Creamed Spinach with Crumbled Egg Yolks (Finnish)

The author's creamed spinach is an ultra-fine, silky version of this traditional staple, puréed with parsley leaves for a vivid green colour and vermouth for a pop of acidity. For the brightest green colour, cool the spinach mixture down fully before puréeing, then reheat. You can eat this dish by the spoonful or use it as a sort of sauce through which to drag meat and vegetables on the plate.

3 eggs
6 Tbsp. butter
1 large Vidalia onion (7 oz), diced (1½ cups)
1 tsp. kosher or sea salt, divided
3 Tbsp. dry white vermouth
1 cup Italian parsley leaves
2 bunches spinach (1¼ lb), trimmed and coarsely chopped (3 packed qts)
¾ cup heavy cream, cold
¼ tsp. nutmeg, freshly grated
black pepper, freshly ground

In a small saucepan, add the eggs and enough water to cover by 1". Bring to a boil over high heat, then turn off the heat and let sit 10 minutes. Drain and transfer the eggs to an ice bath to cool.

When cool enough to handle, peel the eggs and remove the whites (save for another use). Set the yolks aside.

In a large saucepan over medium heat, add the butter. Once melted, add the onion and ½ tsp. salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, sweet, and lightly golden at the edges, 7-8 minutes. Add the vermouth, raise the heat to high, and simmer until the liquid is nearly evaporated, 1-2 minutes. Add the parsley, spinach, and the remaining ½ tsp. salt, and cook, tossing with tongs, until the spinach is wilted and tender at the stem, 6-7 minutes.

Pour the cold cream into a bowl or storage container large enough to contain the spinach. Using tongs, shake off any excess liquid, then transfer the cooked spinach to the cream. (At this point you can refrigerate the spinach until ready to serve, up to 12 hours.)

Transfer the spinach mixture and nutmeg to a blender and process to a fine purée. Taste and add more salt or some black pepper as desired. (If the spinach mixture was refrigerated, reheat briefly in a saucepan before serving.)

Transfer the spinach to a medium serving bowl and crumble the yolks over the top. Serve immediately.

Makes 6 servings.