Hearty Beef And Orzo With Veggies (Printable)
Tender beef and orzo pasta simmered with fresh vegetables in a flavorful broth for a comforting meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 lb beef stew meat, cut into bite-size pieces
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 large onion, diced
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 3 carrots, sliced
06 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
07 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
08 - 1 zucchini, diced
09 - 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut in 1-inch pieces
10 - 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes with juice
11 - 4 cups beef broth
12 - 4 cups water
13 - 2 cups fresh spinach leaves
→ Pasta & Pantry
14 - 3/4 cup orzo pasta
15 - 1 tbsp tomato paste
→ Spices & Herbs
16 - 1 tsp dried thyme
17 - 1 tsp dried oregano
18 - 2 bay leaves
19 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
20 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
# How To Make It:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add beef and sear on all sides until browned, approximately 5 minutes. Remove beef and set aside.
02 - In the same pot, add onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables are softened and fragrant.
03 - Stir in red bell pepper, zucchini, and green beans. Cook for another 3 minutes to begin softening.
04 - Return beef to the pot. Add diced tomatoes with juice, tomato paste, beef broth, water, thyme, oregano, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
05 - Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes, until beef and vegetables are tender.
06 - Add orzo pasta and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until orzo is cooked al dente.
07 - Stir in spinach until wilted, about 2 minutes. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Remove bay leaves before serving.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with chopped fresh parsley.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The orzo absorbs all those gorgeous beef and vegetable flavors, turning every bite into a hug in a bowl
- This soup transforms humble ingredients into something that tastes like it simmered all day even though it comes together in just over an hour
02 -
- The orzo will continue to absorb liquid as it sits, so the soup thickens up over time which is actually fantastic for leftovers
- Removing the beef before adding vegetables prevents it from toughening up during the longer cooking process
03 -
- Letting the soup cool completely before refrigerating allows the flavors to meld and develop even more depth
- Browning the beef in batches rather than crowding the pot gives you better caramelization