Bulgarian Spinach & Rice

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 pounds of fresh spinach, chopped, washed, drained
• 1 spring onion, chopped
• 1/3 cups of olive oil
• 1 1/3 cup of water
• 1 1/3 cups of long-grain rice or white rice
  
• 5 1/4 cups of water
• sea salt
• freshly ground pepper
• juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
• Optional: Parmesan cheese, feta, or other cheese
• Optional: diced tomatoes or tomato sauce
• Optional: 1-2 finely chopped chili pepper
  

Preparation:

In a stock pot, sauté the chopped spring onion in the oil over medium heat for 8-10 minutes. Add spinach and 1 1/3 cups of water and cook until the spinach wilts, about 5-7 minutes.

Add rice and 5 1/4 cups of water, bring to a boil, and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in lemon juice and salt, cook for another 5 minutes and remove from heat.

(Optional: Grate in Parmesan or other cheese.)

Stir, cover, and let sit until the dish "melds."