Flounder Florentine

To create this comforting yet delicate flounder Florentine, we layer the fish fillets with spinach and a rich cream sauce infused with the warm and subtle flavors of nutmeg. The dish is topped with grated Parmesan cheese and paprika to impart smoky notes. Preparing this recipe takes less than 20 minutes, then the oven does the rest. Serve it with sauteed spinach and roasted potatoes to make it a complete meal. 

Flounder Florentine Ingredients

• Spinach: For convenience, we rely on frozen spinach, thawed, drained and chopped, but you can use fresh greens here too. 
• Flounder fillets: We use flounder in this dish because it’s a mild fish that effortlessly absorbs the cream sauce and spices in the recipe.
• Cream sauce: To create the sauce, we saute onions with butter, flour, salt, pepper, nutmeg and milk, and cook it all together until it thickens slightly.
• Parmesan: We grate Parmesan cheese on top of the flounder Florentine to give it a savory, cheesy flavor. 
• Paprika: To infuse smoky notes into the dish, sprinkle paprika on top before baking. 

Directions

Step 1: Prep the flounder fillets

Sprinkle the spinach into a 13×9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top the spinach with the flounder fillets.

Step 2: Make the cream sauce

In a large saucepan, saute the onions in butter until they’re tender. Stir in the flour, salt, pepper and nutmeg until blended. Gradually add the milk, then bring the mixture to a boil, and cook and stir for two minutes or until thickened.

Step 3: Assemble the dish, then bake

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Pour the cream sauce over the fillets, then sprinkle the Parmesan cheese and paprika over the dish. Bake the fish, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until it flakes easily with a fork.

Flounder Florentine Variations

• Pack it with veggies: While we layer spinach into this flounder Florentine, you can add more veggies. Try mixing in sauteed green peas, kale or broccoli. 
• Infuse the cream sauce: To give this flounder Florentine extra flavor, infuse the cream sauce with aromatics like garlic or leeks, or spices like saffron or thyme. 
• Use a different cheese: Instead of Parmesan cheese, top this flounder Florentine with cheddar for sharp and savory bites, or Boursin for garlic and herb bites. 

How to Store Flounder Florentine

First, let the flounder chill and come to room temperature, then store it in an airtight container. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for one to two days. 

Can you make flounder Florentine ahead of time?

You can prepare this flounder Florentine for meal prep. Follow the recipe, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for one to two days, then reheat it when you’re ready to eat.

Can you freeze this flounder Florentine recipe?

We don’t recommend freezing flounder Florentine because you may compromise the taste and texture of the fish and cream sauce when they’re thawed.

How long does flounder Florentine last?

If you have leftover flounder Florentine, you can store it in the fridge for one to two days.  

Flounder Florentine Tips

Can I use a different fish in this recipe for flounder Florentine?

While we recommend using flounder for this recipe, you can substitute it with another milk fish like cod, sea bass or haddock. Depending on the fish, you may need more or less time baking it, so monitor it to avoid overcooking.

Can I make a dairy-free version of flounder Florentine?

Once you know how to cook flounder Florentine with spinach, you can make it dairy-free, if you prefer. Just make a few simple swaps to the recipe. Substitute the cream for canned coconut milk, and nix the Parmesan and butter for vegan alternatives. 

What can I serve alongside flounder Florentine?

Plate this flounder Florentine with a hearty starch like angel hair pasta, risotto or roasted potatoes. Serve it with a delicious vegetable like garlicky spinach, sauteed green peas or roasted broccoli. You can also pair it with crusty, buttery bread to soak up all that delicious cream sauce.