Try This Beloved Rice Recipe That Is 2,300 Years Old

Many of you are familiar with Greek spinach pie, but I have a delicious rice variation that's been a favorite Greek dish – hot or cold – since the time of Alexander the Great.

It's called spanakorizo, or Greek-style spinach rice. I promise, if you enjoy sautéed spinach folded into rice pilaf, you'll find much gusto with this easy and perfect dish.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups medium grain rice
• 1 lemon
• 2 pounds fresh spinach - washed well
• 1 red onion
• 1 leek
• 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 4 fresh mint leaves (optional)
• 1 small bunch fresh minced dill
• ½ tablespoon black pepper

Cut the washed spinach into pieces. Next, peel and mince the red onion ad mince the white bulb of the washed leek. Bring to a boil three quarts of water, and lower the flame to a simmer.

Sautée the onion in the olive oil until translucent, stirring occasionally. Now add the rice, tomato paste, juice of the lemon, minced dill, mint leaves and black pepper, stir-frying the ingredients for a couple of minutes.

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Complete the dish by covering the rice with a few ladles of boiling water, add the spinach and cook on simmer to maintain the rice creamy and fluffy, stirring as needed, adding a little more boiling water when necessary.

Let the dish sit for a few minutes. I like to add a little bit of crumbled feta cheese over the top.

Let me know if you enjoy this delicious dish! Kalee Ore Ksee! Bon Appétit!