Spanakorizo - Greek Spinach Rice - The Mediterranean Dish

Greek spinach rice topped with feta and parsley in a pan

4.83 from 67 votes

Spanakorizo - Greek Spinach Rice

Spanakorizo (Greek Spinach Rice) is the comfort food of your dreams. It gives you all the cozy, feel-good vibes but is also loaded with nutrients from spinach, plus flavor from dried herbs and a splash of lemon juice. This easy Greek rice recipe can be enjoyed as a vegetarian main for 4 people or as a side with your favorite protein (up to 6 people).

Prep Time20

Cook Time40

Total Time1

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Greek

Servings: servings

Calories: 382.6kcal

Author: Suzy Karadsheh

Ingredients

1 cup medium grain rice
4 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 yellow onion chopped
1 pound baby spinach
1 lemon, juiced
Kosher salt and black pepper
2 cloves garlic minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 ½ teaspoon dried mint flakes
1 teaspoon dried dill weed
Feta for garnish

Instructions

Rinse the rice well a few times until the water runs clear. Put the rice in a bowl and add water to cover it by 1 inch. Let is sit to soak for 20 minutes or until you are easily able to break one grain of rice between your fingers.
Heat ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil in a braising pan. Add the onions and cook for 5 minutes, stirring regularly, until soft and golden brown. Add the spinach, lemon juice, garlic, tomato paste, and a big pinch of kosher salt and black pepper. Sautee the spinach until just wilted. Stir in the mint and dill weed.
Drain the rice well and add it to the pan. Add 1 ½ cups of warm water. Bring to a boil for 3 minutes until the water reduces a bit. Turn the heat to low and cover.
Let the rice cook undisturbed for 20 minutes or until the rice is tender and fully cooked through and all the liquid has been absorbed.
Once cooked, let the rice sit covered for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
When ready, fluff the rice with a fork and garnish for feta and parsley, if you like.

Notes

What kind of rice to use? As explained in the post, medium rice is best to give you the right creamy texture but without being too sticky. Brown rice takes longer to cook, so if you end up using brown rice here, you may overcook the spinach to a point that will affect the flavor.
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