[LENTEN]

SPINACH AND RICE

Spanakorizo

YIELD: 4 TO 6 SERVINGS

Spanakorizo is a delicious combination of spinach and rice, equally good warm or cold. It is served often during Lent.

       2 cups minced onions

       ½ cup olive oil

       1 tablespoon tomato paste

       2 pounds cleaned chopped spinach or four 10-ounce packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed

       1 cup raw converted rice

       2 sprigs fresh mint or 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill

       salt and pepper to taste

       2½ cups hot water

Sauté onions in oil until wilted, about 5 minutes. Add tomato paste, spinach, and rice and sauté. Add mint (or dill), salt, pepper, and hot water, cover, and simmer until rice is cooked and liquid has been absorbed. Do not stir.

Variation: 2 pounds chopped Swiss chard can be substituted for spinach.