How to Make Spinach Rice with Meatballs

According to the Saed News cooking service, spinach katteh with meat is one of the traditional and delicious Iranian dishes prepared in many different ways. In the past, this dish was commonly made as a herb kuku (herb omelet-style dish), but today it is also prepared with chunks of meat such as beef or chicken. In this recipe, we prepare it with meatballs, which is one of the best traditional versions. For the best taste, it is recommended to use fresh, green spinach. Follow this cooking guide below.

Instructions for Making Spinach Rice with Meatballs

First, wash the onion and grate it finely. Squeeze out excess water and mix it in a bowl with ground meat, salt, pepper, and turmeric. Knead well for a few minutes until the mixture becomes cohesive.

Shape the mixture into small meatballs of desired size, then place them in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes so they firm up. After that, fry the meatballs in a pan with oil until golden and set them aside.

Fill a sink or bowl with cold water and place the spinach inside. Let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse and repeat several times until fully clean. Drain well and chop the spinach.

Heat a small amount of oil in a pan and sauté grated garlic until fragrant. Add the chopped spinach and sauté briefly. Then add pomegranate paste and stewed plums (if using), and set aside.

Soak the rice in salted water for a few hours. The longer it soaks, the better the texture of the rice will be. Once boiled, drain the rice.

In a pot, place a chosen layer for the bottom (tahdig). Then layer rice and spinach mixture alternately until finished. Cover and let it steam on low heat.

Finally, add butter on top, transfer to a serving dish, and decorate with the fried meatballs.

Enjoy your meal.

Key Tips for Spinach Rice with Meatballs

• Meatballs can also be mixed directly with the rice before steaming.

• Instead of pomegranate paste, a small amount of verjuice (or sour grape juice) can be used.

• Adding stewed plums is optional.

• For a better crust (tahdig), use flatbread at the bottom of the pot.

• Place spinach mixture in the middle of the pot to prevent sticking during steaming.

Health Benefits of Spinach

Spinach has many important health benefits, including:

• Helps detoxify the body due to its high fiber content

• Strengthens bones thanks to vitamin K

• Contains antioxidants that help fight free radicals and slow aging

• Improves vision and eye health due to lutein and zeaxanthin

• May help reduce cancer risk

• Helps regulate blood pressure

• Supports heart health and improves blood circulation

• May reduce risk of Alzheimer’s disease

• Strengthens the immune system due to vitamin A

• Aids digestion and prevents constipation

• Helps control diabetes by slowing sugar absorption

• May help lower cholesterol levels

• Supports prevention of anemia due to its iron content