Greek spinach rice, also called Spanakorizo is a simple rice dish with the refreshing and delicious Greek flavors of lemon, dill, feta cheese, and extra virgin olive oil. This classic Greek dish is a comforting one-pot meal that's loved by everyone who enjoys simple flavors.
I know it's strange but for my sister and me, spinach was one of our favorite things to eat even as toddlers. We loved every spinach dish. Simple stir-fried spinach with steamed rice was something we considered a treat. I still love that simple combination.
So, a few years ago when I came across this easy recipe for classic Greek Spinach rice-Spanakorizo which is also made by cooking rice with lots of spinach, I had to try it. No surprise, it immediately became one of my favorite Greek recipes.
What goes in spanakorizo?
To make Greek rice with spinach, you will need the simple ingredients shown below:
Ingredient notes and substitute suggestions
- Rice: For this spanakorizo recipe, medium grain rice is the best choice. If you use rice with very short grains, the grains will turn mushy. If you use long-grain rice, you won't get the desired creaminess.
- Spinach: I have used regular fresh spinach, you can use baby spinach too. If using regular spinach leaves, discard their tough stems. Frozen spinach can be used too.
- Onion: Red or brown onion, both can be used to make spanakorizo.
- Leek: Optional, if you don't have leek, skip it.
- Tomato paste: It will add a rich tomato flavor to this Greek rice. I have used only tomato paste in this recipe but you can also add finely chopped fresh tomatoes or canned crushed tomatoes along with tomato paste.
- Veg bouillon cube: Instead of using veg bouillon cube and water, you can also use vegetable stock to cook the rice.
- Feta cheese: Optional, vegans may skip it.
- Olive oil: Use a good quality extra-virgin olive oil to get the best flavor.
Other ingredient details and nutritional information are shared in the recipe card ahead.
How to make (step-by-step process)?
To make this simple and delicious Greek spinach rice recipe, just follow the step-by-step instructions given below:
Step 1: Heat olive oil in a large cooking pot. Add chopped onion and saute until it becomes translucent.
Step 2: Add chopped leek and green onions. Cook for 3-4 minutes.
Step 3: Add tomato paste and crumbled vegetable bouillon cube.
Step 4: Saute for a minute.
Step 5: Add chopped spinach and dill.
Step 6: Mix everything and cook for 3-4 minutes or until the spinach leaves get wilted. If using baby spinach, don't cook them for this long. Add baby spinach with rice.
Step 7: Add rinsed rice, salt, and ground black pepper.
Step 8: Saute for a minute.
Step 9: Add water.
Step 10: Cook until the rice grains are cooked well. You may cover the pot to fasten the rice cooking process.
Step 11: Once the rice is cooked, turn off the heat. Add fresh lemon juice and mix.
Step 12: Garnish with crumbled feta cheese and lemon wedges.
Your simple Greek spinach rice-spanakorizo is ready to be served.
Serving Greek spinach rice
Greek spinach rice can be served both as a main course dish and a side dish.
Just add some feta cheese, lemon juice, and extra virgin olive oil on top before enjoying this Greek comfort food.
Vegans may skip feta, it still tastes good.
This spinach rice is a meal in itself but if you want you can also serve it with some side dishes like Greek roasted vegetables, Greek stuffed eggplant, or Greek yogurt dip.
Or, just pair it up with a fresh salad or crusty bread to enjoy a simple and delicious home-cooked Greek meal.
Storing and reheating tips
Store the leftover Greek spanakorizo in an airtight container and refrigerate for a maximum of 4 days.
To reheat, either microwave for a few minutes or reheat covered in a pan on the stovetop. Add a splash of water while reheating.
Recipe tips, tricks, and variation suggestions
- Use medium-sized rice grains to make this Greek rice. If you use short grain rice, the rice will turn mushy. If you use long grain rice, you won't get the desired creaminess.
- Vegans may skip feta cheese, spanakorizo tastes delicious even without the cheese.
- If you are planning to add feta, add salt carefully as feta is savory too.
- You may also add fresh chopped tomatoes or canned crushed tomatoes to this dish.
- Adding a dollop of butter when the rice is cooked, makes this dish taste even better.
- For extra lemony flavor, add some lemon zest too.
- Different people prefer different consistency of Greek spinach rice. I prefer slightly creamy spanakorizo. You make it the way you prefer and adjust the consistency by changing the amount of water you use in the recipe.
- To fasten the process of cooking rice, cover the pot with a lid while cooking.
- If you don't have vegetable bouillon cube, you may use vegetable stock instead of water to cook rice.
- You can also use baby spinach or frozen spinach in this recipe.
Vegan notes: Since the main recipe uses only plant-based ingredients and feta cheese is added only to garnish it, if you are a vegan just skip adding feta cheese on top. It will still taste awesome.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, if you don't have fresh dill, feel free to use the dried one.
If you freeze spanakorizo, its texture will change on thawing. So, I won't recommend freezing it.
Though white rice is a better choice for this recipe you can use brown rice too. With brown rice, you don't get the same creamy texture that you get from white rice.
Please also note that the cooking time will increase and the texture will also be slightly different if you use brown rice.
More Greek meatless recipes
If you enjoyed this traditional Greek rice recipe and want to try making more vegetarian Greek food at home then don't miss to check out the following links:
Easy rice recipes
I love rice dishes and keep on collecting easy rice recipes from around the world. Most of them are one-pot recipes and perfect to be cooked on busy days. If you also like such recipes then don't miss to check the following links:
If you liked this recipe, please leave a star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ in the recipe card below. You can also follow me on Instagram, Youtube, and Pinterest.
Recipe
Greek Spinach rice-Spanakorizo
Equipment
- 1 Large cooking pot
- 1 Spatula
- Knife and chopping board
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked medium-grain rice around 200 grams
- 500 grams spinach roughly chopped
- 1 medium red onion finely chopped
- 1 leek discard the dark green part and root end, chop the remaining leek.
- 4 stalks spring onion finely chopped
- ¼ cup finely chopped dill
- Juice of a medium lemon adjust to taste
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 vegetable bouillon cube
- 4 cups water or as required to get the desired consistency
- Salt to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper adjust to taste
- ¼ cup feta cheese for garnishing optional
Instructions
- Rinse rice well and keep aside.
- Heat oil in a large cooking pot. Add chopped red onion and saute for around 2 minutes.
- Add chopped leek and spring onion. Cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Add tomato paste and crumbled vegetable bouillon cube. Saute for a minute.
- Add chopped dill and spinach. Mix everything and cook for 3-4 minutes or until the spinach leaves get wilted.
- Add rinsed rice, salt, and ground black pepper. Saute for a minute.
- Add water and cook until the rice grains are cooked well. You may cover the pot to fasten the rice cooking process.
- Once the rice is cooked, turn off the heat. Add fresh lemon juice and mix.
- Garnish with crumbled feta.
Video
Notes
- Use medium-sized rice grains to make this Greek rice. If you use short grain rice, the rice will turn mushy. If you use long grain rice, you won't get the desired creaminess.
- Vegans may skip feta cheese, spanakorizo tastes delicious even without the cheese.
- If you are planning to add feta, add salt carefully as feta is savory too.
- You may also add fresh chopped tomatoes or canned crushed tomatoes to this dish.
- Adding a dollop of butter when the rice is cooked, makes this dish taste even better.
- For extra lemony flavor, add some lemon zest too.
- Different people prefer different consistency of Greek spinach rice. I prefer slightly creamy spanakorizo. You make it the way you prefer and adjust the consistency by changing the amount of water you use in the recipe.
- To fasten the process of cooking rice, cover the pot with a lid while cooking.
- If you don't have vegetable bouillon cube, you may use vegetable stock instead of water to cook rice.
- You can also use baby spinach or frozen spinach in this recipe.
- More recipe tips and tricks are shared in the post above, please follow them to make this recipe.
I became vegan after covid this is now one of my favorite recipe for dinner thankyou
I've had this and made it several times. One of my favorite Greek dishes. I am sure you loved it just as much!
Thank you. Yes, it's loved by everyone in my family.
I love spinach and feta so am sure would thoroughly enjoy Spanakoriza. Such a wonderful one pot meal and so flavorful. Vandana, love your selection of Greek recipes.
Thanks a lot Mayuri 🙂
Interesting recipe. I will try it out
These seems absolutely scrumptious! I love how healthy it is, and how I can make easily. Not too much prep work and it is a perfect thing to take on the go with you. I will definitely try this out!
Thank you so much. Would love to hear how it turned out for you.