Spanakorizo (Greek Spinach Rice)

5 from 1 vote

Spanakorizo (Greek Spinach Rice) combines rice, spinach, lemon, dill, garlic, and feta into a simple Greek-inspired side dish made in the Instant Pot. It’s great for Mediterranean meals, Greek side dishes, and easy rice recipes. The lemon and dill brighten the rice while the spinach and feta add savory flavor and texture.

Prep Time10

Cook Time15

Total Time25

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Greek

Servings:

Calories: 259kcal

Author: Jami Powell

Equipment

Instant Pot
Cutting board
Knife
Measuring cups
Spatula

Ingredients

1 cup medium grain white rice
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion finely chopped
3 cloves garlic minced
1 - 1 ¼ cups vegetable broth
2 cups fresh spinach chopped
2 green onions finely sliced
2 tablespoons fresh dill chopped
½ lemon juice and zest of
½ teaspoon kosher salt to taste
¼ teaspoon pepper to taste
feta cheese crumbled (for serving)

Instructions

Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Finely chop the onion, mince the garlic, and chop the spinach and green onions. Juice and zest the lemon.
Set the Instant Pot to 'Sauté' mode. Add the extra virgin olive oil to the pot. Once the oil is hot, add the chopped onion and sauté for about 3 minutes until translucent. Add the minced garlic and sauté for another minute until fragrant.
Add the rinsed rice to the pot and stir to coat. Pour in the vegetable broth, and add a pinch of salt and pepper.
Secure the lid on the Instant Pot and set the valve to 'Sealing.' Cook on 'Manual' or 'Pressure Cook' for 4 minutes. Once the cooking time is up, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then perform a quick release.
Open the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Stir in the chopped spinach, green onions, fresh dill, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Adjust seasoning if needed. Serve warm with a generous sprinkle of crumbled feta cheese on top.

Notes

Cooking Notes

Rinsing the rice thoroughly before cooking helps improve the final texture. Stirring in the spinach after pressure cooking keeps the greens fresh and prevents them from becoming overly soft.

Tips for Best Results:

Rinse the rice until the water runs clear.
Sauté the onion before pressure cooking for a deeper flavor.
Stir the spinach in after cooking while the rice is still hot.
Add the lemon juice at the end for fresher flavor.

How to Know It’s Ready:

The rice should feel tender and fluffy while the spinach stays bright green and lightly wilted.

Nutrition