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A bowlful of garlicky rice with pine nuts and spinach.

Easy Garlic Spinach Rice

Easy cheesy spinach and garlic rice with toasted pine nuts - for those days when plain old white rice just isn't good enough!
5 from 4 votes
Allergens: 🧀 Dairy 🥜 Nuts

(if you suffer from allergies, please double check all ingredients before eating)

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 420kcal
Author: Becca Heyes
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🖨 Recipe printed from www.easycheesyvegetarian.com

Scan QR code to see the full blog post, including useful tips and tricks, substitutions, serving suggestions, and more photos.

Ingredients

  • 300 g (~ 1 ½ cups) long-grain white rice
  • 2 Tbsp butter, divided
  • 1 medium onion, finely diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 2 Tbsp pine nuts
  • 2 large handfuls baby spinach, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 50 g (~ 1 â…” oz) vegetarian parmesan-style cheese, finely grated

Instructions

  • Cook the rice using your preferred method, until cooked to your liking. I boil my rice in plenty of water for around 15 minutes, then drain. You can use a rice cooker if you prefer.
    Cooked white rice in a saucepan.
  • Meanwhile, melt 1 Tbsp of butter in a frying pan, and add the diced onion. Cook over a medium-low heat for 5 minutes, until slightly softened, then add the sliced garlic and pine nuts. Continue to cook for another 5 minutes, until the garlic and nuts are lightly toasted and everything is golden brown.
    Fried onions, garlic and pine nuts in a frying pan.
  • Add the roughly chopped spinach, cooking for a couple more minutes until the spinach has wilted. You can add it a handful at a time if there’s not enough room in the pan.
    Sautéed spinach with garlic and pine nuts in a frying pan.
  • Melt the remaining butter into the spinach mixture to make it glossy and luxurious. Then combine the mixture with the cooked rice, plenty of black pepper, and the finely grated cheese. Mix well to combine. You can add a little salt if you think it needs it.
    Cooked rice in a saucepan with garlic spinach and parmesan.
  • I like to serve this garlic rice topped with a few extra toasted pine nuts. Just cook a few nuts in a dry frying pan (or the same frying pan you used before - no need to wash) for a few minutes, tossing regularly, until golden brown. They can burn quickly so keep your eyes on them!
    A bowl of garlic spinach rice topped with toasted pine nuts.

Video

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Easy Garlic Spinach Rice
Amount Per Serving (1 portion)
Calories 420 Calories from Fat 109
% Daily Value*
Fat 12.1g19%
Saturated Fat 5.8g29%
Cholesterol 24mg8%
Sodium 202mg8%
Potassium 444mg13%
Carbohydrates 66.3g22%
Fiber 2.9g12%
Sugar 1.5g2%
Protein 12g24%
Calcium 197mg20%
Iron 5mg28%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutritional information is approximate, and will depend on your exact ingredients. Please calculate your own nutritional values if you require accuracy for health reasons.