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Kiymali Ispanak is one of my favorite Turkish comfort foods. I made it often after my weekly trip to the pazar (bazaar) because I would want to use my fresh spinach right away. It warms my belly and my heart each time I make it. Memories of the rows and rows of fresh vegetables, fruits, cheeses and olives come back to me like they were just yesterday. I can’t believe it has been fifteen years since I have been back to Turkey. Washing the spinach really takes me back to Yesilkoy Pazar in Istanbul. If I remember correctly, it was held on Wednesdays and I could spend hours walking and shopping. My daughter was just a little girl and we would walk to the pazar from our house. She had an umbrella type stroller with handles which would almost be touching the ground after I loaded them down with my many kilos of fruits and veggies. She would be reclined all the way home, luckily, she would usually be asleep by then and never notice the difference. Here is my version of a classic Turkish favorite – Kiymali Ispanak. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Afiyet olsun!
Kiymali Ispanak
Kiymali Ispanak or Ground Beef with Spinach
Author: April Ozbilgin
Recipe type: Main Dish
Cuisine: Turkish
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Ground Beef
- 2 pounds Spinach, chopped
- 1 Onion, chopped
- 2 Cloves Garlic
- ¼ Cup Rice
- 3 ounces Tomato Paste
- 2 - 3 Cups Water
- 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Instructions
- In a large pot, saute chopped onion and garlic in the olive oil until softened.
- Place the ground beef in the pot with the onion and garlic.
- Cook until no longer pink.
- Cover the beef with the spinach and stir.
- Add the tomato paste, rice and water.
- Cover and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes.
- Serve with garlic yogurt.
