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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Spanakorizo - Greek Spinach Rice

    Published: Jul 8, 2021 by Kate Hackworthy · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Jump to Recipe
    Dish of rice with text: Easy Greek Spinach Rice.
    Enamel dish of rice on a table, with text: How to make spanakorizo Greek Spinach Rice.
    Serving dish of rice with text: Greek Spinach Rice Spanakorizo

    Spanakorizo (Greek Spinach Rice) is an easy side dish or hearty main. Rice is cooked with fresh spinach, onion, dill, lemon and tomato to create a delicious pilaf that's a traditional recipe from Greece.

    Bowl of rice with spinach.

    Spanakorizo (Greek Spinach Rice) is a traditional dish from Greece.

    Enjoy it as a simple, rustic Mediterranean side dish or in the Greek way as a hearty main.

    In Spanakorizo, rice is cooked with spinach, onion, dill and a little tomato paste.

    It's an absolutely dreamy flavor combination that will invoke memories or dreams of the Greek islands.

    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love this recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Step by step tutorial
    • Greek recipes
    • Rice recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    This post was originally published on Sept 2 2020 and republished with new photos and video on July 8 2021.

    This homemade rice dish from scratch is full of big, bold flavors that all work together beautifully, so it won't overpower as a side dish.

    This spanakorizo recipe is super easy to whip up with just a few affordable ingredients and minimal prep. Plus, it comes together in just 30 minutes.

    Serve Greek spinach rice with Spanakopita, Halloumi Souvlaki, or Greek potato salad.

    I remember eating spinach rice while I traveled throughout Greece in my 20s. My best friend and I backpacked around the Greek Islands for four months and loved every minute of it.

    Many of my memories from that time are suddenly evoked by food.

    The mashed potatoes with TONNES of garlic, the cheeky glasses of Ouzo, and the endless, incredibly delicious plates of Greek salad with huge slabs of feta.

    Then there's the spinach rice. Absolutely dreamy.

    We adored how the simple ingredients created a complex flavor bomb. I mean, we LOVED it.

    We were pretty much addicted to this rustic Greek rice. And now I love cooking it at home for my family.

    And I hope that you will too.

    Why you'll love this recipe

    Ready in less than 30 minutes.

    A tasty Greek side dish or hearty main dish.

    Delicious warm or cold.

    Simple ingredients.

    A traditional Greek rice recipe.

    A great way to use up spinach.

    Spinach, onion, dill, rice, on a table.

    Ingredients

    Fresh spinach - this recipe has a whopping pound of fresh spinach. Popeye would be proud.

    Olive oil - go for extra virgin if you can. Or, to make it oil-free just leave out the oil and cook the onions in water.

    Onion - I use a yellow/brown onion, but you can use red.

    Dill - I prefer fresh, but dried dill works too.

    Long-grain rice - traditionally white long-grain rice, but you can use brown if you prefer.

    Tomato paste - (aka tomato puree), the kind in a tube or small can.

    Lemon juice - a classic Greek ingredient that makes this spinach rice really vibrant and delicious.

    Step by step tutorial

    Spanakorizo is really easy to make. Follow these step by step photos for perfect results, then scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredients list and method.

    Pot of cooked onions, and pot of cooked onions with spinach.

    Heat the oil, then add the onion and cook for about 7 minutes, until soft but not browned.

    Add the spinach and half the dill.

    Collage: Pan of onions and spinach; pan with added water, rice and tomato paste.

    Cook until the spinach wilts.

    Add the rice, water, tomato paste.

    Collage: Pan of spinach rice cooking; same pan with lid on.

    Stir it together and bring to the boil.

    Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until the rice is cooked and the liquid is gone.

    Stir in the remaining dill and the lemon juice.

    Enjoy your spanakorizo!

    Spoon in a serving dish of spinach rice.

    Greek recipes

    I absolutely adore Greek food. Since the time I spent backpacking around Greece in my 20s, I've been smitten with those fresh, vibrant Mediterranean flavors.

    We recently discovered a local souvlaki food truck and the whole family absolutely loves their food. They've been a lifesaver this summer for special treats during lockdown!

    Try these other tasty Greek recipes, that would be perfect with your Spanikorizo - Greek Spinach Rice.

    Greek Potato Salad - a delicious no-mayo potato salad with olives, lemon and herbs.

    Halloumi Souvlaki - Crispy yet soft halloumi cheese with salad and tzatziki in a wrap.

    Greek Salad - cucumber, tomatoes, feta... bliss.

    Rice recipes

    Rice can be served simply, but I love how it's a great vehicle for flavors. A few add-ins and you can turn rice from bland to WOW.

    If you love this Greek rice recipe (spanakorizo), I hope you'll also love these other rice recipes too.

    Turmeric Rice
    Mujadarra - Middle Eastern rice pilaf with eggplant/aubergines.
    Spanish Rice
    Fried Rice

    Veggie Desserts Cookbook by Kate Hackworthy

    Check out the Veggie Desserts + Cakes cookbook on Amazon

    📖 Recipe

    Serving dish of rice on a wooden table.

    Greek Spinach Rice (Spanakorizo)

    Kate Hackworthy | Veggie Desserts
    Spanakorizo (Greek Spinach Rice) is an easy side dish or hearty main. Rice is cooked with fresh spinach, onion, dill, lemon and tomato to create a delicious pilaf that's a traditional recipe from Greece.
    5 from 15 votes
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    Prep Time 2 mins
    Cook Time 28 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine gluten-free, Greek, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Servings 6
    Calories 103 kcal

    Equipment

    • Pot with a lid
    • Knife
    • Cutting board

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 onions diced
    • 1 pound 450g fresh spinach, rinsed and large stems removed, roughly chopped if large leaves.
    • 1 tablespoon fresh dill or 1 teaspoon dried
    • ½ cup uncooked white long-grain rice
    • 1 cup boiling water
    • 2 teaspoon tomato paste
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt and pepper
    • Juice of ½ a lemon

    Instructions
     

    • Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat, add the onion and gently cook for 7 minutes or until softened but not browned.
    • Add the spinach and half the dill and cook, stirring, until the spinach has wilted and any liquid has evaporated.
    • Stir in the rice, water and tomato paste, then bring to the boil.
    • Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 20 mins or until the rice has cooked and absorbed all the water. Add more water if necessary.
    • Stir in the remaining dill and lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 103kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 4gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 126mgPotassium: 487mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 7119IUVitamin C: 23mgCalcium: 83mgIron: 2mg

    The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.

    Tried this recipe?Mention @kateveggiedesserts or tag #veggiedesserts! I love seeing your recreations.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ritisha Gupta

      July 08, 2021 at 5:11 pm

      5 stars
      I could definitely just eat this by itself. Looks so flavorful and filling!

      Reply
    2. Lily

      July 08, 2021 at 5:00 pm

      5 stars
      Love love love that this dish has fresh spinach and dill! What a flavor combo for a hearty rice dish. It's a bit healthier option from Spanakopita.

      Reply
    3. Claudia Lamascolo

      July 08, 2021 at 4:59 pm

      5 stars
      What a great cross over of flavors everyone loved this nice change of plain rice!

      Reply
      • Joanne

        August 30, 2021 at 2:55 am

        It must be an individual village in Greece thing that each has their own version of this dish.
        I followed Diane kochilas recipe and there is no tomato in it. Her recipe is so good that my Greek best friend loved it more than her own mothers! I make this often and absolutely everyone loves it!

        Reply
    4. Bintu | Budget Delicious

      July 08, 2021 at 4:48 pm

      5 stars
      This sounds so hearty and flavorful! I love that you can have it as a side dish or have a little more and have it as a main. So good!

      Reply
    5. Sarah Baumeister

      July 08, 2021 at 4:43 pm

      5 stars
      Anything Greek is a "yes" from me. Plus sauteed spinach is my favorite way to eat it. Love it.

      Reply
    6. Anjali

      September 03, 2020 at 2:29 am

      5 stars
      I had actually never heard of spanakorizo before I came across this recipe but it looks absolutely delicious and kid-friendly too!! Can't wait to try it soon!

      Reply
    7. Tara

      September 02, 2020 at 9:29 pm

      5 stars
      Such a flavorful meal and it comes together so easily! Sounds incredible with the spinach and fresh herbs. I especially love foods that are paired with wonderful travel memories 🙂

      Reply
    8. Sara Welch

      September 02, 2020 at 9:14 pm

      5 stars
      Served this with dinner last night and it didn't disappoint! Easily, a new favorite recipe in my home; the whole family loved it!

      Reply
    9. Angela

      September 02, 2020 at 6:56 pm

      5 stars
      Great flavors in this rice dish. I love the fresh dill!

      Reply

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    Kate Hackworthy in the kitchen

    Hi, I'm Kate, a journalist, author and multi-award-winning food blogger. I hope you enjoy my vegetarian and vegan recipes. About Me

    Collage of press logos.

    Popular recipes

    • The BEST Easy Red Lentil Dahl
    • Easy Naan Bread Recipe (yeast-free)
    • Mini Baked Potatoes
    • Easy Lentil Soup

    Healthy Recipes

    • Butternut Squash Salad
    • Easy Healthy Cabbage Soup
    • Easy Vegan Ramen (15 minutes)
    • Rajma Masala (Kidney Bean Curry)

    My cookbook

    Veggie Desserts and Cakes Cookbook cover.

    Check out my Veggie Desserts Cookbook, full of tasty desserts with vegetables!

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