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Spanakorizo
Lemony spinach and rice with dill and spring onions (σπανακόρυζο)
Spanakorizo is a spring dish from Greek home kitchens, made when the markets fill with spinach and fresh dill. Rice is cooked right in the pot with wilted spinach, spring onions and olive oil until it is soft and a little loose, then squeezed with lemon. It isn't meant to be fluffy like a pilaf: Greek cooks like it moist, almost creamy. It is a full meal with a slab of feta and bread, or a side to fried eggs for those who eat them. Chef's tip: take it off the heat while it still looks a bit wet and let it rest covered for 5 minutes; cooking it until dry is the usual mistake and the rice turns stodgy as it cools.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Warm ¼ cup olive oil in a wide pot over a medium heat. Cook 1 onion and 6 spring onions for 5 minutes, until soft. Add 2 cloves garlic and 1 tbsp tomato paste and stir for 1 minute.
6 minStep 2: Add 1 ⅔ lb spinach a handful at a time, stirring until each batch wilts. Cook for 3–4 minutes, until it is dark green and has released its liquid.
4 minStep 3: Stir in 7 oz medium-grain rice, 2 ½ cups hot water, 1 ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper. Bring to the boil, then cover and simmer over a low heat for 15–18 minutes, stirring once, until the rice is tender and there is still a little liquid around it.
17 minStep 4: Off the heat stir in ⅔ oz dill and 1 lemon. Cover and rest for 5 minutes. Serve with extra olive oil and lemon.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 350 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 47 g
- Fat
- 15 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does spanakorizo take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of spring onions?
- Chives, or a little finely sliced onion.
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