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

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★★★★★

4.9 from 116 reviews

Manestra is a comforting Greek dish featuring orzo pasta simmered with ground meat, tomato paste, and aromatic spices like cinnamon and spearmint. This simple yet hearty one-pot recipe is perfect for a cozy family meal and can be garnished 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)

For Serving (Optional)

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

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil and sauté onion: In a large heavy pot or Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened and starting to brown, about 3 minutes.
  2. Brown the meat: Add 1 lb ground beef to the pot and cook until fully browned, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add tomato paste and spices: Stir in 6 oz tomato paste, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, black pepper to taste, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1 heaping teaspoon dried spearmint. Cook, stirring, until the tomato paste begins to brown, about 2 minutes.
  4. Add water and bring to boil: Pour in 4 cups water and bring the mixture to a boil.
  5. Add orzo and simmer: Stir in 1 cup orzo, then cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until orzo is cooked through, about 20 minutes. Using the back burner with lower heat helps avoid sticking.
  6. Serve: Spoon the manestra into bowls and garnish with grated Romano cheese, fresh herbs like mint or parsley, and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil if desired.

Notes

  • Use ground lamb or turkey instead of beef for different flavor variations.
  • Fresh mint can substitute the dried spearmint if available.
  • Cooking orzo on the back burner prevents it from sticking to the pot.
  • Optional toppings like Romano cheese and herbs enhance flavor but can be omitted for a dairy-free option.
  • Stir occasionally during simmering to ensure even cooking and prevent burning.

Keywords: manestra, greek orzo, comfort food, ground beef recipe, one-pot meal, greek pasta dish

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