Baked Rice with Spinach and Feta

 

Courtesy of The Neelys on Food Network. I followed instructions except substituted crumbled feta for cheddar cheese. The fresh thyme absolutely makes this dish so flavorful...

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small onion
• 1 package frozen spinach, thawed, chopped
• red pepper flakes (recipe called for cayenne pepper)
• 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups feta cheese, cut into small cubes ( recipe called for shredded sharp cheddar) I like to buy the block feta.
• 4 cups cooked rice
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Butter a large casserole dish.

In a large pan over medium-high heat, saute the onion and red pepper flakes in the olive oil until translucent.

Add the spinach and cook 3 minutes. Set aside.

Whisk egg and milk together.

Add 1/2 of the feta cheese, rice, parsley, thyme, spinach mixture and salt and pepper. Combine well.

Add the milk mixture and combine.

Pour into prepared casserole dish and top with remaining feta cheese. 

Bake for 30 minutes.