Greek-Style Spinach and Tomato Rice

Spanakorizo, or spinach rice, is a classic home-style Greek dish. For our version, instead of long-grain rice, we use medium-grain Arborio rice to achieve a creamy, velvety consistency similar to Italian risotto. We also cook the rice using a method similar to our risotto technique, adding boiling liquid to the grains in multiple batches and stirring vigorously to heighten their starchiness. The rice gets depth of flavor and a rusty hue from tomato paste that’s sautéed until it begins to caramelize. If you have feta, crumble some on just before serving; the cheese adds a welcome tang and creamy richness.