Spanakorizo - Greek Spinach and Rice, a lovely and simple side dish.
I have gotten better at making the main dish for our dinner - it is the sides that I just don't quite get done often enough. Usually I just cut up some cucumbers and wash off the grapes and call it a meal. But now that it is getting colder out my family wants more "real" sides and so I am going to have to start planning them also. I love side dishes and often that is all I eat at holidays and carry-ins. I just don't particularly like to cook them.
My goal for this month is to cook more side dishes that GO with our meals. If you struggle with the sides, why don't you join me? Side dishes are a great way to get creative. You don't have quite as much invested in them as you do your main course
That is why I decided to make the Greek Spinach and Rice. I found the recipe in an old cookbook I own - Lean and Luscious and Meatless. The recipe makes a nice side dish, or a simple lunch. I changed it some because, well isn't that what you are supposed to do?
Greek Spinach and Rice
2 tsp olive oil (I used a 2 TBS - I am not afraid of good fat)1 cup chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 - 10oz package of frozen, chopped spinach, thawed and drained (I used 6 frozen spinach cubes)
2 TBS grated Parmesan cheese (I used about 4)
2 cups cooked brown rice (all I had was white rice but next time I will use brown.)
1TBS lemon juice (I added this because all the recipes for this I have seen online have a little lemon in it)
Salt and pepper
Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and cook until tender (5 min or so). Add remaining ingredients and heat through, stirring. Serve hot.
This was really good. My picky eaters even liked it. If I was going to serve this to adults I think I would add some mushrooms.
This is my link up for the Hearth and Soul Hop - be sure to join us!!
Linked to My Sweet And Savory's :My Meatless Monday
Brenda's Canadian Kitchen's Cookbook Sunday
Midnight Maniac's Meatless Monday
I really, really like the sound of this, Christy. I'm not a huge spinach fan and am always looking for recipes where it is a main ingredient, but also shares the spotlight a bit. This is perfect, and I think I could convince my son to eat it as well as it has rice in it! I'm really looking forward to trying it. Thanks for sharing your recipe :)
ReplyDeleteApril - I hope your son likes it - it is a wonderfully easy and tastes good too!
ReplyDeleteI love this spinach and rice.. yours looks perfect..
ReplyDeleteI love this dish, and ate lots of this when I went to Greece earlier this year. Great side dish - I wouldn't need any "main" to go with this though, I could make a meal of just this :-)
ReplyDeleteI have always wanted to make this but for some reason, it has never happened. Hope, you are the impetus to get me moving. I know I would like it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking it to MMM.
Sounds great, another delicious side dish to serve, thanks.
ReplyDeleteMmmmmm, that spinach and rice dish sounds great!!!!
ReplyDeleteChristy, I've been making Greek food for the past couple of weeks so you've posted this at a perfect time. I would love this without a doubt. I have trouble with side dishes too! Thank you so much for linking up to Cookbook Sundays!
ReplyDeleteMmm.... this sounds good! I'm going to have to try this soon! Probably with a bit of feta cheese sprinkled over the top.
ReplyDeleteSpinach is one of those ingredients that I enjoy a little more each year! I still have spinach in my garden, so I am going to try adapting it to the recipe - I can't wait to try it!
ReplyDeleteI like this. I have not had spinach for a while as the children do not really enjoy it, maybe this recipe could solve my problem.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really good! Hubby and I have really cut back on eating meat, and we try to have several meatless meals every week. This will be a good one to try!
ReplyDeleteLooks yummy. I have seen spanakopita prepared with rice like this, except w/feta instead of parm... this looks like an easy and delicious way to "cheat" when I am hankering for some.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the idea!
Amritha - it really is good.
ReplyDeleteSue - I certainly think this makes a great light meal, my family considers it a side ;o)
Chaya - oh, do try it I think you will like it!
Melynda - we like it as a side to either pork chops or chicken - yum!
Jolene - we think it is a keeper!
Brenda - yum - several weeks of Greek food?! You will love adding this to the list!
LyndaB - oh, some feta would be perfect!!
Alea - lucky you! I wish I had some fresh from the garden spinach for this!
Arnold - I would give it a try - my kids liked it!
Scrambledhen - this is a great meatless meal!
Heather - feta would be a great addition or substitution to the parmesan!
I've heard of spanakopita before but never this recipe. What a great way to incorporate those same flavors but without having to go out and buy puff pastry.
ReplyDeleteOh boy, I hardly ever made side dishes anymore. It's either one pot, or hunk o' meat and some sliced raw veg. So much work to make sides! When I think of the spreads that my gran used to put out - main dish, a few sides, homemade rolls, pickles, fresh cut garden veg, I wonder how she did it! But your recipe looks so tempting. This is a great addition to the Hearth and Soul hop.
ReplyDeleteLisa - I think this is a lot like your dish just without the crust!
ReplyDeleteButter - my mom always had a bunch of sides and still does when we have a big meal. It is my favorite way to eat. But I am with you - one pots or a slab of meat is so much easier! But I find my kids don't know how good the sides can be! Poor poor kids!
Yum. This would be a great side for a greek dinner or any dinner for that matter!
ReplyDeleteChristy, this looks so good. I'm bookmarking to use for an upcoming potluck.
ReplyDeleteCook of the House :you are right, I think this is a great all around side dish that would go with lots of things!
ReplyDeleteLouanne- oh this would be a great potluck dish!!
Sometimes I want to just eat big dishes of food just like this as a main meal...it sounds so delicious and healthy! Gorgeous, Christy! So glad you shared this one with the hearth and soul hop today :)
ReplyDeleteHey Christie baby! As a Greek girl all i can say is YUM! This absolutely was one of my favorite side dishes as a child. If my mother made creamed spinach and rice even, i would mix them together!
ReplyDeleteMy brother, who is in the process of developing a cooking program for new college graduates and helping them set up their kitchens suggests cooking some rice, beans, pasta, wheatberries or potatoes and storing them unseasoned by anything other than salt and pepper in the fridge. Then the day of, take them out and mix in some spices or other veggies to make them unique to the meal. I did it with my confetti rice and was happy to come up with about 6 different ways of using it! Big hugs and thanks as always for hosting and posting on the hearth and soul hop. Alex@amoderatelife
Come on over, after tomorrow at 5 and see who is in the spotlight or what dish is?
ReplyDeleteoh good grief this looks WONDERFUL!!! Funny that it uses parmesan instead of mizithra or feta. Sounds good to me, any way!
ReplyDelete