Spanakorizo is the ultimate healthy meal while still being packed with flavor! One of our favorite recipes, we’re confident it will become a staple in your house too!
There are many ways to make Spanakorizo. Our version includes lots of olive oil and garlic. We love that this is a one pot dish that can be used as a side or a main dish. If you decide to use it as a side dish, you can get up to eight servings. We like to serve it with crusty bread and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. If you end up with any leftovers, this dish tastes even better the next day!
HOW TO MAKE SPANAKORIZO
1. Prepare the spinach and onion.
2. Heat the olive oil, and sauté the onion for 2-3 minutes
3. Add the spinach and cook until it is wilted, about 5 minutes.
4. Add the tomato paste and water mixture, salt and pepper. Cover and cook
for 30 minutes over medium heat. Stir periodically.
5. Add the rice to the spinach mixture and stir well. Add additional water as
needed, to allow the rice to cook. Cover and cook for another 15-20 minutes
until the rice is cooked. Stir periodically. Add additional water as needed.
6. Once cooking is complete, allow the Spanakorizo to sit for 10 minutes before
serving.
CAN I USE FROZEN SPINACH TO MAKE MY SPANAKORIZO?
Frozen spinach can be used to make the Spanakorizo, but we prefer to use fresh spinach since it adds better flavor.
CAN I SUBSTITUTE BROWN RICE?
Brown rice takes longer to cook, but can absolutely be used instead of white rice.
WHY SO MUCH OLIVE OIL?
Very simple, it adds lots of flavor and it’s amazing to sop up with crusty bread!
Spanakorizo – Greek Rice and Spinach Recipe
Spanakorizo - Greek Rice and Spinach
Ingredients
- 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 onion medium sized
- 3 cloves garlic finely minced
- 2 pounds fresh baby spinach stems removed
- 4 tbsp tomato paste in 2 cups of water
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup white rice
- 1 lemon wedge optional for serving
- water as needed
Instructions
- In a pot, heat the extra virgin olive oil and sauté the onion for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the spinach to olive oil and onion mixture and cook down the spinach until it is wilted, about 5 minutes.
- Add the tomato paste and water mixture, salt and pepper. Stir to incorporate all ingredients. Cover the pot and cook for 30 minutes over medium heat. Stir periodically to ensure the spinach mixture is not sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Add the rice to the spinach mixture and stir well. At this point, add additional water as needed, to allow the rice to cook. Cover the pot and cook for another 15-20 minutes until the rice is cooked. Stir periodically to ensure the spinach and rice mixture is not sticking to the bottom of the pot and if needed, add additional water.
- Once cooking is complete, allow the Spanakorizo to sit for 10 minutes before serving.
- Serve with crusty bread and lemon wedges.
A wonderful mix of flavors! Great recipe!