Greek Spinach and Rice (Spanakorizo)

Hey friends,

Greek Spinach and Rice, otherwise known as Spanakorizo, is the ultimate comfort food. I mean, seriously, it doesn’t get more Greek than this! It’s one of those humble, everyday dishes that brings together simple ingredients most deliciously.  Packed with leafy spinach, generously poured olive oil (because let’s be honest, Greeks don’t do “just a touch”), fresh lemon, and herbs.  Spanakorizo is everything you want in a nourishing dish.

Isn’t that funny? I’ve been sitting here trying to think of a story to tell about this dish, but nothing’s coming to mind. I honestly can’t remember the first time I ate spinach—let alone Spanakorizo! Isn’t the human mind fascinating? I can clearly remember the Chinese restaurant we used to go to when I was a kid, the decor, the flavors, even the exact egg rolls I’d order… but when it comes to spinach? Nothing; now that’s scary.

This Greek Spinach and Rice dish is also incredibly versatile. Spanakorizo is the kind of recipe you turn to when you want something nourishing but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. Just a bit of chopping, dicing, and the best part it’s a one pot, and you’re basically done. The spinach wilts down into the rice, the olive oil gives it that richness, along with the herbs, and the lemon welllll the lemon just brightens everything up.  As the rice cooks, the spinach melts, creating a tender, almost let’s say creamy texture.

I can’t emphasize enough when I say to use of high-quality olive oil when making Greek recipes.  Using high-quality olive oil is the key.  Olive oil is not just an ingredient; it’s the base of the dish. In Greek cuisine, olive oil isn’t just used for sautéing or drizzling—it’s the heart and soul of the recipe. From stews and vegetables to salads and one-pot meals like Spanakorizo, it adds depth and richness with that Mediterranean flavor. Trust me, it makes all the difference.

You can enjoy this Greek Spinach and Rice (Spanakorizo) straight off the stove, with crumbled feta (that’s how I like to eat it), or serve it at room temperature with a big squeeze of lemon. I love to squeeze plenty of lemon juice onto my spanakotizo. In Greece, this is also a main dish for lunch or dinner. And honestly? It’s even better the next day.  The last time I shared a Spanakorizo recipe a few years back, I went for the tomato paste’s deeper flavor. But this time, I decided to switch things up and keep it classic, bright, and zesty.  There is no tomato in sight.

Have a wonderful morning/afternoon/evening, everyone!

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Greek Spinach and Rice (Spanakorizo)

foodzesty

Greek Spinach and Rice, known as Spanakorizo, is the ultimate comfort food. Fresh spinach combined with arborio rice, fresh herbs makes this a healthy dish for lunch and or dinner.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Lunch, Main Course

Cuisine Greek

Servings 4 servings

Equipment

• 1 Sauté pot
• 1 wooden spoon
• 1 mincing knife to finely cut the herbs

Ingredients

  

• 2 ½ cups fresh spinach washed and drained chopped
• 1 red onion large - chopped
• ½ cup olive oil
• 1 leek washed and chopped
• 5 spring onions chopped
• 1 cup arborio rice
• 1 lemon juice
• 5 tbsp fresh dill finely chopped
• 4 tbsp fresh parsley finely chopped
• salt
• pepper
• ¾ cup water

Instructions

 

• Add the olive oil to a large pot and warm it over medium heat. Toss in the chopped red onion, leek and sauté.
• Next, add the fresh onions and toss everything together until well combined. Let them cook for another 2–3 minutes, just enough to soften slightly.
• Next, add the spinach to the pot and gently toss all the ingredients together, along with the fresh chopped parsley and dill.
• Toss in the rice, season with salt and pepper.
• Pour in the water and let it simmer for about 25 minutes, until the rice is soft. Add additional warm water if necessary.
• Pour in the lemon juice, cover the pot with a clean, dry kitchen towel, and let it sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Keyword Easy, Greek Cooking, healthy, spinach, Vegetables

KALI SAS OREXI!! 🙂