I'm using this recipe ever since I started cooking, and it's been in our family ever since I remember. It's so inexpensive and simple to prepare, that it would be pity not to try it! :)
I have to say it looks so much like the famous Greek vegetarian dish Spanakorizo (meaning "spinach rice"), but it tastes so much different as their common ingredients are spinach and rice only. The Greek one is far more spiced, while this Must Be Good version relies on the condiments, rather than on spices. The fact that it is almost spiceless makes it very suitable for kids, even babies, and with a few changes adults will love it too.
Note that there are two options for preparing this dish: the fast version on the stove top or the slow one in the oven. You can choose according to your needs and preferences.
So, these are the ingredients you'll need to make 4 servings of this dish:
- 500 g fresh spinach
- 250 g raw round-grain rice
- 3-4 tablespoons oil
- to taste salt and pepper
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1 l boiling water
- 1-2 garlic cloves (optional)
- 4 eggs (optional)
- sour cream or yogurt
Directions:
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You can also slow cook this dish in the oven. Once you add the water and it starts boiling again, put the pan on the lowest rack into a preheated oven at 220°C and let it cook until rice is soft and tender. When it's almost done, crack the eggs on top, sprinkle them with some salt and bake for a few more minutes. I personally don't like eggs prepared this way, so I skip this step and almost always choose the stovetop way.
Serve warm, with some bread, if desired.
I would suggest that you mix in some sour cream or yogurt right before serving, which will give an extra freshness and a really special flavor to this dish. Fresh green onions are an excellent accompaniment.
This is how Spinach&Rice looks like with the yogurt added:
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Enjoy and bon appétit!