Easy Greek Spinach and Rice Dish (Spanakorizo)
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
A one-pot, comforting vegetarian main dish that you can also serve as a side dish, next to a favorite protein
Author:
Recipe type: Vegetarian Main
Cuisine: Greek dish
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 medium red or yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 small leek, white and light green part only, chopped (optional)
  • 3 scallions, trimmed and chopped
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • 14-16 oz. fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
  • 1 cup medium grain rice
  • 1 tsp. sea salt
  • ¼ tsp. freshly ground pepper
  • 4+ cups water (or vegetable stock)*
  • ¼ cup fresh dill, minced
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, minced
  • Juice of one lemon (about 3-4 TBSPS.)
Instructions
  1. Heat ¼ cup of the olive oil in a large pot. Add the onions, leeks (if using) and scallions and sauté them over medium heat for about 8-10 minutes or until they are soft.
  2. Stir in the rice and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until it is well-coated with olive oil. Next, add the spinach in batches and stir often to cook down.
  3. To the pot, add 4 cups of hot water (or vegetable stock) and season with salt and pepper. Cook over low heat, partially covered, until the rice is tender but fully cooked, about 20 minutes.
  4. About five minutes before it is done, stir in the fresh dill and parsley. Check the consistency and add some more hot water if necessary. The finished dish should not be dry, but rather slightly brothy.
  5. Stir in the lemon juice and remove from the heat. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Drizzle with the remaining ¼ cup of olive oil and let it sit, covered with a clean kitchen towel, for about two to three minutes. At that point the rice will have absorbed most of the liquid in the pot.
  6. Serve it warm or at room temperature with some hearty bread, Greek Feta cheese, or, Greek yogurt on the side.
Notes
- If you do not have a leek or scallions, just add a larger onion.
- If you do not have stock, water is just fine to use.
(*) The amount of liquid you will need for this dish depends on the size of your pot and the heat (a larger pot allows for more evaporation). Always have some hot liquid ready to add if it gets too dry. The longer the rice sits in the pot, the more liquid it will absorb. If you need to loosen it up, stir in a little more hot water.
Recipe by Marilena's Kitchen at https://marilenaskitchen.com/easy-greek-spinach-and-rice-dish-spanakorizo/