By Lori Walker, MS, RD | Published on July 20, 2023 | Last Updated on August 19, 2023
If you are new to Greek cuisine, you will love Revithia Me Spanaki! Revithia Me Spanaki is a classic Greek dish that combines the flavors of healthy herbs and spices.
It’s an incredibly hearty and flavorful meal that not only tastes delicious but is also super nutritious! This easy-to-make dish is vegan-friendly and comes together in just over an hour. Plus, it is sure to please any crowd!
In this article, you will learn about the history of this dish, the ingredients you need to make it, cooking tips and tricks, as well as nutrition information.
What Is Revithia Me Spanaki?
Revithia Me Spanaki is a traditional Greek stew that combines chickpeas and spinach with onion, garlic, tomato juice, olive oil, dill, oregano, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. It is a vegan-friendly dish that is incredibly hearty and flavorful. It is often served with rice or crusty bread for an even heartier meal.
Where Did I First Try Revithia Me Spanaki?
I first tried Revithia Me Spanaki on a trip to Greece in the summer of 2015. I was traveling with my family and we decided to stay at a small seaside village close to Athens. We wanted to immerse ourselves in the culture and cuisine of the area, so we decided to sample some of the local dishes. One evening, after exploring an archaeological site, we stopped at a small café for dinner.
The menu featured several traditional Greek dishes, but the one that caught my eye was Revithia Me Spanaki. As soon as I saw it on the menu, I knew I had to try it! The dish arrived steaming hot and smelled delicious.
It looked like a thick stew with chickpeas and spinach in a tomato base. I remember being amazed at the depth of flavor that this simple dish had.
I took my first bite and immediately fell in love with the richness of the flavors. The chickpeas were tender and creamy, while the spinach provided a wonderful contrast to the creaminess of the beans.
The garlic and onion added a lovely pungent note, while the tomato juice and dill gave it a bright tanginess. The oregano and lemon juice added just the right subtle hints of sweetness.
I was so impressed with this dish that I made sure to ask the chef for his recipe. Fortunately, he happily obliged and I have been making this flavorful Greek stew ever since! Everyone who tries it loves it and I am always asked for the recipe. It has become one of my favorite dishes to make and share with family and friends.
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Ingredients
- Chickpeas: This recipe requires chickpeas because they help add a creamy texture to the stew.
- Spinach: Spinach adds a wonderful earthy flavor and lots of vitamins and minerals.
- Dill: Dill adds a delicious herbal flavor to the stew.
- Olive oil: This is a classic Greek ingredient that helps bring all the flavors together.
- Garlic and onion: These two aromatics add a pungent flavor and help bring the dish to life.
- Tomato juice: Tomato juice provides acidity and sweetness to the stew.
- Lemon juice: The lemon juice adds brightness and helps balance out all the flavors.
- Salt: Salt is used to enhance the flavor of the stew.
- Pepper: This helps bring out all the other flavors and adds a bit of spice to the dish.
- Oregano: This adds an unmistakable Greek flavor to the stew.
Cooking Directions
Step 1
Rinse the chickpeas in a strainer and transfer them to a pot. Fill the pot with enough water to cover the chickpeas and bring it to a boil.
Step 2
After boiling for about 15 minutes, reduce heat and simmer for another hour or until tender. Drain excess water. In a separate pan, heat the olive oil and add chopped garlic and onion. Sauté for a few minutes until fragrant.
Step 3
Add spinach to the pan and sauté until wilted. Add tomato juice, dill, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and oregano to the pan stirring constantly. Simmer for about 5 minutes.
Finally, add the cooked chickpeas and mix everything together. Simmer for another 10 minutes or until desired consistency is achieved.
Cooking Tips
- Always make sure that you are using fresh ingredients for this dish, as they will have the best flavor.
- If you are using canned chickpeas, be sure to rinse them well before adding them to the stew.
- Don’t be afraid to adjust the seasonings according to your taste. You can add more or less of any of the ingredients as desired.
- To make this dish even heartier, you can add potatoes or other vegetables of your choice.
- This dish can be served with rice, crusty bread, pita, or any other side dish you like.
What Ingredients Can I Replace or Substitute While Making It?
You can substitute the chickpeas with other types of beans such as white beans or black-eyed peas. You can also swap out the spinach for kale, collard greens, Swiss chard, or any other leafy green of your choice.
If you don’t have dill on hand, you can use fresh parsley instead. For those who don’t like olive oil, you can use vegetable oil instead. Additionally, if you don’t have any tomato juice at home, you can replace it with vegetable broth or water.
Revithia Me Spanaki Recipe
Equipment
- strainer
- knife
Ingredients
Instructions
- Rinse the chickpeas in a strainer and transfer them to a pot. Fill the pot with enough water to cover the chickpeas and bring it to a boil.
- After boiling for about 15 minutes, reduce heat and simmer for another hour or until tender. Drain excess water. In a separate pan, heat the olive oil and add chopped garlic and onion. Sauté for a few minutes until fragrant.
- Add spinach to the pan and sauté until wilted. Add tomato juice, dill, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and oregano to the pan stirring constantly. Simmer for about 5 minutes. Finally, add the cooked chickpeas and mix everything together. Simmer for another 10 minutes or until desired consistency is achieved.
Notes
- Always make sure that you are using fresh ingredients for this dish, as they will have the best flavor.
- If you are using canned chickpeas, be sure to rinse them well before adding them to the stew.
- Don’t be afraid to adjust the seasonings according to your taste. You can add more or less of any of the ingredients as desired.
- To make this dish even heartier, you can add potatoes or other vegetables of your choice.
- This dish can be served with rice, crusty bread, pita, or any other side dish you like.
Nutrition Information
One serving (about 1 cup) contains approximately:
- Calories: 180
- Fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 12g
- Vitamin A: 21% of the RDI
- Vitamin C: 30% of the RDI
- Calcium: 9% of the RDI
- Iron: 20% of the RDI.
How to Store Leftover Revithia Me Spanaki?
If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container and keep them refrigerated for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the stew for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and then heat on the stovetop until warmed through.
FAQs
Can pregnant women eat this?
Yes, as long as all the ingredients are cooked thoroughly and handled properly. For sure this dish is a great source of nutrition for pregnant women.
Can I make this in the slow cooker?
Yes, you can! Just add all the ingredients to the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until everything is cooked through. However, you may need to adjust the liquid level accordingly, as the slow cooker will produce more moisture.
Is this dish vegan-friendly?
Yes, this dish is vegan-friendly! It does not contain any animal products. Moreover, it is filled with lots of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals!
Can I make this dish gluten-free?
Yes, absolutely! Just be sure to double-check that all the ingredients you use are certified gluten-free. Indeed, this dish is a great option for those with gluten allergies or sensitivities.
Wrapping Up
Thanks for reading this recipe on Revithia Me Spanaki! This traditional Greek stew is chock-full of flavor and nutrition. It’s a delicious way to refuel after a long day of sightseeing or exploring the culture of Greece. Plus, it’s super easy to make and can be adjusted according to your taste preferences.
So go ahead and give it a try! Please share the recipe with your friends and family, and don’t forget to tell us how it turns out.
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My name is Lori Walker. I’m a registered dietitian, food blogger and food enthusiast. I share easy healthy, delicious recipes on my blog and review necessary kitchen items. The recipes I share take less… Read more
