Manestra: Greek Orzo Comfort Food with Beef and Mint Recipe
Manestra is a comforting Greek dish featuring orzo pasta cooked in a rich, savory sauce of ground beef, tomato paste, and aromatic spices such as cinnamon and spearmint. This simple, hearty one-pot meal is flavored with a blend of Mediterranean seasonings and can be served with grated Romano cheese and fresh herbs for an authentic taste of Greece.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Greek
- Diet: Halal
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Aromatics
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 lb. ground beef (or lamb or turkey)
Seasonings and Sauces
- 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)
Other Ingredients
- 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
- Heat olive oil and sauté onion: In a large heavy pot or Dutch oven, warm 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened and just starting to brown, about 3 minutes.
- Brown the ground meat: Add 1 lb. ground beef to the pot with the onions. Cook until fully browned, breaking apart the meat with a wooden spoon, about 5 minutes.
- 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. Coat the meat evenly and cook until the tomato paste begins to brown slightly, about 2 minutes.
- Add water and bring to a boil: Pour in 4 cups water and raise the heat to bring the mixture to a boil.
- Add orzo and simmer: Stir in 1 cup orzo, then cover the pot and reduce heat to low. Allow the orzo to simmer gently for approximately 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Cooking on a back burner with gentler heat is recommended.
- Serve with garnishes: Once the orzo is tender and liquid absorbed, serve the manestra hot. Optionally, sprinkle with grated Romano cheese, fresh chopped mint or parsley, and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil for added flavor.
Notes
- For a leaner option, substitute ground beef with ground turkey or lamb.
- Dried spearmint is traditional, but fresh mint can be used for a brighter flavor.
- Cooking the orzo on a lower heat helps prevent sticking and burning on the bottom of the pot.
- Adjust salt and pepper seasoning at the end if needed.
- This dish can be served as a main meal or as a side dish with Greek salads or roasted vegetables.
Keywords: Manestra, Greek orzo dish, ground beef orzo, Greek comfort food, tomato orzo stew, traditional Greek recipe
