This Balkan soup is mild in taste, light on your stomach, and tastes wonderful. 
It can be eaten as a main dish or a side item. We had it as our meal, and it really hit the spot.
Pirjan od Spanaka (Spinach and Rice Soup)
Ingredients:
- 16 oz. fresh baby spinach
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 2 medium onions, diced
- 7 cloves garlic, diced
- 10 baby carrots, diced
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup butter, salted
- 1 1/2 quarts water
- 2 vegetable bullion cubes
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Dice the onions, garlic, and carrots.
- Cook the rice in the water for about 10 minutes on medium high heat.
- While the rice is cooking, fry the onions, garlic, and carrots in the olive oil and butter on medium heat until they’re soft and when the onions start to turn yellow.
- After the rice has cooked about 10 minutes, put the spinach on top of the rice and water. Then cover the pot just until the spinach is steamed and it can be incorporated into the rice/water mix.
- Then remove the lid and add the fried vegetables. Cook on medium until the rice is done and until some of the water evaporates. How long you cook it depends on how much broth you want your soup to have. If it looks like the rice is going to be overcooked, you can remove some of the water.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
