SPINACH MEAL (Ispanak Yemeği)

Spinach had been believed to contain high amounts of iron. Popeye owed his masculine powers to it and all children were urged to consume spinach if they wanted to be tough. Then, it revealed that there had been a comma mistake and our old sport spinach does not contain incredible amounts of iron. Afterward everyone lost their interest to this vegetable, turned their backs and assumed it has no benefits whatsoever. But, why? Spinach still have all the goodness coming from nature, lots of vitamins, minerals and scarce elements. So don't cut off our old friend yet, just be sure to wash thoroughly; bacteria are not amongst our beloved and often found in unwashed green leaves.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 kg spinach
• 100 g minced meat
• 1 onion
• 40 mL olive oil (3 tablespoons)
• 40 g rice (4 tablespoons)
• 1/2 tablespoon salcha (or tomato paste)
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 300 mL hot water

Preparation:

• Clean the spinach. In a bowl pour boiling water and soak spinach for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile in a saucepan, roast meat and finely chopped onion in oil for 10 minutes on a low heat by mixing occasionally.
• Add salcha, salt and pepper, mix briefly. Add spinach after draining.
• Roast all on a low heat for another 10 minutes by mixing twice. (At this step, I don't mix too often to prevent the spinach from smushing. Using a metal spoon also helps.)
• Add hot water and continue cooking for 10 minutes.
• Add rice, mix briefly and cook for another 10 minutes, lid on, low heat. (Up to this final step, I cook without lid, only at this final 10 minutes I put the lid on.)
• Turn the heat off, rest for a 10 minutes and then serve with yogurt. Enjoy!