Baked Spinach (Florentine)

Ingredients

• 4 cupsSpinach, chopped (not boiled)
• 1/2 cupTomatoes, chopped
• 1 cupSweet corn
• 1/2 cupOnion, chopped
• 1 tspGarlic paste
• 1/2 tspSalt
• to tastePepper
• 2 tbspTomato puree
• 2 tspTomato ketchup
• 1/2 tspCapsico sauce
• 1/2 tspChilli paste
• 1 tspWorcestershire sauce
• 1/2 cupGrated cheese
• 1/2 tspParsley
• 3 cupsWhite béchamel sauce (see recipe)
• 1 tbspOil
• 1 tspMixed herbs

Method

1. 1

   Heat oil in a pan. Cook chopped onion with garlic paste till translucent.

2. 2

   Add spinach and sweet corn. Cook on a high flame till the water evaporates — important so the bake doesn't go soggy.

3. 3

   Stir in chopped tomatoes, chilli paste, ketchup, capsico, Worcestershire, salt and pepper. Cook 2 minutes.

4. 4

   Off the heat, fold in 1 cup white sauce.

5. 5

   In a baking tray, spread half the spinach mixture. Pour half the remaining white sauce on top. Sprinkle some cheese.

6. 6

   Layer the second half of spinach, then white sauce, then a generous layer of cheese. Top with parsley and mixed herbs.

7. 7

   Bake at 200°C for 15 minutes until the top blisters and the cheese browns.