Spinach Mushroom Rice Pilaf

Do you ever have those nights when you look through your pantry and refrigerator and decide that there is nothing to eat?

Well, I had one of those nights.

I'm in the process of moving, and well I am really trying not to buy any groceries. I am hoping I can clean out my cupboards by the time I leave. So far, I think it's working out. I'm cleaning house as much as possible. Less than ten days to go and I have all the confidence that my pantry will be bare by the time I leave. Haha. Yeeeeah right!

I looked in my refrigerator and saw some fresh mushrooms that I new I wanted to use and this rice pilaf is what I came up with.

I probably should mention how much I love feta cheese. It's a serious relationship. This cheese and I have had a lot of meals together. We are like, together!

This recipe could be a vegetarian main dish or a side dish for the meat eaters of the world. Also, this is one of those dishes you can change up depending on the contents of your refrigerator and pantry. Ah, isn't cooking so much fun - enough of my silliness - ENJOY!

Spinach Mushroom Rice Pilaf


1 cup long grain rice, uncooked
2 cups water
1 Tbls. Olive Oil (feel free to use butter if you like the flavor)
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1 tsp. garlic, minced
3-4 cups fresh mushrooms, chopped
2 Tbls. vegetable stock
1 pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
1 tsp. mixed dried herbs
salt & pepper
3/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled


Boil 2 cups of water, lightly salt and add rice. Bring to boil and reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.

While the rice is cooking - heat oil in large skillet. Add garlic and onion. Saute 2-3 minutes. Add the chopped mushrooms and vegetable stock. Cook mushrooms until tender, about 3-4 minutes.

Break up the spinach into the skillet and combine with mushroom mixture. Sprinkle the mix with nutmeg, cumin, herbs, and salt/pepper.

Once the rice is done, add cooked rice to the skillet and stir to combine. Taste mixture and adjust seasoning as necessary. Add rice to serving bowl and top with the feta cheese.