Greek Spinach Food

CLASSIC GREEK SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in onions, and cook until tender. Mix in spinach. Stir in tomatoes. Allow vegetables to simmer about 5 minutes
• Pour 2 cups water into saucepan, and bring to a boil. Mix in garlic, tomato paste, bouillon cube, salt and pepper. Reduce heat, and cook at a low boil about 15 minutes, until water is reduced by half.
• Stir rice and remaining water into the spinach mixture. Return to boil, reduce heat , and simmer covered 20 minutes, or until rice is tender and fluffy.

GREEK SPINACH AND RICE RECIPE (SPANAKORIZO)

Steps:

• To prepare this spanakorizo recipe (Greek spinach and rice), heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the onions, spring onions and leek and sauté for 3-4 minutes, until translucent.
• Add the spinach and cook stirring for a few minutes, until wilted. Stir in the tomatoes, the tomato paste, two cups of hot water, the vegetable stock, the rice and season. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for about 20-25 minutes, until the rice is tender.
• While the Spanakorizo is simmering away, stir it every so often and check if the pan appears to be getting dry. If it is, add some more hot water and stir.
• To know when its ready, take a grain of rice out of the skillet and pinch it with your fingernails. If its white on the inside it needs a little bit longer. When it's close to ready, season with salt and pepper to taste. Finally, finish the spanakorizo with fresh chopped dill and cook for a a couple more minutes.
• Serve this traditional Greek spinach and rice (spanakorizo) with a squeeze of a lemon and top with crumbled feta. Enjoy!

SPANAKORIZO - GREEK SPINACH RICE

Steps:

• Rinse the rice well a few times until the water runs clear. Put the rice in a bowl and add water to cover it by 1 inch. Let is sit to soak for 20 minutes or until you are easily able to break one grain of rice between your fingers.
• Heat ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil in a braising pan. Add the onions and cook for 5 minutes, stirring regularly, until soft and golden brown. Add the spinach, lemon juice, garlic, tomato paste, and a big pinch of kosher salt and black pepper. Sautee the spinach until just wilted. Stir in the mint and dill weed.
• Drain the rice well and add it to the pan. Add 1 ½ cups of warm water. Bring to a boil for 3 minutes until the water reduces a bit. Turn the heat to low and cover.
• Let the rice cook undisturbed for 20 minutes or until the rice is tender and fully cooked through and all the liquid has been absorbed.
• Once cooked, let the rice sit covered for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
• When ready, fluff the rice with a fork and garnish for feta and parsley, if you like.

SPANAKOPITA (GREEK SPINACH PIE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly oil a 9x9 inch square baking pan.
• Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute onion, green onions and garlic, until soft and lightly browned. Stir in spinach and parsley, and continue to saute until spinach is limp, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
• In a medium bowl, mix together eggs, ricotta, and feta. Stir in spinach mixture. Lay 1 sheet of phyllo dough in prepared baking pan, and brush lightly with olive oil. Lay another sheet of phyllo dough on top, brush with olive oil, and repeat process with two more sheets of phyllo. The sheets will overlap the pan. Spread spinach and cheese mixture into pan and fold overhanging dough over filling. Brush with oil, then layer remaining 4 sheets of phyllo dough, brushing each with oil. Tuck overhanging dough into pan to seal filling.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until golden brown. Cut into squares and serve while hot.

GREEK SPINACH

Steps:

• Cook spinach according to directions, but add the onions to the sauce pan.
• Drain well, squeezing out as much moisture as possible.
• Add remaining ingredients, expect feta.
• Stir until well combined.
• Sprinkle with feta and toss to combine.

GREEK SPINACH-STUFFED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine 2 cups spinach, the feta and 3 tablespoons water in a bowl. Insert a paring knife into the thickest part of each chicken breast, cutting along the side to make a deep 2-inch-wide pocket. Stuff the spinach mixture into the pockets.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Add to the skillet, rounded-side down, and cook until browned, about 3 minutes per side. Add the chicken broth, vinegar and sun-dried tomatoes. Partially cover and cook until the chicken is just cooked through, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ditalini and cook as the label directs. Put the remaining 1 1/2 cups spinach in a colander; drain the ditalini over the spinach to wilt it. Return to the pot.
• Remove the chicken to a cutting board and slice. Add the pan sauce to the ditalini along with the mint and 1/4 teaspoon salt; toss. Serve with the chicken.

GREEK SPINACH BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, combine the cottage cheese, spinach and feta cheese. Stir in the flour, pepper and salt. Add eggs and mix well. , Spoon into a greased 9-in. square baking dish. Bake, uncovered, until a thermometer reads 160°, about 1 hour.

SPANAKOPITA (GREEK SPINACH PIE)

Steps:

• Heat 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a large saucepan and sauté the onions and leek until translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Add the spinach and saute until the leaves have wilted and the liquid has cooked off, about 8-10 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool somewhat. When cool enough to handle, finely chop the spinach and place in a large bowl.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Lightly oil (always use olive oil!) a 12 inch in diameter, metal baking pan (you can use a larger baking pan - you will just have a thinner pita, but don't use a smaller one), or a 10 x 15 inch rectangular baking pan.
• Add dill and feta cheese to the spinach. Add salt and pepper to taste (careful with the salt - the feta will add quite a bit of its own). Pour the eggs over and give a stir to combine well.
• Open up the phyllo pastry and place on a work surface. If using the country style pastry proceed, if using the thinner phyllo; cover with a damp cloth. (Continue to cover the pastry sheets with the damp cloth each time you remove one as you prepare the pie.).
• Layer the phyllo in the pan, allowing the edges to hang over the sides of the pan, brushing each phyllo layer generously with olive oil.
• Use up half the phyllo sheets to make the bottom pastry layer, allowing excess pastry to drape over edge of pan.
• Put the spinach mixture in and press the top down gently to smooth filling. Tuck in the pastry draping over the edges.
• Repeat layering with the remaining phyllo, oiling each sheet generously.
• Using a sharp knife, score the upper layers of pastry into the size pieces you will want to serve once the pie is baked- BE CAREFUL NOT TO CUT THROUGH BOTTOM PASTRY.
• Bake the pie in the middle of the oven for approximately 40-45 minutes until it is golden brown. For the last 15-20 minutes, I put my baking pan directly on the oven floor to crisp it better.
• Cool till just warm (we never, but never eat this hot! The flavours just wouldn't come through properly). Cut into serving pieces and serve either just warm or at room temperature.
• Note: If my spinach filling appears to be too 'wet', I often take 2 of the phyllo sheets and use them as a 'layer' between the spinach filling; these sheets absorb the extra liquid (they must not be brushed with oil).
• It's also worth noting that Greeks love their olive oil! I have used olive oil with a lighter hand than most Greeks in this recipe - but it may still be too much for you. Feel free to add the amount you feel most comfortable with, but be aware that flavour may be compromised.

GREEK STYLE SPINACH AND RICE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a heavy skillet or wok.
• Add onion and garlic and cook on medium-high until onion is softened and transparent.
• Add spinach, lemon juice and rice; cook stirring frequently until spinach is limp and rice is throughly heated.
• Toss in basil.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Place in serving bowl and sprinkle with feta cheese.

GREEK SPINACH QUICHE

Steps:

• Line a 9-inch quiche or pie dish with pastry; trim excess pastry around edges (you can decorate the edges with fluting or crimping or anything you want). Prick bottom and sides of pastry with a fork. Bake at 400 degrees F for 3 minutes; remove from oven, and prick with a fork. Bake for 5 more minutes.
• Cook spinach according to package directions, omitting salt. Drain spinach thoroughly, pressing out excess water.
• Combine spinach and remaining ingredients in a mixing bowl; mix well.
• Pour mixture into prepared pastry shell. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30--35 minutes, or until center is set. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

SPANAKORIZO (A GREEK SPINACH RISOTTO)

Steps:

• In a deep pan heat oil and gently fry onion and leek (if used) until soft.
• Wash (or soak if necessary depending on what kind of rice you use) rice, drain and add to onion.
• Cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add remaining ingredients, except spinach, and bring to the boil. Cook for 10 more minutes (longer, if using brown rice).
• Add the spinach, stir well and cover. Reduce heat and simmer on low heat for 5-6 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• Leave tightly covered and allow to stand at least 1/2 an hour before serving.
• Serve with feta cheese, kalamata olives, crusty, peasant-style bread, a glass of wine and you'll think you're in Greece!

GREEK SPINACH DIP

Steps:

• Combine ingredients.
• Refrigerate 1 hour.