Hearty Turkish Spinach Stew (Ispanak Yemeği)

 Hearty Turkish Spinach Stew (Ispanak Yemeği)

Hello everyone, good morning from Turkey! 

To those of you who don’t know, Turkish cuisine is full of rich flavors and packed with vitamins, bringing so much warmth to any meal. 

Today, I’m sharing a super nice and hearty dish – Ispanak Yemeği, or Turkish spinach stew. It’s perfect for lunch and pairs wonderfully with a little garlic yogurt and pasta on the side. Please enjoy this healthy and delicious dish as part of a traditional Turkish meal. Afiyet olsun! (Enjoy you meal!)

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 medium onion, finely chopped

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 tablespoon tomato paste (salça)

• 1 large tomato, finely chopped (or 1 cup canned diced tomatoes)

• 2 tbs rice (white or short-grain)

• 1 cup water (add more as needed)

• 500 grams (about 1 pound) fresh spinach, washed and roughly chopped

• Salt and pepper to taste

• Lemon wedges (for serving)

Instructions:

1. Sauté the Onion and Garlic

Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook for about 5 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and sauté for another minute until fragrant.

2. Add Tomato Paste and Tomato

Stir in the tomato paste and cook for a couple of minutes until well combined. Then add the chopped tomato and cook until it starts to soften, about 5 minutes.

3. Add Rice and Water

Stir in the rice and pour in the water to cover. Season with salt and pepper. Cover the pan and let it simmer for about 10 minutes, or until the rice is halfway cooked.

4. Add Spinach

Add the chopped spinach to the pan in batches, stirring until it wilts down. Cover and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes until the spinach is tender and the rice is fully cooked.

5. Adjust Seasoning

Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.

6. Serve

Serve warm with lemon wedges on the side, and enjoy!