Today I’m making one of the best comforting dishes I make in winter. Spinach Mushroom Casserole with Mashed Potato base. You guys loved it the first time, and since it hit a million views, it inspired me to remake it with additions! We’ve got the cozy layers – mashed potatoes, spinach, creamy sauce, and cheese – all in one comforting dish. So Get ready for a heartwarming treat that’s perfect for the chilly season!”
Ingredients for Spinach Mushroom Casserole
For the Potato Puree:
- 5 big potatoes
- 3-4 tbsp butter
- 1 cup or more whole milk
- Salt to taste
The Spinach Mushroom Layer:
- 200-300gr. cubed beef or chicken (optional)
- 1 onion
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 300gr. spinach
- 200gr. mushrooms
- Salt, black pepper to taste
For the Béchamel Sauce:
- 3 tbsp olive oil or 2 tbsp butter
- 2 heaped tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1+1/2 cup milk dash of nutmeg
- Salt to taste
- Grated mozzarella or fresh kashar cheese for topping
Instructions for Spinach Mushroom Casserole
Cooking Meat Chunks:
- In a pressure cooker, cook the beef chunks for about 20 minutes until they are tender.
Preparing Mashed Potatoes:
- Peel and cut the potatoes into chunks. Then in a pot, cook the potatoes in water until fork-tender.
- Drain the water and mash the potatoes while they are still hot.
- Add a generous chunk of butter, salt. And, enough whole milk to achieve a creamy consistency and set aside to use as a base.
Preparing The Casserole:
- In a wide pan, sauté finely chopped onions in olive oil until caramelized.
- Add the cooked meat chunks to the pan. Adjust the quantity based on your preference.
- Then add mushrooms, and a portion of butter to enhance the flavor.
- Season it with black pepper, paprika (pul biber), and salt. Stir the mixture well.
- Meanwhile, finely chop the spinach and add it to the pan. Sauté for a couple of minutes, seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
- Reduce the heat and continue cooking for an additional 8-10 minutes.
Making Béchamel Sauce:
- In a separate saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter.
- Add two heaped tablespoons of flour and sauté for a couple of minutes until a pleasant aroma develops.
- Optionally, drizzle some olive oil for added richness.
- Gradually add 1.5 to 2 cups of milk, stirring continuously until the sauce thickens.
- Optionally, grate a pinch of nutmeg into the sauce and season with salt. Adjust the consistency by adding more milk if needed.
Assembling the Spinach Mushroom Casserole:
To bring every deliciousness together I was usually using big casserole to bake in the oven. But since we are only three person at home there were always leftover to eat the second day. Even though it is not hard to heat the dish again over low flame, it doesn’t beat to have it fresh with sizzling top of cheese layer out from oven.
So this time I separated the mixture into two (one medium-size deep dish pan to bake in the oven, and one smaller earthenware pot that can fit to my airfryer). And the second one was ready to bake the next day in the airfryer. So practical!
- In a deep dish pan, layer the components: start with the mashed potato base, followed by the spinach-mushroom-meat mixture, and finally, pour the béchamel sauce over the top.
- Complete the assembly by generously topping with shredded kashar or mozzarella cheese.
Baking In The Oven:
Bake in the preheated oven until the casserole is sizzling and the cheese has turned golden brown on top.
Alternative Baking / Air Fryer
For leftovers, place baking paper in the air fryer. Bake at 200°C for 10 minutes, then at 205°C for an additional 4 minutes.
Serving:
- Allow the casserole to cool slightly before serving.
- Delight in the layers of flavors and textures, creating the perfect comforting and delicious winter meal.
Allow the casserole to cool slightly before serving, allowing the flavors to meld together. The result is a comforting and hearty dish that combines the creaminess of mashed potatoes, the earthiness of mushrooms and spinach, the richness of savory beef, and the gooey delight of melted cheese. Whether enjoyed as a family dinner or shared with friends, this Spinach Mushroom Casserole is sure to become a winter favorite.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do, and I look forward to sharing more culinary adventures with you in the next blog post of Turkish Food Travel. Happy cooking! 🍽️✨
