Boston Market Creamed Spinach: A Keto Diet-Friendly Treat?

Boston Market's Creamed Spinach is a popular side dish, but is it keto-friendly? With 250 calories per serving, it's a filling option, but how does it fit into a low-carb diet? The calorie breakdown shows that 70% of those calories come from fat, 17% from carbohydrates, and 12% from protein. This may be a concern for those on a keto diet, as the relatively high carbohydrate content could impact their state of ketosis. However, there are low-carb copycat recipes available online that aim to recreate the taste of Boston Market's Creamed Spinach while being more suitable for keto diets.

Boston Market Creamed Spinach is keto-friendly

Creamed spinach is a classic side dish, and Boston Market's version is a tasty, creamy, and cheesy treat. This side is a favourite among kids and adults alike, and it's a great way to get some extra veggies into your meal. With Halloween around the corner, it's a perfect healthy option to balance out all the candy!

A serving of Boston Market Creamed Spinach (6.3 oz) contains 250 calories. The calorie breakdown is 70% fat, 17% carbs, and 12% protein. While the fat content is high, it is still within the acceptable range for a keto diet. The carb content is also relatively low, making it a suitable option.

There is also a copycat recipe for Boston Market Creamed Spinach that is low carb and keto-friendly. This recipe uses fresh spinach leaves or frozen spinach, butter, shallots, garlic, half-and-half, spices, and cheese. It's a quick and easy dish to make, perfect for busy weeknights, and you can easily adapt it to your taste by using different types of cheese or milk products.

So, if you're following a keto diet and craving some creamy spinach, Boston Market has got you covered! Enjoy it as a side dish or add a protein to make it a complete meal.

Creamed spinach recipe with cheese

Ingredients:

• Spinach: 3 (10-ounce) bags of fresh, clean spinach, roughly chopped
• Butter: 3 tablespoons
• Onion: 3 tablespoons, minced white onion
• Garlic: 2 tablespoons, minced
• Cream: 1 1/4 cups of heavy cream
• Cheese: 6 slices of provolone cheese, 1/2 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, or other cheese of your choice
• Seasonings: Salt and pepper to taste

Optional Ingredients:

• Flour: A small amount for thickening (if desired)
• Bacon: Cooked and chopped into small pieces
• Nutmeg: Freshly grated

Instructions:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add spinach and cook until wilted.
• Drain the spinach in a colander, squeezing out as much liquid as possible.
• Melt butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, cooking until tender (about 5 minutes).
• Add the wilted spinach back to the skillet and stir in heavy cream.
• Tear provolone cheese into small pieces and lay on top of the spinach mixture. Stir until the cheese is melted and coats the spinach.
• Stir in Parmesan cheese and continue to cook and stir until thickened.
• Season with salt and pepper, and serve hot.

Tips:

• It is important to wilt and drain the spinach first to remove excess moisture and prevent a watery dish.
• You can also use frozen spinach instead of fresh. Just be sure to defrost and squeeze out as much water as possible before adding it to the other ingredients.
• For a slight variation in flavor, try using different types of cheese, such as gouda or smoked mozzarella.
• If you prefer a thicker consistency, you can add a small amount of flour to the butter, onion, and garlic mixture before adding the cream.
• For an extra savory touch, you can cook and chop bacon into small pieces and add it to the dish.
• Nutmeg can add a unique and slightly nutty flavor to the creamed spinach.

Enjoy your homemade Cheesy Creamed Spinach!

Creamed spinach recipe with Horizon products

Creamed spinach is a delicious and healthy side dish that can be prepared in a variety of ways. Here is a recipe for Creamed Spinach using Horizon products, adapted from a Boston Market copycat recipe, that is sure to impress! This recipe serves as a tasty way to incorporate more greens into your diet and can be paired with a variety of main courses.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoon Horizon Butter
• ½ cup chopped shallots
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 ½ cups Horizon Half & Half
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
• 8 ounces Havarti cheese
• 16 ounces fresh spinach

Instructions:

• Melt the Horizon butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add the chopped shallots and garlic to the skillet and cook until tender.
• Pour in the Horizon Half & Half and reduce the heat to low.
• Stir in the smoked paprika, ground nutmeg, cayenne pepper (if using), and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Add the Havarti cheese to the skillet and cook on low heat until the cheese is melted and well combined.
• Add the fresh spinach to the skillet and toss until all the spinach is coated with the creamy cheese sauce.
• Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

Tips and Variations:

• Frozen spinach can be used as a substitute for fresh spinach. Ensure that it is thawed and squeezed to remove excess liquid before adding it to the cheese sauce.
• Horizon Heavy Cream or Horizon Milk can be used as alternatives to Horizon Half & Half.
• Experiment with different types of cheese such as Gouda or smoked mozzarella for a unique flavor profile.
• For an even creamier texture, try adding some Horizon Heavy Cream in addition to the Half & Half.
• This creamed spinach can be served as a side dish with steak, grilled shrimp, pork chops, or roasted chicken.
• If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat gently on low heat to prevent the cream sauce from separating.

Enjoy your homemade Creamed Spinach with Horizon products! It's a delicious and nutritious addition to any meal.

Creamed spinach recipe with frozen spinach

Ingredients:

• Frozen spinach
• Butter
• Minced garlic
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Ground nutmeg
• Heavy cream
• Parmesan cheese

Optional Ingredients:

• Finely chopped onions
• Cayenne
• Cream cheese
• Shallots
• Smoked paprika
• Havarti cheese

Steps:

• Place the frozen spinach in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave on high just until thawed, which should take about 4 minutes.
• Place the spinach in a colander and press on it with a spatula to remove as much liquid as possible. This step is crucial to ensuring the creamed spinach is thick and creamy.
• In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute.
• Stir in the spinach, salt, pepper, nutmeg, heavy cream, and parmesan.
• Cook and stir until heated through, which should only take about 1-2 minutes. Serve immediately.

Tips:

• If you prefer your spinach leaves more intact, you can use fresh spinach instead of frozen.
• You can substitute the heavy cream with soft cream cheese if you don't have any on hand.
• For a hint of spice, add a pinch of cayenne to the mixture.
• If you're preparing this dish in advance, it can be made a day ahead, covered, and refrigerated. When you're ready to serve, gently reheat it on the stove over low heat or in a 350°F oven.

Creamed spinach nutritional information

Creamed spinach is a tasty and nutritious dish, but its nutritional profile varies depending on the ingredients and cooking methods used. Let's take a closer look at the nutritional information for creamed spinach.

Calories and Macronutrients:

A 1-cup serving of creamed spinach typically contains around 148 calories. The calorie breakdown shows that 52% come from fat, 31% from carbohydrates, and 17% from protein. When it comes to Boston Market's creamed spinach, a serving size of 1 gram provides 218 calories. The macronutrient distribution is as follows: 18.2 grams of fat, 5.7 grams of carbohydrates, and 9.2 grams of protein.

Fat Content:

The fat content in creamed spinach can be significant, contributing to over 50% of the total calories. This includes both saturated and unsaturated fats, depending on the ingredients used. For example, the Boston Market copycat recipe includes 18.2 grams of total fat, with 11.5 grams coming from saturated fat, which is likely due to the use of cheese and butter in the recipe.

Carbohydrates:

Creamed spinach also contains carbohydrates, with 1 cup providing around 31% of its calories from carbs. This may vary based on the recipe, as different thickeners or added sugars can affect the carb count. In the Boston Market copycat recipe, the carbohydrate content is lower at 5.7 grams per serving, which is likely due to the absence of flour or starch-based thickeners.

Protein:

While spinach itself is a good source of plant-based protein, the addition of dairy products like cheese can further boost the protein content. In a 1-cup serving of creamed spinach, protein contributes about 17% of the total calories. The Boston Market copycat recipe provides 9.2 grams of protein per serving, which is beneficial for those aiming to increase their protein intake.

Vitamins and Minerals:

While the exact vitamin and mineral content can vary, creamed spinach is likely to provide a good amount of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as iron and calcium. Spinach is particularly rich in these nutrients, and the addition of dairy products can further enhance the calcium content.

In conclusion, creamed spinach offers a combination of fat, carbohydrates, and protein, along with essential vitamins and minerals. The specific nutritional profile can vary depending on the ingredients and cooking methods used. When considering the keto diet, it's important to evaluate the macronutrient distribution and choose recipes that align with your specific goals and requirements.

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