Prasorizo is a traditional leek rice recipe from Greece.
This quick & easy vegetarian Prasorizo is perfect for busy households looking to inject a bit of healthy Mediterranean nutrition into the midweek meal.
Our healthy Prasorizo recipe is the perfect side dish for your next Greek themed dinner party.
The simple recipe features affordable ingredients like olive oil, garlic, leeks, long grain rice, fresh dill, lemons and feta cheese.
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What Is Greek Prasorizo?
Prasorizo is a humble and rustic Greek recipe made primarily with leeks (praso) and rice (rizi).
Greek Leek Rice is common across the country especially during lent or other fasting periods when locals do not consume animal products for religious reasons.
Our recipe is a vegetarian dish but can also be prepared as vegan prasorizo if you omit the feta cheese garnish.
Prasorizo is one of our favourite comfort foods, especially since it features simple and affordable ingredients and is so quick to make.
Authentic Leek Rice is rich and creamy, and slightly sweet thanks to the caramelized leeks. The popular Greek side dish is flavoured with common Mediterranean pantry staples like lemon, garlic and dill.
Travel to Greece by Cooking Prasorizo Leek Rice at Home
I love traveling to Europe.
As a professional food and travel journalist, I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy amazing meals in Europe, from traditional markets to award winning restaurants.
During my first visit to the continent I traveled for 5 months by train and plane. I had the opportunity to eat my way through Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia,Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Croatia, Bosnia, Hungary, Slovakia, Turkey and Italy.
For over ten years, I’ve been on the hunt for the best Prasorizo recipe. In Greece, I enjoyed comforting bowls of creamy leeks with rice as a side dish at restaurants in Meteora, Tzitzikas Kai in Athens, Kokkalo The Bone in Santorini and Kiki’s Taverna in Mykonos.
After you’ve enjoyed your first few bites, you’ll realize why vegetarian Prasorizo is a must-try when visiting Greece!
Where To Eat Greek Leek Rice
If you live in a large city in North America you’ll likely have access to a local Greek restaurant that serves authentic Prasorizo.
Haven’t traveled to Greece before? It may be helpful to first sample creamy Leeks with Rice at a local restaurant to better understand how the popular side dish is served. You’ll get an idea for the ideal leek to rice ratio, perfect amount of lemon and dill to flavour the recipe and other Greek dishes to serve at the table.
In Toronto, popular Greek restaurants that may serve authentic Leek Rice include Mamakas Taverna, Mezes Greek Restaurant, Estiatorio Volos and Messini.
My Family Loves Homemade Prasorizo
My family are big fans of Mediterranean cuisine.
We love cooking flavourful dishes from Greece, Bosnia, Croatia, Egypt, France, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Spain, and Turkey.
After traveling to Greece I wanted to share my love of creamy Leek Rice with my family.
I made this Prasorizo recipe at our family cottage in Muskoka on a hot summer day as a side dish. Since it was barbecue season we served the flavourful rice with a selection of grilled shrimp, beef steaks, pork chops and chicken.
The dish was served “almost farm to table,” as we were able to harvest fresh dill and garlic from our backyard herb and vegetable garden.
This easy Prasorizo is a tasty way to incorporate fresh and flavourful ingredients into a healthy Mediterranean diet. The attractive side dish is a real show stopper if you’ve got company coming for dinner!
Greek Leek Rice Health Benefits
Our easy Prasorizo recipe is packed full of healthy ingredients!
Olive Oil is ranked as one of the healthiest fats and is a staple in the Mediterranean diet. It contains vitamins E and K and plenty of beneficial fatty acids and antioxidants.
It is only recently that scientists have begun to identify the components responsible for garlic’s myriad health benefits. Rich in phytochemicals and potassium, garlic helps boost your immune system, fight cancer and protect your heart.
Leeks are a humble vegetable packed with vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. Regular consumption of onions can help boost digestive health and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
Nearly 50% of the people in the world get over 50% of their daily calories from rice. If eating brown rice featuring nutritious bran you’ll enjoy health benefits like cancer risk reduction and diabetes control.
A rich source of phytochemicals and vitamin C, lemons help boost your immune system and neutralize free radicals that cause disease and skin aging. Lemons also protect against heart disease and help improve blood flow to the brain.
Dill is packed with micronutrients such as Vitamin A and C, responsible for healthy vision, skin and immune function.
Consuming dairy products (such as milk and cheese) provides health benefits — especially improved bone health. Dairy foods provide nutrients that are vital for health and maintenance of your body. These nutrients include calcium, potassium, vitamin D, and protein.
Prasorizo Recipe Cooking Tips
Healthy Greek Leek Rice is quick and easy to make at home.
- Use a large pot or Dutch Oven to prepare the rice over your stove.
- Use your favourite long grain rice like jasmine or basmati.
- We like to flavour creamy leek rice with chopped dill but you can get creative in the kitchen, using a mixture of fresh tender herbs like chives, parsley and oregano.
- If you’re making this vegetarian Prasorizo recipe we suggest using a firm Greek-style cow’s milk feta cheese. Crumble it on top before serving.
- You can make vegan Leek Rice by omitting the cheese and simply garnishing with freshly chopped herbs and lemon zest.
What To Serve with Prasorizo
Our Prasorizo recipe is the perfect side dish to serve at a Mediterranean themed dinner party or when vegetarian meat-free friends are coming over for dinner.
We often serve Leeks with Rice in a big bowl with a serving spoon at family potlucks or summer BBQs where an easy “serve yourself” buffet is the name of the game!
Serve it alongside your favourite fresh salads, barbecued vegetables, grilled meat or seafood.
If you’re looking to impress guests at a Mediterranean themed dinner party we suggest serving this deliciously creamy and comforting Prasorizo leek rice recipe with these other popular dishes from the region:
- Baked Mediterranean Chicken Thighs
- Garides Saganaki Sizzling Greek Feta Shrimp
- Oven Baked Halloumi with Roasted Vegetables
- Fakes Soupa Healthy Vegetarian Greek Lentil Soup
- Melitzanosalata Greek Eggplant Dip
- Mucver Tarif Vegetarian Turkish Zucchini Fritters
- Turkish Pogaca Feta and Dill Bread Rolls
- Mihlama Kuymak Turkish Melted Cheese and Cornmeal
- Peynirli Pide Cheesy Chorizo Turkish Pizza
- Kiymali Pide Spiced Minced Meat Turkish Pizza
- Turkish Mint Yogurt Corbasi Soup
- Vegan Spicy Turkish Salsa Ezme Salata Salad
- Kisir Turkish Bulgur Salad
You May Enjoy These Rice Recipes…
- Aguadito de Pollo Peruvian Chicken Soup
- Mdardara Lebanese Caramelized Onion Lentil Rice
- Adas Polo Persian Lentil Rice
- Spicy Thai Basil Fried Rice
- Curry Leaf Rice with Cashews
- Sartu Di Riso Italian Baked Risotto
- Khao Pad Sapparod Thai Pineapple Shrimp Fried Rice
- Vegetarian Gorgonzola Risotto al Radicchio
- Indian Thakkali Tomato Biryani
- Spicy Gukbap Korean Rice & Beef Soup
- Romanian Soup Ciorba de Perisoare
- Spicy Pork Bibimbap
How To Make Vegetarian Prasorizo Leek Rice Recipe
Prasorizo Greek Leek Rice
Equipment
- French knife
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- Large pot
- Spatula or Wooden Spoon
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Olive Oil
- 3 Leeks green parts removed, chopped
- 6 Garlic Cloves minced
- 1.5 cups Long Grain Rice
- 3 cups Water
- 2 tbsp Dill chopped
- 2 Lemons zest + juice
- Salt & Pepper
- 2 tbsp Feta crumbled
Instructions
- In a large, wide pot, heat the olive oil over low heat. Add the leeks and cook until wilted, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and stir to coat in the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add the rice and stir to coat. Stir in the water. Reduce the heat to simmer, cover and cook until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is very tender, about 20 minutes.
- Towards the last 5 minutes of simmering, add the dill, lemon juice, and zest.
- Serve topped with crumbled feta cheese and dill.
Nutrition
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