Manestra: Greek Orzo Comfort Food Recipe
Manestra is a comforting and simple Greek orzo dish featuring ground beef simmered in a tomato paste and aromatic spices, cooked together with orzo pasta until tender. This hearty one-pot meal is perfect for a cozy dinner and can be served with grated Romano cheese, fresh herbs, and a drizzle of olive oil for added richness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 lb. ground beef (or lamb or turkey)
- 6 oz. tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (plus more if needed)
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 heaping teaspoon dried spearmint (or 1 tablespoon fresh chopped mint)
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup orzo (whole wheat or regular)
For Serving (Optional)
- Grated Romano cheese
- Fresh chopped mint or parsley
- Extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Sauté onions: In a large heavy pot with a lid, such as a Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened and starting to brown, about 3 minutes.
- Brown the meat: Add the ground beef to the pot and cook until fully browned, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks, about 5 minutes.
- Add tomato paste and spices: Stir in the tomato paste, kosher salt, black pepper, ground cinnamon, and dried spearmint. Cook the mixture until the tomato paste begins to brown slightly, about 2 minutes, coating the meat evenly.
- Add water and bring to boil: Pour in the water and bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Cook orzo: Add the orzo to the pot, stir well, then cover and reduce heat to low. Let it simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is cooked through and tender, approximately 20 minutes. Use a low heat or back burner to prevent sticking.
- Serve: Spoon the manestra into bowls and serve with optional grated Romano cheese, fresh chopped mint or parsley, and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil if desired.
Notes
- Using the back burner can help prevent the orzo from sticking to the pot.
- Ground lamb or turkey can substitute for beef based on preference.
- Fresh mint can replace dried spearmint for a brighter herb flavor.
- This dish pairs well with a simple green salad or crusty bread.
- Adjust salt to taste, especially if using salted cheese as topping.
Keywords: Manestra, Greek orzo, ground beef comfort food, tomato paste, one pot meal, Mediterranean pasta
