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Home > Recipes > Whole Grains > Brown & Wild Rice > "Healthified" Spinach and Rice Casserole
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"Healthified" Spinach and Rice Casserole

"Healthified" Spinach and Rice Casserole
Recipe Tip
What is "Healthified"?
We've replaced ingredients with great-tasting alternatives to create better-for-you recipes that are just as yummy as the originals.
Time-Saver
Look for prepackaged diced cooked ham near the cooked meats in the grocery store.
Success
For this recipe, be sure to use instant brown rice. Regular brown rice requires a different amount of liquid and takes longer to cook.
72% less sat fat • 43% fewer calories • 61% less fat than the original recipe—see the comparison. A favorite casserole gets a star makeover. Substituting brown rice for white provides whole-grain benefits while reduced fat ingredients trim the fat but keep the flavor. From eatbetteramerica.
Prep Time:20 min
Start to Finish:1 hr
makes:8 servings (1 cup each)

2teaspoons olive oil
3medium carrots, chopped (1 1/2 cups)
2/3cup chopped celery
1medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1clove garlic, finely chopped
1 3/4cups water
1can (10 3/4 oz) condensed 98% fat-free cream of mushroom soup
2boxes (9 oz each) Green Giant® frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained
1 1/2cups uncooked instant brown rice
1teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2teaspoon pepper
1cup diced cooked ham
3/4cup shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese (3 oz)
1/4cup grated Parmesan cheese
1.Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
2.In 3-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add carrots, celery, onion and garlic; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add water and soup; heat to boiling. Add spinach, rice, Italian seasoning and pepper; return to boiling. Remove from heat; stir in ham, 1/4 cup of the Cheddar cheese and the Parmesan cheese. Spread in baking dish. Cover with foil.
3.Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese. Let stand uncovered 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Nutritional Information
1 Serving: Calories 220 (Calories from Fat 70); Total Fat 8g (Saturated Fat 2 1/2g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 15mg; Sodium 780mg; Total Carbohydrate 26g (Dietary Fiber 3g, Sugars 3g); Protein 12g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 180%; Vitamin C 4%; Calcium 25%; Iron 10% Exchanges: 1 Starch; 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 1 Vegetable; 1 Medium-Fat Meat; 1/2 Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 2 
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
 
10 Reviews

 
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Don't judge a book by its cover
This meal was absolutely delicious! When I pulled it out of the oven, it didn't look great. My husband was a little skeptical to eat it, but I told him to just try it because it had gotten great reviews. We loved it and it is only 220 calories. The problem is I had a hard time not going back for seconds...so I did! I have it for lunch today too.
Posted at 3:53 PM on February 24 2010 by Jguzzy09
 
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GREAT
This is a great tasting recipe. I appreciate the lighter version of cooking and this is comfort food as good as it comes....Use fresh spinach if possible, it is worthy of a great presentation. I had some left over chicken, and just dice it up and toss it in. You will not regret it, and the army of kids in my house ranging from 1-13 left not a left over in sight.
Posted at 3:26 PM on September 18 2009 by hotcookinmama
 
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yum! yum!
My husband and I just had this for dinner...with lots of leftovers for the week. I added chicken instead of ham, and other spices instead of the Italian seasoning. I also added mushrooms to the veggies. This turned out to be a great meal! Will definitely make this again!
Posted at 3:26 PM on September 18 2009 by kbennett
 
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I thought this was really pretty good, and my kids ate it all up! I used fresh spinach instead of frozen--which to me makes all the difference.
Posted at 3:23 PM on May 5 2009 by Rica+5
 
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Revolting
After viewing this recipe and reading all of the ratings and comments I had high hopes for this dish. To say that I was disappointed would be an understatement. It was repulsive! I'm not sure if it was the Italian seasoning, or what, but I definitely would not recommend this recipe to anyone that I actually liked.
Posted at 11:46 AM on February 9 2009 by MelFL
 
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I don't eat pork so I tried this recipe with ground turkey. It was wonderful and very easy to make. I think I will try a different meat next time for a little more flavor!
Posted at 9:40 AM on November 14 2008 by Shannon
 
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This dish was great. Very tasty. The recipe is a keeper.
Posted at 4:16 PM on October 9 2008 by leslie790
 
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Soooo good!! Delicious, will definately make again and again!
Posted at 9:26 AM on October 2 2008 by Brandy
 
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Spinach and Rice Casserole
I made it for my grandchildren. They loved it, even after I told them that it had spinach in it.
Posted at 9:46 AM on September 29 2008 by Fran, Wisconsin
 
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Awsome!!
This was a easy recipe and was outstanding. My whole family loved it.
Posted at 2:11 PM on September 25 2008 by mrsmac63