Spinach Dip

Ingredients

• 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
• 2 Tablespoons flour
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 2 ounces)
• 1/2 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese (about 2 ounces)
• 6 ounces cream cheese
• 1 cup chopped onions
• 1 (10-ounce) bag of fresh spinach, stemmed, rinsed and chopped
• 2 Tablespoons chopped garlic
• ½ cup Blue Plate® Mayonnaise
• Tortilla chips or crostini, for serving

Directions

1. MELT, 2 Tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. When it turns bubbly, add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until a blond roux is formed, 5 to 6 minutes.
2. WHISK in the milk and bring the liquid up to a boil. Season with half of the salt and cayenne to taste and simmer for 5 to 6 minutes, or until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the cheeses. Set the sauce aside.
3. HEAT the remaining butter in a small saucepan, when hot, add the onions and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the spinach, a handful at a time, until all the spinach is incorporated. Add the garlic and sauté for 4 minutes. Season with the remaining salt and crushed red pepper. Remove the spinach from the heat and turn into a mixing bowl. Fold the béchamel sauce into the spinach and onions.Let cool and then fold in the mayonnaise.
4. SERVE with chips or crostini.