Very nutritious meal for everyone since spinach contains iron, minerals and antioxidants. In my last trip to Sweden due to a gastronomic event, I found the idea of presenting the spinach in fresh cabbage nest very interesting. We prepared the recipe in the school and the students loved it.
Besides, we must not forget that the presentation of the dish is very important and the influence rate of the recipient of our tasteful creation reaches 45% of the impression that we gain … the rest is the excellent raw material, the inspiration, the art of cooking and taste .
Spinach with rice in fresh cabbage nest
From Leonidas Frantzolas executive chef professor Etoile Cookery School, Athens
Ingredients
1 ½ kg fresh spinach
300 gr leek finely chopped
300 gr dry onion finely chopped
300 gr fresh onion finely chopped
750 ml tomato juice
80 gr tomato paste
200 gr Carolina rice
70 ml olive oil
1 bunch dill, finely chopped
1 glass white wine, Mantinia or Roditis
Sea salt
Freshly ground pepper
2 bay leaves
For finishing
Leaves of fresh cabbage
Smoked paprika
How to prepare
Wash the spinach very well, because it he has dirt. After we wash with plenty of water, we strain and begin cooking.
In a wide pan sauté over high heat with olive oil, the leek, the fresh and dry onions until they get golden brown.
“Deglaze” with wine and allow for the alcohol to evaporate.
Then add to the pot the spinach, which in the beginning will be overflowing from the pot.
In a few minutes though, the amount will drop in half.
Stir and sauté all the ingredients for 10 minutes and then add the tomato juice and tomato paste.
Simmer all together for another 15 minutes and add the rice, salt, bay leaf and pepper. 5 minutes before lowering the spinach from the heat, add the dill, to reserve its aroma.
In 20 minutes the spinach will be ready.
Occasionally we shake the pan.
Once the spinach is ready leave to cool a little. To make it more desirable especially for the children, we serve it in a fresh cabbage nest that we have placed on a platter.
If we want we can sprinkle it with a little paprika and so we add more color and aroma.
Thus the spinach looks like a daisy.
