This easy spinach rice recipe spanakorizo is about to be the only way you make this Greek rice recipe. It is simple, quick, healthy and delicious. This homemade spinach rice uses a handful of ingredients and a quick way to make your white rice utterly delicious.
You can serve it with everything and anything, it is a perfect side dish and a great option for a quick weeknight dinner for when time is of the essence.
Spinach Rice Recipe (Spanakorizo)
My version of spinach rice is a little bit different from the classic recipe because I didn’t cook the rice from raw, I used leftover cooked rice. I love the original version and make it once in a while, but today’s recipe is the way I use up leftover white rice and baby spinach lying in my fridge waiting to be used. I also find my easy version healthier than the other way, the spinach stays green, retain most of its nutrients and requires less cooking.
By the way, the traditional spinach rice is also known as spanakorizo which means a dish of spinach and rice. I love the versatility of this recipe and for some reason, when I make this rice dish, I mostly pair it Piri Piri chicken (recipe coming soon). What can I say, the family loves it, just like they love me making this pressure cooker rice and chicken. This was our Easter Sunday rice.
This is the only rice side dish to serve with anything
Spinach rice is so versatile especially when cooked this way that you can serve it with chicken, fish, meat or on its own. You can also bulk this recipe as a main dish by adding some shredded chicken, roasted vegetables or flaked salmon.
I make this rice part of our Meatless Monday meal as we are big rice eaters in my home especially me, I could eat rice 5 times a week. Yeah, I know what you are thinking. I can’t help it. Right, this is supposed to be a quick post, let me show you quickly how I make my easy spinach rice (Spanakorizo) with this step by step guide and instruction on how to make it with raw rice.
Ingredients
Cooked basmati rice: I mostly eat and cook basmati, but you can use any other types of rice you want. I recommend using easy cook rice or white rice as it cooks a lot faster than brown rice and that the way you are able still enjoy all the nutrients from the spinach.
Baby spinach: you can use any type of spinach for this recipe.
Onion
Olive oil: sub for any flavourless cooking oil including coconut oil and ghee.
Chicken bouillon powder: substitute with vegetable powder to make this recipe complete vegan or vegetarian.
Salt and pepper
Garlic powder
Dried dill: sub with fresh one or leave it out if not available
Lemon juice
How to make easy spinach rice (Spanakorizo)
Here’s how to make the best and easiest spanakorizo that turns out perfect and fresh at all times.
Place a pan on medium heat, add olive oil and heat until hot. Add chopped onions to the hot oil and saute until soft, fragrant and translucent.
Add chopped spinach and stir until it wilts, season with salt, dill (if using) black pepper, garlic granules and chicken bouillon powder.
Add cooked rice and stir together until well combined. Finish the dish off with a squeeze of lemon juice. Take it off the heat, serve and enjoy.
Spinach rice with raw basmati rice
Sauté the onions on medium heat until soft and translucent and spinach then continue to cook until wilted.
add washed basmati rice and stir to combine, followed by dill, garlic granules, pepper and salt then stir to combine.
Pour chicken stock over the rice and stir to combine. Cover the pan with its lid and simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is cooked and fluffy. Take it off the heat and serve as desired.
How to store this recipe
This easy side dish rice stores well in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months. Make sure the rice cools down completely before storing.
To reheat: you can reheat in a microwave or the stove top.
Other easy recipes you would love
Instant pot Mexican rice
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Easy Spinach Rice Recipe (Spanakorizo)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked basmati rice
- 3 cup baby spinach
- 1 small onion chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil: sub for any flavourless cooking oil including coconut oil butter or ghee.
- 2 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder: substitute with vegetable powder to make this recipe complete vegan or vegetarian.
- Salt and pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic granules
- 2 teaspoons dried dill: sub with fresh one or leave it out if not available
- Juice of ½ a Lemon
Instructions
- Here’s how to make the best and easiest spinach rice that turns out perfect and fresh at all times.
- Place a pan on medium heat, add olive oil and heat until hot. Add chopped onions to the hot oil and saute until soft, fragrant and translucent.
- Add chopped spinach and stir until it wilts down, season with salt, dill (if using) black pepper, garlic granules and chicken bouillon powder.
- Add cooked rice and stir together until well combined. Finish the dish off with a squeeze of lemon juice. Take it off the heat, serve and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.
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Traci says
I'm always looking to add spinach into meals and this is by far my favorite spinach rice. I cooked my brown rice in an instapot (first time ever) and it came out amazing. I also used frozen spinach. I'm not sure I want to share with my kids who are begging for it!
Lumaie says
I am 3 weeks out from major surgery. Hubby is doing a lot of grilling but I wanted to make a quick rice side. Google pulled this spinach rice up first. I am so glad. We truly enjoyed this tasty yet, quickly prepared dish. Thank you for sharing. Oh. I cannot eat lemon. The rice was delicious without it..
Ajoke says
Hi Lumaie, I am glad you and your husband enjoyed this dish and more importantly that it was quick for you to prepare. Please take care of yourself and Godspeed!
Mary Lew says
This was very goo. . I picked some old spinach and that means it is tougher than I would normally use in a salad,. I looked for creative ways to use it in a cooked dish. This was delicious. I used already cooked rice, so it was fast to make. Thanks.
Ajoke says
Thank you so much, Mary, I am glad you enjoyed the recipe
Erin Gustafson says
Great use of leftover basmati rice! Fresh and tasty side for our crusted fish dinner. And so easy - definitely putting in regular rotation.
Lucile says
This was so good!! super simple but extremely tasty. I'm just getting into cooking and feel like this is going to be a life-time staple. Can't wait to try your other recipes 🙂
Cindy says
What are garlic granules? If using fresh garlic and sautéed with onions, how much would you recommend?
Ajoke says
garlic granules are the coarser versions of garlic powder. You can use as much garlic as you can tolerate, I'd suggest 2 garlic cloves and 1/2 cup chopped onions.
Nicole says
Thanks for sharing the recipe. I was actually searching for a white rice with garlic and spinach recipe I used to make when I stumbled upon this one. I only had white rice and planned to make double the amount but didn’t double anything other than the rice. It’s a good recipe so next time I will double everything and remember to grab some basmati at the grocery store.