Green I want you green! Thus begins a poem by the extraordinary García Lorca. Green is an inspiring color of life: mountains, sea, animals and… healthy food! Inspired by that poem, we presents you with this alternative: spinach and cilantro rice. Very green, very poetic and… very delicious!
How much truth there is in Lorca’s poem because green transmits images of life? It is enough to paint a wall green, to feel relief and freshness… Something similar happens at mealtime, because apart from the symbolic load that it transmits to our psyche, color also tells us about the nutritional content of food. Nature is wise!
The green provides lutein, potassium, abundant vitamin C, vitamin K and folic acid. The list of fruits and vegetables dressed in healthy green is quite long: avocado, kiwi, green grapes, Swiss chard, artichoke, broccoli, peas, zucchini, cabbage, peppers, green asparagus, spinach, peppermint, parsley, basil, mint…., among others. There are options to choose from!
In this group, coriander and spinach are also included. What benefits does coriander produce? This herb has 11 compounds of essential oils, minerals and vitamins and six types of benevolent acids for the body (including ascorbic acid, known as vitamin C), And spinach? Spinach is rich in vitamin A, C, E and K; as well as B vitamins. It also has folic acid, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and antioxidants.
Components such as potassium, B vitamins and phytochemicals (very abundant in green) are sensitive to heat, so it is best to consume raw vegetables. But, if you need to boil any vegetables like in this recipe for rice with spinach and cheese, do not exceed more than 5 minutes. Grilling is another alternative. And steam cooking… even better!
How to make this green rice with spinach? Accompanying it with everything! Fish, meat, chicken, salads and even soups.
Ingredients to make Spinach and Coriander Rice:
- 2 cups of rice
- 4 cups of water (960 milliliters)
- 1 cup of fresh spinach leaves
- ½ cup of fresh Cilantro
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil (for the rice)
- 4 cloves of crushed garlic
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 sprig of fresh Cilantro to garnish
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for frying)
How to make Spinach and Cilantro Rice:
- To prepare this rice with fresh spinach, first cook them between 2 and 5 minutes. Vegetables should not be overcooked, because they lose nutrients.
- Meanwhile, place the coriander in a bowl with water and a splash of vinegar. After a minute, she sneaks in. Reserve the coriander.
- When the spinach is tender, pass it through the strainer.
- If you don’t have a blender, you can crush all the herbs with the mortar. If you have a very small mortar, replace the base with a bowl. Any kitchen helper can make this job easier for you, I only propose more alternatives.
- Trick: To make grinding easier, you can chop the herbs very finely.
- Pour olive oil into a pan, and wait for it to heat up. Brown the garlic in the oil over medium heat. Remove the garlic from the pan and set aside. Place the rice and fry it with the same oil in which you cooked the garlic. Stir until lightly browned but don’t overdo it.
- Pour the 4 cups of water into the saucepan. Add the rice, garlic and olive oil. Cook over medium heat. Let the water consume and when it does, lower the heat to a minimum and cover. Wait 5 minutes and turn off. Just like when you cook regular rice!
- This green spinach rice is exquisite! Excellent to combine with meat, chicken and fish. Before serving, place the grated cheese and a small sprig of fresh coriander on top. Everyone will ask you for the recipe!
