Spanakorizo (Greek Spinach Rice)

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I stole this recipe for Spanakorizo (Greek Spinach Rice) from olivascuisine.com. This spinach rice dish starts off by cooking onions, garlic and spinach in a large pot. Then uncooked rice and water is added to the same pot. The rice cooks in the water with the spinach, onions and garlic instead of adding the ingredients together after cooking. Greek style cooking for this rice dish allows all of the flavors to cook together to make the rice extra tasty.

Did you know? Spanakorizo is Greek for “spinach rice.” This is a pilaf dish that includes long-grain rice and fresh spinach along with dill, cumin, salt, black pepper, red wine vinegar, onion and olive oil and can be topped with feta cheese and lemon.³ (see more trivia in the Trivia tab)

In a large pot, over medium high heat, heat 2 tbsp olive oil and sauté 1 large chopped onion and 3 cloves minced garlic until translucent, about 2 minutes.

Add 5 oz fresh baby spinach roughly chopped, a little at a time,

cooking until it wilts.

Then add 2 cups long grain rice and season with 1 tbsp salt and 1 tsp pepper.

Add 3 cups water and lower heat to lowest setting.

Cook, covered, for 20 minutes or until all the water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let sit, untouched, for 5 minutes. Fluff with fork.

Drizzle with olive oil and serve.

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Spanakorizo (Greek Spinach Rice)

This rice dish starts off by cooking onions, garlic and spinach in a large pot. Then uncooked rice and water is added to the same pot. The rice cooks in the water with the spinach, onions and garlic instead of adding the ingredients together after cooking. Greek style cooking for this rice dish allows all of the flavors to cook together to make the rice extra tasty.

Course Rice, Side Dish
Cuisine Greek
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4 people
Author Recipe Thief

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large onion finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 5 oz baby spinach rinsed and roughly chopped
  • 2 cups long grain rice
  • 3 cups water
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. In a large pot, over medium high heat, heat the olive oil and sauté the onion and garlic until translucent, about 2 minutes.
  2. Add the spinach, a little at a time, cooking until it wilts. Then add the rice and season with salt and pepper.
  3. Add water, lower heat to lowest setting and cook, covered, for 20 minutes or until all the water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let sit, untouched, for 5 minutes. Fluff with fork.
  4. Drizzle with olive oil and garnish with lemon zest, feta cheese, dill and olives if desired.

Recipe Notes

After 20 minutes, the water was gone, but the rice was not cooked. I raised the heat to medium. I added another 3 cups water total (after adding 1 cup at a time then letting the water cook off before testing the rice and adding more water) and cooked for an additional 20 minutes.