Spanakorizo: Greek Spinach and Rice
Spanakorizo is a traditional Greek dish made with rice and spinach, as well as Mediterranean herbs and flavors like dill, tarragon, lemon and spring onions.
It makes for a great, filling, vegan-friendly lunch and also serves as a fantastic holiday side dish. Spanakorizo pairs well with fish liked grilled sea bass, grilled or roasted meats, bread, or roasted veggetables.
A similar recipe with added tomatoes is also popular in Greek cuisine, which is sometimes called red spanakorizo. The tomato version has a heartier, more robust flavor compared to the more refreshing, lemony version without tomatoes.
Spanakorizo: Greek Spinach and Rice
Ingredients
- 600 gr spinach cleaned
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 leek chopped
- 1 cloves garlic thinly sliced
- 200 gr Arborio rice
- 1 liters water
- 1 vegetable stock cube
- 1 tbsp dried tarragon optional
- 1 lemon juiced
- 4 tbsp dill chopped
- 3 spring onions finely chopped
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
- Place a deep saucepan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the olive oil, onion, and leek. Mix with a wooden spoon and let it cook for 3 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for an additional 1 minute.
- Add the rice and sauté all the ingredients together until the rice becomes glossy.
- Add the water and stock, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 15-20 minutes. Stir every 2 minutes to prevent the rice from sticking to the pot. Add tarragon if desired.
- Place the spinach in a strainer and sprinkle it with a little salt. Allow it to release its liquid, pressing well with your hand to expel as much liquid as possible.
- Add the spinach to the pot with the rice, allowing it to steam for a while. The goal is not to let it wilt entirely but to keep it vibrant and rich in flavor.
- Add the lemon juice, taste with a spoon, and if necessary, adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the spring onion and dill, ensuring all the ingredients are well incorporated.
- Serve in deep dishes.
Notes
Related: Greek Spinach and Rice with Tomatoes
Related: Greek Cheese & Spinach Pie (Spanakotiropita)
Related: Oven-Baked Greek Giant Beans: Gigantes Plaki
Related: Papoutsakia (Greek Stuffed Eggplants)
Related: Fasolada (Greek Bean Soup)
