Manestra (simple Greek orzo comfort food)

Name: Manestra (simple Greek orzo comfort food)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 large onion; 1 lb. ground beef; 6 oz. tomato paste; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; black pepper; 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1 heaping teaspoon dried spearmint; 4 cups water; 1 cup orzo; grated romano cheese, fresh chopped mint or parsley, and/or extra-virgin olive oil, for serving

User Reviews

4.9

345 reviews

Excellent

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings
4 servings
Calories
486 kcal
Course
Main Course
Cuisine
Greek

Manestra (simple Greek orzo comfort food)

Jacqueline Bell

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Manestra- the BEST simple Greek comfort food made with orzo, ground beef (or lamb or turkey), onions, and tomato with mint and cinnamon.

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Ingredients

Servings

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 is fine
grated romano cheese, fresh chopped mint or parsley, and/or extra-virgin olive oil, for serving optional

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Instructions

In a large heavy pot with a lid, such as a Dutch oven, heat the 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced 1 large onion and cook until softened and starting to brown, about 3 minutes. Add the 1 lb. ground beef and cook until fully browned, breaking apart as it cooks with a wooden spoon, about 5 minutes.
Add the 6 oz. tomato paste, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, black pepper to taste, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1 heaping teaspoon dried spearmint.
Stir to coat the meat in the tomato paste and spices and cook until tomato paste begins to brown, about two minutes.
Add the 4 cups water; bring to a boil.
Add 1 cup orzo; stir, cover, and simmer on low, stirring occasionally, until orzo is cooked (approximately 20 minutes). I recommend doing this on the back burner, which isn't as hot, to prevent the orzo from sticking to the pot too much.
Serve with grated romano cheese, fresh chopped mint or parsley, and/or extra-virgin olive oil, for serving, if desired.

Notes

I recommend using lean ground beef for this. If you use a fattier kind, or with ground lamb, it may be greasy, so I recommend using a spoon to scoop out and discard some of the fat after browning the meat.
If you use ground turkey, I recommend adding 1 tablespoon of butter or olive oil to the pan when you cook it, since turkey is so lean.
The provided nutrition information does not include any added sodium from seasoning to taste, any optional ingredients, and it does not take brands into account. Feel free to calculate it yourself using this calculator or by adding the recipe to Yummly.

Nutrition Information

Show Details

Calories 486kcal (24%) Carbohydrates 42g (14%) Protein 27g (54%) Fat 24g (37%) Saturated Fat 9g (45%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 10g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 81mg (27%) Sodium 1121mg (47%) Potassium 1010mg (29%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 9g (18%) Vitamin A 892IU (18%) Vitamin C 14mg (16%) Calcium 67mg (7%) Iron 5mg (28%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 486 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories	486kcal	24%
Carbohydrates	42g	14%
Protein	27g	54%
Fat	24g	37%
Saturated Fat	9g	45%
Polyunsaturated Fat	1g	6%
Monounsaturated Fat	10g	50%
Trans Fat	1g	50%
Cholesterol	81mg	27%
Sodium	1121mg	47%
Potassium	1010mg	21%
Fiber	4g	16%
Sugar	9g	18%
Vitamin A	892IU	18%
Vitamin C	14mg	16%
Calcium	67mg	7%
Iron	5mg	28%