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Manestra: Greek Orzo Comfort Food with Ground Meat and Mint Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 71 reviews

Manestra is a simple and comforting Greek orzo dish featuring ground beef cooked with tomato paste, aromatic spices like cinnamon and spearmint, and simmered with orzo pasta until tender. This hearty one-pot meal is ideal for a cozy family dinner and can be served with grated Romano cheese and fresh herbs for added flavor.

Ingredients

Scale

Main 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)

Optional Garnishes

  • Grated Romano cheese
  • Fresh chopped mint or parsley
  • Extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil and sauté onions: In a large heavy pot such as a Dutch oven, warm the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened and beginning to brown, about 3 minutes.
  2. Brown the ground beef: Add the ground beef to the pot and cook thoroughly, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, for about 5 minutes until fully browned.
  3. Add tomato paste and spices: Stir in the tomato paste, kosher salt, black pepper, ground cinnamon, and dried spearmint. Cook while stirring until the tomato paste starts to brown, about 2 minutes.
  4. Add water and bring to boil: Pour in the water and bring the mixture to a boil.
  5. Add orzo and simmer: Stir in the orzo, cover the pot, and reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer gently on a lower heat (back burner recommended) for approximately 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the orzo is tender and fully cooked.
  6. Serve: Spoon the manestra into bowls and garnish with grated Romano cheese, fresh chopped mint or parsley, and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil if desired. Serve warm.

Notes

  • Using the back burner helps prevent the orzo from sticking and burning during the simmering process.
  • You can substitute ground beef with ground lamb or turkey for variation.
  • Whole wheat orzo can be used for a healthier option without altering the cooking time significantly.
  • Adjust seasoning to taste towards the end of cooking if necessary.
  • The cinnamon and spearmint give this dish its authentic Greek flavor profile, so do not omit if possible.

Keywords: Manestra, Greek orzo recipe, comfort food, ground beef recipes, tomato paste, easy Greek dinner, one-pot meals

Find it online: https://famdishes.com/manestra-greek-orzo-comfort-food-with-ground-meat-and-mint-recipe/