The Ultimate Creamed Spinach - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 1/2 lbs fresh spinach, washed, stems trimmed
4 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk, scalded
1/4 cup roughly grated gruyere cheese
2 tablespoons finely grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup roughly grated parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 dash hot pepper sauce
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
1/2 cup fresh breadcrumb

Preparation

Cook the spinach, covered, in boiling salted water until tender, about 4 minutes. Rinse under cold running water; drain, pressing out all liquid with the back of a spoon. Chop fine.
In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt 2-1/2 T. of the butter. Stir in flour. Cook, stirring constantly, 2 minutes. Whisk in hot milk. Cook until thick, about 2 minutes. Add gruyere cheese, the 2 T. finely grated parmesan, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and hot pepper sauce. Stir in spinach; remove from heat. Stir in lemon zest; mix thoroughly. Transfer to a shallow, buttered, 4-cup baking dish.
In a small skillet over medium heat, melt remaining 2 T. butter. Stir in bread crumbs. Cook, stirring constantly, until golden. Spoon crumbs evenly over spinach mixture. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of roughly grated parmesan.
Bake in a preheated 425-degree oven for 14 minutes.