Spinach and Feta Casserole with Brown Rice
Spinach and Feta Casserole with Brown Rice got two thumbs up from my sister Pam when I tried out the recipe on her.
PIN Spinach and Feta Casserole with Brown Rice!
Yesterday my sister Pam and brother-in-law Kelly came over, and Kelly replaced my broken garbage disposal (thanks Kelly!) While he worked on that Pam and I raided the fridge where there were some leftovers of this Spinach and Feta Casserole with Brown Rice. A few hours later Pam called me. saying she wanted to save the spinach and feta casserole, but couldn’t find it on the blog. I had to tell her I was sorry that I hadn’t posted the recipe yet, but I was very happy that she liked it so much!
This is one of those wonderfully versatile recipes that could be a vegetable-laden side dish or a perfect vegetarian dish. And I’m a more than a little proud that I’ve managed to have a meatless recipe for the blog this Monday, since sticking to a schedule hasn’t been one of my best skills the last few years.
How to make this recipe:
(Scroll down for complete recipe with nutritional information.)
- I cooked the brown rice in my Zojirushi Rice Cooker (affiliate link), but you can use any method you’d like to get 3 cups of cooked brown rice.
- Thaw a one pound package of spinach in the fridge or microwave.
- Then drain the spinach and squeeze out all the water.
- Mix together the eggs, buttermilk (or milk), green onion, dried thyme, salt, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Then stir in the drained spinach.
- Measure out 1 cup of Feta cheese and make sure it’s well-crumbled for this recipe. Mix the crumbled Feta and 1/2 cup coarsely grated Parmesan into the spinach and egg mixture.
- Then mix in the brown rice, combining it thoroughly so all the ingredients are well-distributed in the rice.
- Press the mixture into a 2 1/2 or 3 quart casserole dish that you’ve sprayed with oil or non-stick spray.
- Bake covered for about 30 minutes, or until the casserole is heated through.
- Then remove the lid and sprinkle on 1/4 cup more of coarsely grated Parmesan cheese.
- Put back in the oven and bake about 10 minutes longer.
- Here’s how it looked when it was done baking and hot out of the oven.
- Serve hot or warm.
More Tasty Meatless Dinner Ideas:
Butternut Squash and Kale Soup
Weekend Food Prep:
This recipe has been added to a category called Weekend Food Prep to help you find recipes you can prep or cook on the weekend and eat during the week!
Spinach and Feta Casserole with Brown Rice
Spinach and Feta Casserole with Brown Rice is a tasty side dish or vegetarian main dish, perfect for a week day meal!
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked brown rice
- 16 oz. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup buttermilk or milk (see notes)
- 1/2 cup finely sliced green onions
- 1 tsp. dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup crumbled Feta cheese (see notes)
- 1/2 cup + 1/4 cup coarsely grated Parmesan (see notes)
Instructions
- Cook enough brown rice to make 3 cups cooked brown rice. (Follow package directions or use a rice cooker).
- Let rice cool slightly while you prepare other ingredients.
- Preheat oven to 350F/180C.
- Put thawed spinach into a colander, then use your hands to squeeze out as much of the water as you can.
- In a small bowl, beat the eggs and then mix in the buttermilk (or milk), sliced green onions, dried thyme, salt, and Worcestershire sauce.
- When ingredients are combined, mix in the drained spinach.
- Then mix in the crumbled Feta and 1/2 cup coarsely grated Parmesan, followed by the brown rice.
- Use a fork to mix until the ingredients are well-distributed into the rice.
- Put the mixture into a 2.5 or 3 quart casserole dish that you’ve sprayed with oil or non-stick spray.
- Cover the dish and bake about 30 minutes, or until the rice mixture is heated through and Feta is starting to melt.
- Uncover and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, then bake about 10 minutes more. Serve hot.
- This freezes well, but you may not have any left to freeze!
Notes
I never buy milk so I used buttermilk and it was great in this. One cup of crumbled Feta is about 6 oz. If you only have finely grated parmesan, I’d use a little less.
Recipe inspired by one found in The Big Book of Casseroles, with quite a few healthy changes by Kalyn.
Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
I made a lot of changes in the original recipe to make this lower-glycemic and suitable for the original South Beach, including using brown rice, leaving out the butter, using less cheese and switching some of it for lower-fat Feta cheese, and increasing the proportion of spinach to other ingredients. With my changes, this would be okay for phase 2 or 3 of South Beach and probably okay for most low-glycemic eating plans if you use portion control. With brown rice, this isn’t a good choice for a stricter low-carb eating plan.
Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Casserole Recipes to find more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to Follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.
52 Comments on “Spinach and Feta Casserole with Brown Rice”
Glad people are liking this combination. It is kind of similar to the flavors in Tiropita (the Greek hand pies with spinach and Feta)! Didn't think of that at all until someone mentioned it.
Jeanette, I am thrilled about the Save Recipe option, thanks!
This reminds me of the Greek Spinach Pies that are wrapped in filo (but this brown rice casserole is a lot healthier!). I like your new 'save recipe' option.
You have just a wonderful blog packed with wonderful healthy recipes. I am a follower and thank you for helping keeping me inspired by healthy food.
Nice!
I'm a huge spinach fan and any kind of added cheese is a big pleaser, especially parmesan. Can't wait to try this casserole!!
So glad people are liking this. I have some in the freezer and I'm thinking it's lunch today!
Kalyn, I am truly so excited to make this. We go through a lot of brown rice in our house and are always looking for new ways to liven it up. This is the answer!
I'm a huge baked spinach fan! I'll admit I grew up on store bought spinach souffles… sounds strange but I still like today 🙂
Worcestershire sauce and Parmesan aren't normally vegetarian but I'll be trying it with some alternatives.
I've been looking for a good recipe with spinach and this fits the bill!
This reminds me of spanakopita, except in dinner form minus the phyllo. YUM!
Kalyn
This looks great and I can't wait to try it! I have some feta in the refrigerator and most of the remaining ingredients are staples in my house (another reason to like this recipe!). It's going on the menu for the week.
Karen
I love the brown rice in there! I am sure the dish is very satisfying!
Deborah, I do know just what you mean! This is really so tasty and a great way to eat a lot of spinach!
I love the idea of having this as a meatless main dish. I seem to have a hard time finding meatless mains that appeal to me that aren't pasta based.
Georgina, this is vegetarian but not vegan.
Joanne, I think that's a good thing! (Much better than craving candy!)
Lydia, yes I'm afraid raisins and dried fruit aren't South Beach friendly because of the sugar content. But it does sound good for people who aren't on South Beach.
Would it be South Beach unfriendly to add some golden raisins? I love that combination of flavors and while I was reading the recipe thought right away of tossing some raisins in. I'd definitely serve this as a main dish.
I have been CRAVING greens lately like a crazy person. Seriously, I think I've eaten spinach every day for the past two weeks! I think it's time to add some cheese and brown rice into the mix!
Sounds delicious! I'll be tweaking it to make it vegetarian and trying it this week.
Thanks Nancy! Hope you enjoy it as much as Pam and I did.
Kayln, This casserole sounds simply delicious! I can't wait to try it.