Spinach Rice recipe…or in Greek …Spanakorizo

I am getting old…that is for certain. In couple of days I will be 30 years old and I already have my midlife crisis. The problem is that all the things that are happening in the past few days remind me that I am getting older… I cannot party as much as I did, I can’t go to training and play football, basketball or any sports as I did and I always forget about things…

For example I was sure that I had already written in this blog how to make spinach rice (Spanakorizo in Greek) but obviously…I didn’t.

The following Spinach rice recipe is a typical Greek recipe that my mother and most of the Greek homes I suppose are doing. It’s vegetarian and one that I started appreciating when I got older…as before the only foods that I liked were Meat related… The funny thing is that the recipe is one of the easiest ones that exist. The basic ingredients are dill, spinach and rice…

Last time I cooked it was in a Monday after a long drinking weekend at the Broads in Norfolk UK. I always try to cook something vegetarian after long sessions of drinking in order to convince myself that I am doing a healthy life…:$

 SPINACH RICE RECIPE –SPANAKORIZO

Ingredients

• About a kilo of fresh spinach trimmed washed and chopped. (You can have also frozen spinach if you like for easier)
• 1 big red onion and 2-3 fresh onions, diced.
• 1 bunch of fresh dill
• One cup of rice (for two people)
• 1 lemon
• Salt and pepper

Method

Step 1

In a large pot put a little bit of olive oil in medium heat. Add the onions and stir them until they become brownish Then add the spinach and continue to stir heavily for 5 minutes.

Step 2

The spinach will release some of its water but you need to continue to stir so it won’t get burned Add one cup of rice and then fill with water until it covers the ingredients. Add half of the lemon juice, salt pepper and half of the dill.

Step 3

Let it boil and cook for 20 minutes until you are sure that the rice is ready. When it’s ready add the other half of the dill, stir really good for one last time and remove from the heat. Let it “relax” for 10 minutes and …its ready to serve.

Some additional things:

Usually I like to add one vegetable cube as it adds a little bit to the flavour but it’s up to you.

What I do like a lot is to add feta cheese.  I have cut a big piece of feta cheese in small cubes and I add it to the pot after I have removed it from the heat, stirring it so the feta cheese goes everywhere.

According to some other recipes you can add tomato juice but I prefer to served it together with tomato and cucumber salad …and some octopus that I brought to UK from my last trip in Greece J