Spinach with rice EN

 

Spinach with rice and not rice with spinach because spinach is the protagonist.

It is a typical Greek dish and can be cooked with tomato (we call it red) or without tomato (white).

In Greek cuisine there are many vegan dishes because during Lent, before Christmas, every Friday and other days of the year, Greeks do not eat any product of animal origin, meat, eggs, milk, cheese etc.

In our house we try to eat red meat only once a week so I take advantage of the Greek vegan cookbook every day.

My mom used to cook this dish with tomato, but lately I've discovered that we like the white version better.

I am cooking it as a risotto which is not the traditional way.



Ingredients for 4 people:



600 grams of spinach

1/2 cup olive oil (1 cup = 240ml)

2 garlic cloves finely chopped

1 large onion finely chopped

3-4 green onions  finely chopped

1 1/4 cup Arborio rice

3/4 cup white wine

1lt more or less of hot vegetable broth

Zest of 2 lemons

Juice of 1 or 2 lemons depending on your taste

1/2 cup of chopped dill

Salt and pepper





In a large pan slowly fry the garlic with half of the oil continue with the onion and the white part of the green onions.

When they are almost transparent, add the rice to the pot and give it a stir. Then pour in the wine and wait for the alcohol to evaporate. Continue with the broth incorporating it little by little and stirring the rice. Every time the rice runs out of liquid add a little of broth.

 Arborio rice needs 15-18' on medium heat to be cooked

When there are almost 10' left  to finish cooking add the spinach and raise the heat a little. Continue cooking in the pot as before (adding broth when it is almost dry and stirring)

2 minutes before finishing cooking, add the dill.

When the rice is cooked, add the zest of the lemons, the lemon juice and the rest of the oil.

Let it rest for a few minutes and place it on a wide plate with lots of chopped dill and  green of the green onions chopped.

You can add some shredded feta on the top but not too much because it "covers" any other ingredient.

Enjoy!!