Description
Baked Eggs Florentine is a delightful and creamy dish featuring tender spinach cooked in a rich lemon-infused cream sauce, topped with perfectly baked eggs and Parmesan cheese. This elegant yet simple recipe makes a perfect breakfast, brunch, or light dinner option that’s both comforting and sophisticated.
Ingredients
Scale
Spinach Mixture
- 1 pound spinach (fresh or frozen, thawed and squeezed of moisture)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- â…› teaspoon nutmeg (freshly grated)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra for topping)
Eggs
- 4 large fresh eggs
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the eggs florentine.
- Prepare Spinach: Wash the spinach thoroughly to remove any dirt. Drain well to ensure no excess water remains.
- Sauté Garlic: In a 10 to 12-inch oven-safe skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Cook Spinach: Gradually add the spinach to the skillet, stirring occasionally until it wilts. Season with salt and pepper to your preference.
- Add Cream and Flavorings: Reduce heat and pour in the heavy cream, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Sprinkle in the nutmeg, then stir and simmer gently until the mixture thickens slightly.
- Incorporate Parmesan: Stir the grated Parmesan cheese into the creamy spinach mixture. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Create Wells for Eggs: Using a spoon, create wells in the spinach mixture. Crack the eggs carefully into the wells, seasoning each with a bit of salt and pepper.
- Add Topping: Sprinkle additional Parmesan cheese over the spinach mixture, taking care to avoid covering the egg yolks.
- Bake: Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the egg whites are set but the yolks remain slightly runny.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from the oven and allow the dish to rest for a few minutes before serving to ensure the eggs finish setting and flavors meld.
Notes
- Use fresh spinach for best flavor, though frozen can be a convenient alternative when thawed and drained well.
- Adjust the cooking time in the oven to achieve your preferred egg yolk consistency – less time for runnier yolks, more for firmer.
- Freshly grated nutmeg adds warmth and depth to the cream sauce, but it can be omitted if unavailable.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with crusty bread or toasted English muffins for a complete meal.
