6cupscooked white rice (arroz blanco per our recipe) the rice is measured cooked.
1½cupsminced spinachblanched, or frozen (thawed beforehand)
Fillingper suggestions above the recipe
2cupstomato sauce (our recipe) warm, leave unblended (chunky), and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Instructions
1. Making the cheese sauce
In a skillet heat the butter over low heat. Add the flour and stir vigorously until the two are well mixed and the flour has turned a bit more translucent.Add the milk and stir vigorously until it reaches a uniform consistency. Add ⅓ of the cheese and keep stirring until it becomes a thick cream.Remove from the heat and set aside.
2. Prepping
Grease the baking pan, and heat up the oven to 350 °F [175 ºC].
3. Layering
Mix half the rice with half the cheese sauce and the spinach. Mix the other half of the rice with the remaining cheese sauce.Layer the rice mixed with the white sauce on the pan. Press down. Cover with the meat and top with the rice with the spinach. Press down. Layer with the remaining cheese.
4. Baking
Bake until the top starts browning. Remove from the oven.