Spinach Sformato Food

SPINACH SFORMATO

Steps:

• This step can be done in advance.Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease 6 individual muffin liners or ramekins, place in a larger baking dish and set aside.In a small (3-quart) saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Add the flour to the melted butter and mix until the flour is evenly absorbed. Continue to stir and cook the bechamel sauce base, until the flour begins to thicken and bind with the butter, about 1 to 2 minutes. Using a whisk, slowly add the cold milk, a little at a time, until all the milk has been incorporated. Bring the sauce to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat, cover the surface of the bechamel sauce with plastic wrap, and allow to cool slightly.
• Heat a large saute pan over medium heat and add a tablespoon of the olive oil.Add the spinach and sauté quickly until tender, about 1 minute. Season the spinach to taste, usually a scant 1/2 teaspoon, remove from the saute pan, spread out on paper towels and cool to room temperature. Squeeze the spinach gently to remove any excess water.Blend the remaining olive oil, béchamel sauce, parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon salt, eggs and egg yolk, and spinach until very smooth. Fill the prepared liners 3/4 full with the batter. Pour hot water into the baking dish, filled to 2/3 of the way up the custards. Place the larger baking dish on the lower rack in the oven. Bake for 40 minutes. The custards are cooked when a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Run a knife around the edge of the sformato and invert or unmold onto a small plate. Serve with your best-quality extra virgin olive oil and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

SPINACH SFORMATINO WITH PANCETTA, RADISHES, AND SPRING ONIONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter the inside of four 4-ounce ramekins; set aside.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil; prepare an ice-water bath and set aside. Add spinach to boiling water and cook until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Drain and transfer to ice-water bath; drain and transfer to a clean kitchen towel. Ring out spinach in towel to dry.
• Transfer cooked spinach to the bowl of a food processor along with 1 egg; process until smooth. Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a large bowl; discard solids. Add ricotta, parmesan, 1 teaspoon salt, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and nutmeg; stir until well combined. Divide spinach mixture evenly between prepared ramekins. Place ramekins on a baking sheet and transfer to oven; bake until set, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat; add pancetta and cook 3 to 5 minutes. Add morels and onions, continue to cook until morels and onions are soft and fat is completely rendered from pancetta, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and swirl to coat in pan; remove from heat. Add vinegar and season with salt; set vinaigrette aside and keep warm.
• Fill a medium saucepan with 4 cups water and bring to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt and return to a boil. Reduce heat to medium. When water is barely simmering, break one egg into a small heatproof bowl. Placing lip of bowl in the water, gently tip the bowl to slide egg carefully into pan. Cook, stirring water, until whites are just set but yolks are still soft (they should still move around inside), 2 to 3 minutes. Lift out eggs with a slotted spoon or small mesh sieve; transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
• Remove ramekins from oven and invert each onto a serving plate. Top each with a poached egg and spoon vinaigrette over eggs and garnish with spinach leaves and radish slices; serve immediately.