 minStep 3: Melt 1 oz butter in a saucepan over a medium-low heat, stir in 1 oz plain flour and cook for 2 minutes until it bubbles but stays pale.
2 minStep 4: Whisk in 1 ¾ cups milk a little at a time until smooth, then simmer for 3 minutes, until it thickens to a light sauce.
3 minStep 5: Stir in the spinach, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper and 1 pinch grated nutmeg and simmer for 3 minutes, stirring, until thick and creamy. Take off the heat and stir in 3 garlic cloves.
3 minStep 6: Heat 1 tbsp sunflower oil in a frying pan over a medium heat and fry 4 eggs for 3–4 minutes, until the whites are fully set and the yolks done the way you like.
4 minStep 7: Spoon the spinach into deep plates, slide an egg on top and serve with 4 slices white bread.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 260 kcal
- Protein
- 15 g
- Carbs
- 14 g
- Fat
- 16 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does spenótfőzelék take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of fresh spinach?
- Frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed: about a third of the weight.
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
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