Spinach with Rice/Pirinçli Ispanak

        Spinach Dish (Meal)/Pirincli Ispanak

        As i wrote in an earlier article on the blog, (About-us-) we are three very close friends and we have known eachothers since we were children. However, now, we are living different cities in the Anatolian. We often meet on the social media very much. 

        Last weekend, at Saturday, we met on the social media and we chatted eachother that about recipes of foods. At that time, one of us sent her recipe of Spinach Dish (Meal). Suddenly, title reminded us "Popeye the Sailor Man Spinach" one of our childhood's cartoons. Like most of women, we learned these recipes from our moms. Like most of moms, our moms used to tell us that this meal was  Popeye's Spinach. Like the one that he would squeeze out of the can in the cartoons, to help him grow big strong muscles. And, we all (Girls and Boys) believed our moms and ate it all, believing it will help us grow and strong. Many many years later, knowing all the ingredients we can see how our moms were right. 

        So, if you do want to grow some muscles and be strong. Here it is what you need to do: After the Spinach Meal has been cooked, take it out and let it cool off for a couple of minutes or so. Generally, it is served with adding half a cup of yogurt on it (or with 2-3 Tablespoons garlic yogurt). That was its protein. Stir it and the mix of cold yogurt and hot meal will get you to warm and cool.(homemade-yogurt-recipe)

        Now, here it is our "Spinach with Rice - Pirincli Ispanak" recipe:


        I n g r e d i e n t s :

       - 1,5 - 2 kg Fresh or Frozen Spinach,
       - 1/2 or 2/3 Cup Rice, washed and drained,
       - 1 Onion, Chopped,
       - 3 Tablespoons Olive oil,
       - 1 Tablespoon Tomato Paste, (or Pepper Paste, if you want it spicy),
       - 1,5 - 2 Cups hot water,
       - Half Tablespoon Salt, Ground Black Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes, (Spicies are optional, if you dont like it spicy, you can only use salt),

        P r e p a r a t i o n :

        First of all, in a large and deep pot sauté onions with olive oil over medium heat, stir in tomato paste (or Pepper paste) and sauté for 1 - 3 minutes. If you are using fresh spinach, Wash and drain, cut off hard edges and chop them. (If you are using frozen spinach just add them into pot). Over medium heat Stirring occasionally, cook them till most of the water reduces (evaporates). It takes nearly 5 - 6 minutes. Then, stir in rice, salt and hot water and cook over low heat for a good half an hour. The meal is ready when the spinach has become soft and dark green and the rice has gone soft. During the cook process of spinach with rice meal. Please! Stir gently and be careful to keep the fire low, otherwise your meal will got burned. You can serve "Spinach with Rice/Pirinçli Ispanak" with yogurt on top (or with garlic yogurt on top). Also you can sprinkle some red pepper flakes on top to taste, some ground black pepper  on top to taste.

          E n j o y

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