Great Italian Spinach Recipe - Classic Rice Pie

Recipe for Italian Spinach and Rice Pie
Ingredients
¾ Cup Arborio Rice
20 oz Fresh Spinach
½ Yellow Onion
1 Small Carrot
1 Large Garlic Clove
3 Tbsp Butter (divided, plus 1 tsp for greasing)
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
¾ Cup Pecorino Romano Cheese
4 Eggs
⅛ tsp Freshly Grated Nutmeg
¼ tsp Black Pepper
3–4 Tbsp Toasted Plain Breadcrumbs
Salt, to taste

Steps
1. Bring a small pot of salted water to a boil and add the rice. Cook for about 10 minutes, or until al dente, tasting at about the 8 minute mark so it doesn't get mushy. Strain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.

2. In a large skillet or pot, add the spinach over low heat and cover to let it steam and wilt. After a few minutes, add a big pinch of salt and continue cooking until most of the water has evaporated.

3. Transfer the spinach to a strainer and press out as much liquid as possible. Let it sit to drain further while you prepare the other ingredients.

4. Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil and 2 Tbsp butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onion, carrot, and a big pinch of salt. Cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally until softened.

5. Lower the heat and make room in the center of the pan. Add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute before mixing everything together.

6. Once the spinach is mostly dry, give it a rough chop. Add it to the pan along with the cooked rice. Turn off the heat and mix well so everything is evenly combined. Add another Tbsp of olive oil if desired and taste for salt.

7. Preheat the oven to 425°F and grease a 9-inch pie dish with 1 tsp butter. Add a few tsp of toasted breadcrumbs to the dish and rotate to coat the bottom and sides.

8. In a large bowl, whisk together 4 eggs, ½ Cup grated Pecorino Romano, black pepper, and nutmeg.

9. Once the rice and spinach mixture has cooled slightly, add it to the egg mixture and stir until fully combined.

10. Pour the mixture into the prepared pie dish and spread it evenly with the back of a spoon.

11. Combine the remaining ¼ Cup cheese with a couple Tbsp of toasted breadcrumbs and sprinkle over the top. Dot the surface with a couple tsp of butter.

12. Bake in the center of the oven for 15 minutes, then switch to a low broil until the top is golden brown.

13. Remove from the oven and let cool for several minutes before slicing. This pie is also excellent served at room temperature.

This is one of the best Italian spinach recipes. It teaches you how to make a classic Italian rice pie, which can be made with several different vegetables. It's simple and easy to make, but has a ton of flavor.

00:00 Intro
00:10 Boil Rice
00:26 Prep Cheese & Veggies
00:41 Drain Rice
00:49 Cook Spinach
01:25 Sauté Veggies
01:48 Add Spinach & Rice
02:12 Prep Pie Dish
02:31 Make & Mix Filling
02:50 Assemble Pie
03:09 Bake & Serve