Manestra (simple Greek orzo comfort food)

• servings: 4 servings
• active time: 10 minutes
• total time: 30 minutes

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)

Directions

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.

Nutrition

• Calories: 486 kcal
• Total Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 81 mg
• Sodium: 1121 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 42 g
• Dietary Fiber: 4 g
• Total Sugars: 9 g
• Protein: 27 g