4.9 from 345 votes
Manestra (simple Greek orzo comfort food)
Manestra- the BEST simple Greek comfort food made with orzo, ground beef (or lamb or turkey), onions, and tomato with mint and cinnamon.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 486 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Greek
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 is fine
- grated romano cheese, fresh chopped mint or parsley, and/or extra-virgin olive oil, for serving optional
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.
Cup of Yum
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
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
% 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% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.