Eggs Florentine With Spinach And Mornay Sauce is a dish that brings French elegance to your table with very little effort. Soft eggs on a bed of fresh spinach, covered in creamy Gruyère Mornay sauce, then broiled until golden - it always delivers.
This recipe is a must because it's easy, reliable, and rich in flavor. It works for brunch, lunch, or even a light dinner. The combination of spinach, cheese, and sauce is classic, and it never disappoints.
A Quick Look at the Recipe
Recipe name: Eggs Florentine With Spinach And Mornay Sauce
🕒 Ready in: 30 minutes
⏲️ Prep time: 20 minutes
🍳 Cook time: 10 minutes
👪 Servings: 6
🥄 Calories: 301 kcal per serving
🥘 Key ingredients: Eggs, spinach, Gruyère cheese, Mornay sauce
👩🏻🍳 Flavor profile: Creamy, cheesy, savory, with tender spinach
📖 Diet information: Vegetarian, fish-free, nut-free, peanut-free Contains: milk, eggs, and gluten.
📋 Why you'll love it: Simple French cooking that feels luxurious. Great for brunch or dinner, ready in half an hour.
⭐ Difficulty level: Medium-basic techniques (boiling eggs, blanching spinach, making a roux and sauce). Straightforward, but requires focus.
Jump to:
Classic Baked Eggs With Spinach And Cheese
I love recipes that feel timeless, and Eggs Florentine with Spinach and Mornay Sauce is exactly that. The spinach makes a fresh base, the eggs bring comfort, and the cheese sauce ties everything together with a lovely crust from the grill. It's a dish I turn to when I want something that looks festive but is still easy to prepare.
Often, I make this for brunch when family comes over, but it's also perfect for a cozy lunch on a quiet day. The beauty of this recipe is that many parts can be prepared ahead, so you're never rushed when guests are at the table. I've tested it more than once, and it always comes out just right. Serve it with some bread or a fresh salad, and you've got a complete meal.
What do You Need?
The exact amounts are listed further down in the recipe card.
- Eggs: Boiled until just set, easy to prepare ahead.
- Spinach: Fresh or frozen (well drained). Swiss chard or lamb's lettuce also work.
- Butter: For the spinach and the roux in the sauce.
- Flour: To make the roux base.
- Milk: Cold, for a lump-free sauce.
- Gruyère cheese: Melts beautifully and gives the sauce its flavor; Emmentaler or Gouda also work.
- Sour cream: For creaminess in the Mornay sauce. It can be swapped with crème fraîche.
- Salt and pepper: To balance the flavors.
How to Prepare?
The full step-by-step instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Blanch the spinach briefly, then cook it with butter until soft.
- Prepare the Mornay sauce with butter, flour, milk, sour cream, and Gruyère.
- Place spinach in a baking dish, top with boiled eggs, and cover with the sauce.
- Sprinkle with more cheese and place under the grill until golden brown.
Top Tips: Easy Eggs Florentine Recipe
- Cook the eggs up to two days ahead, peel, and store in the fridge.
- Wash fresh spinach in cold salted water to remove sand and bugs easily.
- Or use frozen spinach to save money-drain it well to avoid watery sauce.
- Always add cold milk to the hot roux for a smooth sauce.
- Grate the cheese yourself; it melts better than pre-grated.
- Check the dish under the grill often so the cheese browns, not burns.
- Make extra Mornay sauce and use leftovers for lasagna or Croque Madame.
Did you make this delicious recipe? Tag #byandreajanssen via Instagram! I love to see what your creation looks like and regularly share the most beautiful photos of you! Did you like this recipe? Then leave a rating on the recipe card! Your feedback helps other home cooks and me enormously.
Need more inspiration?
- You can find video recipes on my YouTube channel.
- And don't forget to save the recipes on Pinterest, so you can easily find them again next time!
📖 Recipe
RECIPE CARD
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ pound fresh spinach, washed (or frozen, well drained)
- ½ stick butter, unsalted
- 6 eggs, hard-boiled and peeled
- 2 ounces Gruyère cheese, grated
Mornay sauce
- 1 ounce butter, unsalted, 2 tablespoons
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk, cold
- salt and pepper
- 1 egg yolk
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- 1 ounce Gruyère cheese, grated
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
Instructions
Prepare the spinach
- Bring a large pan of water with salt to a boil.1 teaspoon salt
- Add the spinach and blanch quickly, then drain well.
- Melt the butter in a skillet and cook the spinach until wilted.½ pound fresh spinach, ½ stick butter
Make the Mornay sauce
- Melt the butter in a saucepan without browning.1 ounce butter
- Stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes to remove the raw flavor.2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Slowly whisk in the cold milk and bring to a gentle boil until thickened.1 cup milk
- In a small bowl, mix the egg yolk and sour cream. Add to the sauce and cook for 1 minute.1 egg yolk, ⅓ cup sour cream
- Remove from heat, stir in Gruyère, and season with salt and pepper.salt and pepper, 1 ounce Gruyère cheese
Assemble the dish
- Preheat the grill.
- Spread the spinach in an oven dish and season lightly.
- Place the eggs on top and cover with the Mornay sauce.6 eggs
- Sprinkle with grated Gruyère and place under the grill for 10 minutes, until golden brown.2 ounces Gruyère cheese
Notes
- Replace spinach with smoked salmon for a non-vegetarian twist.
- Add toasted breadcrumbs on top before grilling for extra crunch.
5. Storage
- Egg Florentine: Best served fresh.
- Mornay sauce: Store in the fridge for 2 days. Use for sandwiches, lasagna, or Croque Madame.
- Do not reheat: Spinach should not be reheated after cooking.
Nutrition
Kay says
I love everything about this recipe. Cheese, eggs and spinach are 3 of my favourite ingredients, so to have them all in one dish is my idea of heaven!!
Alexandra says
I would be happy to enjoy this any time of day - delicious!
Sarah James says
What a delicious brunch recipe and I love how you can make the separate ingredients ahead.
Sue says
This is an irresistible combination of flavors - it was a big hit!
Emily Flint says
Anything with gruyere cheese and eggs is a winner in my house, these florentine eggs were delicious!
Taleen | Just As Tasty says
I love Florentine eggs! This looks so creamy and delicious. Thanks for the recipe!
Andréa says
I love al three to. It's such a delicious recipe.
Andréa says
I love al three too. It's such a delicious recipe.
Andréa says
I agree, why only eat it for breakfast or brunch?
Andréa says
Indeed, I love recipes which are easy to prepare and can be made in advance.
Andréa says
Thank you. We loved it to!
Andréa says
Yes Gruyere is so delicious. Thank you!
Andréa says
You're welcome! Thank you.
Chef Dennis says
We are definitely going to have this Florentine eggs with spinach for lunch! Looks sooo delish!