This Creamed Kale with Bacon and Parmesan cheese will easily make you forget about using spinach. Creamy with crunchy chunks of smoky bacon, this is a must-have side dish for the holidays!
My last post in a series with Pernod Classic has fallen upon me and there’s a few things I’ve learned along the way.
If you have Pernod Classic hiding in your booze cabinet, stop staring at it and start cooking with it.
Pernod tastes really unique but the flavor mellows out a lot once it’s been added to food.
My favorite dish from the four I made was probably the Apple Bread Pudding…that sauce! But this creamed kale is so close, it would be a photo finish if it was a race.
But today, it’s all about the side dish and one of my favorite things to eat is creamed spinach, which only seems to raise its head up around the holidays. What’s up with that?
So unfair.
I did a little experimenting and it turns out that creamed kale is just as tasty as its green cousin spinach. Well, maybe the bacon played a teeny part, oh and a splash of Pernod Classic as well mixed into the sauce or maybe the Parmesan cheese.
So many good tastes happening in this side dish.
In fact this dish is so good, it could probably be a side or as a really indulgent main course that is definitely not low calorie.
The whole thing starts off with a roux. This is just a combination of melted butter and flour which is then combined with warm milk.
It’s the base for so many great sauces and even lasagna, giving that creamy layer between the pasta and the tomato sauce.
Adding the Pernod Classic to the thick rich sauce provides just the right amount of kick. As I mentioned already, the famous anise flavor mellows out once it’s been simmered for a few minutes.
Bacon is all through the creamed kale and also on top. I used 10 slices so there’s no risk of missing any when you scoop some onto your plate. Bacon should be plentiful.
The kale is roughly chopped, but chop it finer and you could use this as a really over the top dip and serve it with some crusty french bread.
For now, promise me you’ll try this instead of creamed spinach when the holidays come around.
I can almost promise you that you’ll thank me,
I know I’ll be serving it beside my usual prime rib at Christmas!
Here’s a cocktail perfect for sipping on while you make that awesome Creamed Kale Spinach. Fresh orange juice and Pernod Classic filled with crushed ice and fresh mint.
This post was part of my collaboration with Pernod Classic. All text and opinions are my own!
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