Greek Spinach and Rice Pie



Think of this Greek spinach pie with feta and rice as Spanakopita’s easier, more laid-back cousin — no phyllo dough, no fuss, and it takes just 20 minutes to get it into the oven. It’s a great dish to use up leftover rice, but even if you don’t have any, it’s a snap to whip it up on a moment’s notice. You can serve it for brunch, lunch, a picnic, or a light dinner. 

Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:
  • • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • • 1 10-oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
  • • 8 large eggs
  • • 1 teaspoon salt
  • • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • • ⅔ cup heavy cream
  • • 1 cup cooked rice of your choice (brown, white, jasmine, etc.)
  • • 1¼ cups (about 5½ oz) crumbled feta cheese
  • • 3 tablespoons fresh chopped dill (or 1 tablespoon dried)

Directions:
  • • Preheat oven to 325º and set oven rack to middle position.
  • • Spray a 9-inch deep-dish pie pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  • • Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat.
  • • Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent, 4-5 minutes. DO NOT BROWN.
  • • Add garlic and spinach and cook, stirring until well combined, about 2 minutes.
  • • Remove the pan from the heat.
  • • In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, salt, pepper, and heavy cream.
  • • Add the rice, feta, dill and onion-spinach mixture and stir until evenly combined.
  • • Pour the egg mixture into the pie pan, making sure the filling is distributed evenly.
  • • Bake until set and just starting the brown around the edges, 35-40 minutes.
  • • Let stand about 5 minutes before cutting into wedges.