The Mysterious Origin Of Ruth's Chris' Creamed Spinach Recipe

When you're in need of a reliable meal, you can't help but turn to trustworthy names because you know you won't be disappointed by what you order. A reliable option to opt for is Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, an American institution that has been around since the 1960s. According to the company's website, Founder Ruth Fertel was a trailblazer who didn't hesitate to go against societal stereotypes in her quest to start her business.

She ended up mortgaging her home to make her dream a reality and opened her first steakhouse in New Orleans. She even faced many obstacles along the way such as dealing with a devastating fire in the 1970s. The bright side was that Fertel remained undeterred and decided to rebuild from there, helping her brand grow by leaps and bounds. To this day, the restaurant offers several dishes including steaks, seafood, and side dishes such as mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, broccoli, and more. Guess what? The restaurant's creamed spinach has an interesting story. Here's what you need to know.

While Ruth's Chris Steak House's creamed spinach is a fan favorite, not many know about how it was created and added to the menu. Founder Ruth Fertel's son Randy Fertel once revealed the actual inspiration behind the dish. He told Off Beat Magazine that the recipe has been with the family for a long time. He said that it took him some time to figure out its inception. 

It was only when he was talking to a cousin and spoke at length about the creamed spinach at Ruth's Chris, his cousin informed him that their great-uncle was the one who came up with it in the first place.

"We were driving along to see another cousin and I said something about how everybody loves the creamed spinach at Ruth's Chris, and she said, 'You know that's Uncle Martin's creamed spinach.'" he explained. "I said, 'It is?' And she said, 'Yes, when I was growing up, my mother would give me that if I was sick.'"

He further added, "I love the fact that this is an old family recipe. Great Uncle Martin was probably born in 1890, two generations back." The recipe is still going strong after all these years and remains a crowd favorite at the famous steakhouse. The creamed spinach is highly recommended by fans on Reddit, who also mention that it's keto-friendly and simply delicious.