I think we’ve discussed before that I really like Mexican Food.  One of the reasons for this is that I like cheese and sour cream and they just belong with Mexican food.   However, I also really love ways to make Mexican food healthy and fresh tasting – it’s better that way and better for you than $5 Speedy Gonzales lunch specials.  Sorry, but it’s true.

This is one of the most loved side dishes that I make with Mexican food – it’s a surprising twist on standard red Mexican rice that goes with EVERYTHING, and the hidden spinach makes it healthy, too!  We basically make a spinach paste with garlic and herbs and stir it into cooked rice – delicious and easy!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 1/2 cups rice, cooked (4-ish cups once it’s cooked)
• 1 cup fresh spinach leaves
• 1/2 cup cilantro
• salt
• 1/2 jalapeno, seeded and minced
• 1 clove garlic
• zest of 2 limes and juice of 1 lime
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• water

Pulse ingredients to combine, adding water 1 teaspoon at a time until a thick paste forms.  Taste, and add more salt or cilantro, to taste.   The mixture should be really salty since it’s flavoring all the rice!

Gently fluff the rice and stir everything all together, tasting again for salt.

And that’s it!  So easy and really really flavorful and healthy.

This is shown plated with stuffed peppers, which I’ll post next week.  In the meantime, this also goes REALLY well with white chicken enchiladas – a hugely flavorful meal.