Spinach Cheese Brunch Loaf
There are millions of recipes with the combination of spinach, cheese, and eggs – recipes from wildly different cultures including the Italian frittata, Greek spanakopita, Syrian jibn, French quiche, and so many more…
So why cook this one? Well, it’s easy and inexpensive! It’s crust-free, heavy on the vegetable and light on the eggs & cheese. It’s low-carb, gluten-free, vegetarian. And really quite tasty! A simple salad on the side is all it takes to make a fantastic brunch dish. Or slice it into cubes and serve it as part of a brunch buffet.
Spinach Cheese Brunch Loaf Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. frozen chopped spinach
- 3 large eggs
- 8 oz. cottage cheese (low fat is OK)
- 3 oz. monterey jack cheese, finely shredded
- 1/2 t. to 3/4 t. kosher salt
- several grinds black pepper
- dust with grated whole nutmeg (to taste)
- 1 t. fresh dill, finely chopped
Method:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Microwave spinach, covered, for 4 minutes. The package will say to add water, but do not add water. It may not be completely cooked after 4 minutes, which is fine. It just needs to be defrosted.
Meanwhile, beat eggs in a mixing bowl. Add cottage cheese and jack cheese. Stir to combine. Add salt, pepper, nutmeg, dill. Stir again.
Place spinach bowl and cheese mixture bowl near the sink. One small handful at a time, squeeze liquid from the spinach, then place spinach, crumbled, into the cheese mixture. Stir to combine when finished adding all the spinach.
Grease a small non-stick loaf pan – 8 1/2″ X 4 1/2″ X 2 1/2.” (A larger loaf pan can be used, but the loaf will not be as high. Reduce cooking time accordingly).
Add spinach mixture to the pan. Gently spread out evenly.
Bake for 65 minutes on middle rack. Remove from oven and let sit in pan for 10 minutes then invert onto serving platter.
Slice the spinach cheese loaf into slabs and serve while still warm.
While a little scoop of crème fraîche, sour cream, or yogurt is not mandatory, it does add another creamy layer to the dish.
Thank You
The beautiful platter and plates, a gift from a dear friend, are by Juliska. The charming scalloped salad plates have four different floral sketches – Camilla, Wisteria, Cherry Blossom, and Jasmine. The platter has the Wisteria pattern as well.
“For the architects of togetherness.
Those who believe the what’s on a table has a curious effect on what’s around it.
The authors of incandescent memories.
Who mix plan and impulse in fantastical ways.
It’s for you that we make what we make.” Juliska
Sounds great. Going to make this tomorrow. Can’t wait. I am a friend of Geri Gainsberg.
Hi Ina! Great! Please let me know how it goes and say hi to Geri for me.
LL