MANESTRA (GREEK-STYLE ORZO WITH GROUND BEEF)

 

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef or lamb or turkey
• 1 large onion diced
• 8 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

• Brown the ground beef and onion in a large pot over medium-high heat until fully cooked, about 6 minutes.
• Add the whole can of tomato paste, kosher salt (1 teaspoon), black pepper to taste, ground cinnamon (1/4 teaspoon), and dried spearmint (1 heaping teaspoon).
• Stir to coat the meat in the tomato paste and spices and cook until tomato paste begins to brown, about two minutes.
• Add the four cups of water; bring to a boil.
• Add orzo (1 cup); stir, cover, and simmer on low, stirring occasionally, until orzo is cooked (approximately 20 minutes).
• Serve with grated Romano cheese and chopped fresh mint or parsley, and a drizzle of olive oil, if desired.