This Spinach Artichoke Rice Casserole combines the gooey, comforting essence of spinach artichoke dip with hearty brown brown rice.
This recipe and article were created in collaboration with Lundberg Family Farms. All opinions are ours.
The other day I was having a conversation with a young woman who was extremely successful in her business and rose to worldwide fame in five short years. I asked him the secret of his very rapid success. Without a slap, she said something like: “I don’t compare myself to others. I stay on my own path and vigorously pursue my vision and definition of success.
Wise words. I think about it often, in a world where it’s easier than ever to play the comparison game. It is then important that each of us finds his vision and goes in this direction. On your way you will see others going in their own direction. Some paths may run parallel to yours for a while and then diverge. Others may just cross your path once and then continue at their own pace. But the beauty is that we are all going somewhere. Each of these paths is as valid, exciting and unique as the people who walk it. None of them should be the same. Read on to learn more about this Spinach Artichoke Rice Casserole recipe!
Related:The best recipes for gluten free dinners
Pursue your vision
So many things in my life have turned out differently than I expected. However, I am slowly getting closer to the vision of life that has formed: a warm and welcoming home. An interesting and creative career. A kitchen full of comfort and food. A life of fulfilling relationships and service to others.
Food has increasingly become the means to bring that warm, welcoming, nourishing, creative and beautiful vision to life. After years of searching for our family and how to support ourselves, there are certainly bumps along the way in all directions. But every day we get a little closer. And you: Are you on the way to your vision?
Related: 10 delicious ways to eat leafy greens
How to make this red rice casserole
As the days get shorter and the mornings crisp and crisp, we start to crave cozy baked goods. We created this rice casserole with organic red rice from Lundberg Family Farms in honor of Whole Grain Month (September). From the beginning it was important to us to integrate a lot of whole grains into our kitchen. quinoa, rice, millet, spelt; You name it, we found delicious ways to eat it!
Red rice is a new whole grain to us, so we were dying to try it, especially since this red rice is sustainably and organically grown. Rice and whole grains are packed with vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins, iron and zinc. They are also an excellent source of complex carbohydratesthat digest slowly and provide the fuel for an active lifestyle. And since red rice has left the rice germ intact, it contains slightly more nutrients than white rice.
To use red rice, we created this rice casserole. It combines the gooey, comforting essence of spinach and artichoke dip with the nutritious whole grains of red rice. While you can definitely substitute other types of rice in this rice casserole, we love the contrast between the bright red rice and the green spinach. It also has a unique nutty flavor. Serve with a salad and our creamy polenta recipe as a main, or even dip with pita chips. It’s cozy and nutritious.
Of course, if you can’t find red rice, you can use brown or white rice instead! Consider using brown rice as it has slightly higher nutritional value. If you can’t vary the 45-minute cook time, make them ahead of time and heat them in a saucepan on the stovetop with about a tablespoon of water to re-wet.
Featured Partner: Lundberg Family Farms
Lundberg Family Farms is a family business that was founded in Nebraska in the 1930’s. After seeing the dustbowl that resulted from poor soil management, Albert Lundberg inspired his sons to take care of the soil. Since then, Lundberg has been growing organic rice for 80 years. They are committed to sustainable farming practices that protect the soil for future generations, and their whole grains are made from the cleanest ingredients.
They were growing crops sustainably long before anyone knew the word. Lundberg grows more than 18 types of rice and grains, including red, black pearl, brown, wild, basmati, sushi, two varieties of US-grown quinoa, and many more. Look for Lundberg brands at your local grocery store.
This rice casserole recipe is…
Vegetarian and gluten free.
The description
This Spinach Artichoke Rice Casserole combines the gooey, comforting essence of spinach artichoke dip with hearty brown brown rice.
- 2 cups organic dry red rice from Lundberg (or brown or white rice)
- 8 ounces spinach leaves (8 cups)
- 1 ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, shared
- 14-oz can of artichoke hearts
- 3 Garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 cup milk
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 8 ounces strong white cheddar cheese (approx. 2 cups), shredded
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Cook rice according to package directions (cook for about 50 minutes and steam for 10 minutes; you can also prepare and reheat the rice ahead of time!). You can also cook rice using the Instant Pot method.
- In a large skillet, heat the spinach leaves and 1 tablespoon water over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the leaves have completely shriveled and collapsed, about 4 to 5 minutes. (You may need to add a second batch of leaves depending on the size of your pan.) Drain the water, place the spinach in a bowl and toss with ¼ tsp kosher salt.
- Roughly chop the artichoke hearts.
- Meanwhile chop the garlic. In a large skillet, heat the butter over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and sauté for about 1 minute. Add milk, red pepper flakes, and 1 teaspoon Kosher salt and bring to a boil. Add the grated cheese and stir until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens slightly (increase the heat slightly if the cheese doesn’t melt right away, but be careful not to overheat).
- When the rice and sauce are ready, pour the rice into a large casserole dish and sprinkle with ½ tsp kosher salt. Add the spinach and artichoke, pour in the sauce and mix well to combine all the rice with the sauce and cheese (making sure to preserve the edges). Scatter the Parmesan on top.
- Bake at 400°F for 15 minutes until warm. Allow to cool for a few minutes before serving.
Remarks
Make Ahead: Make the rice ahead of time and refrigerate until cooked. When cooking, make sure the rice is fully warmed through, adding a few minutes to the cooking time if necessary.
- Category: main course
- Method: Cooked
- Kitchen: American
Keywords: Red Rice Recipe, Spinach Artichoke Casserole, Rice Casserole
Looking for healthy dinner ideas?
Aside from this Spinach Artichoke Rice Casserole, here are some of our best healthy dinner ideas:
