INGREDIENTS:

-300 g of cooked spinach
-150 g of white sauce
-100 g of cooked ham
-1 onion
-200 g of ricotta
-Mozzarella (approximately 16 strips)
-Empanada lids (approximately 16 units)
-1 egg to brush
-2 eggs hard
-Salt and pepper to taste
-Nutmeg (optional)

PREPARATION

1. In a frying pan, sauté finely chopped onion until translucent. Add the cooked and drained spinach, and cook for a few minutes so the flavors can blend. We remove from the heat.
2. In a separate bowl, mix the spinach with the white sauce and ricotta. If you wish, you can add a little grated nutmeg to enhance the flavors.
3. Add the cooked ham cut into small cubes and the chopped hard-boiled eggs. Mix all the ingredients well until you obtain a homogeneous mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
5. Take an empanada lid and place a generous tablespoon of the spinach mixture in the center. Add a strip of mozzarella on top.
6. Moisten the edges of the lid with water and fold it in half, pressing the edges with a fork to seal them well or doing the classic repulgue. Repeat this process with the rest of the lids and filling.
7. Place the empanadas on a previously greased baking tray or covered with baking paper.
8. In a separate bowl, beat the egg and brush the surface of the empanadas with it. This will give them a nice golden color when baked.
9. Place the empanadas in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
10. Remove the empanadas from the oven and let them cool slightly before serving. You can accompany them with a fresh salad or enjoy them alone.

Ready! Now you can delight yourself with these exquisite spinach empanadas. The combination of flavors and textures will make them a hit on any occasion, whether as an appetizer, main course or even to take on a picnic.

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TIPS AND ADVICE

Here are some tips and advice to prepare delicious spinach empanadas:

• Use fresh or frozen spinach : It is always preferable to use fresh spinach, but if you can’t find it, frozen spinach also works well. Just be sure to thaw and drain them completely before using them in the filling.
• Homemade white sauce:  Preparing homemade white sauce will give an exceptional flavor and texture to your spinach empanadas. You can make it by mixing melted butter, flour and hot milk until you get a thick and smooth sauce.
• Don’t overcrowd the empanadas:  It’s important not to put too much filling in each empanada, as it could make it difficult to seal and cause them to break during cooking. A generous spoonful of filling is enough for each empanada.
• Seal the empanadas well:  Make sure to seal the edges of the empanadas well by pressing with a fork or using the repulgue method of your choice. This will prevent the filling from leaking out during baking.
• Bake at the right temperature:  To get golden, crispy empanadas, it is important to preheat the oven to a suitable temperature, usually around 180-200°C (350-400°F). This will ensure that the dough cooks evenly and turns a nice golden color.
• Freeze the empanadas:  If you want to prepare spinach empanadas in quantity, you can freeze them before baking. Place them on a separate tray lined with baking paper, freeze them, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. This way, you can enjoy homemade empanadas at any time just by baking them directly from the freezer.
• Make sure you drain the filling well:  Spinach can contain a lot of water, so it’s important to drain it properly after cooking. This will prevent the filling from being too runny and soaking into the empanadas, which could cause them to become soft.