Published . Last updated By Elizabeth Lindemann   /  This post may contain affiliate links.
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4.94 from 108 votes
Most people’s comfort food is some kind of casserole, mac’n’cheese, or other simple American fare.
Manestra is mine.
Comfort food really is what you grow up eating, and my mom had lots of delicious, simple Greek recipes that I still make when I want something warm, comforting, and non-vegetable based (because what comfort food is made of vegetables?) :-)
This recipe is simple, and I sometimes refer to it as “Greek Chop Suey” – Ground beef or turkey (or lamb, if you want to get fancy) is cooked with onions in a tomato-based broth with orzo, with mint and cinnamon added for a unique Greek flavor.
I know what you are thinking.
Mint and cinnamon?
Really?
Trust me, it works.
Cinnamon is added to a lot of meat-based Greek recipes (have you ever had Cincinnati-style chili? Chili with cinnamon added to it, first made by Greek immigrants in the area). The mint is super unique but subtle and gives the whole thing a great flavor.
You will just have to trust me and go make it for yourself :-)
Start by browning 1 pound of ground beef or turkey with one large diced onion. I used ground turkey for this one- both are delicious!
Once the meat is cooked through, add 1 small can of tomato paste, 1 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste, and the spices.
There isn’t a lot of cinnamon in this dish- only 1/8 teaspoon. For the mint, I use dried spearmint
leaves (I have never tried fresh, but I have a mind to start an herb garden in the spring and will try it later for sure!).
Get a heaping teaspoon of the mint, and put it in the palm of your hand.
Crush the dried leaves when you add it to the pot by rubbing it between your hands as you add it to maximize the flavor of the mint. This part is fun- it kind of feels like I’m making a potion and I actually live in Hogwarts, and I should be saying some kind of spell while adding it.
Stir to coat the meat in the tomato and spice mixture, and add 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil, add 1 cup regular orwhole wheat orzo (you can find this at Whole Foods or in bulk on Amazon), stir, and simmer on low, covered, until cooked, stirring occasionally (about 20 minutes).
Serve with Romano or parmesan cheese on top. Get second helpings (and thirds) :-)
Here’s the printable recipe for Manestra!
Manestra (simple Greek orzo comfort food)
Manestra- the BEST simple Greek comfort food made with orzo, ground beef (or lamb or turkey), onions, and tomato with mint and cinnamon.
4.94 from 108 votes
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Course: Pasta
Cuisine: Greek
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 486kcal
Author: Elizabeth Lindemann
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef or lamb or turkey
- 1 large onion diced
- 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
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.
Notes
- I recommend using lean ground beef for this. If you use a fattier kind, or with ground lamb, it may be greasy, so I recommend using a spoon to scoop out and discard some of the fat after browning the meat.
- If you use ground turkey, I recommend adding 1 tablespoon of butter or olive oil to the pan when you cook it, since turkey is so lean.
- The provided nutrition information does not include any added sodium from seasoning to taste, any optional ingredients, and it does not take brands into account. Feel free to calculate it yourself using thiscalculatoror by adding the recipe toYummly.
Nutrition
Calories: 486kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 1121mg | Potassium: 1010mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 892IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 5mg
Nutrition Information Disclaimer
The provided nutrition information is my best estimate and does not include any added sodium from seasoning to taste, any optional ingredients, and it does not take brands into account. I use an automatic API to calculate this information. Feel free to calculate it yourself using one of these tools:
My Fitness Pal Recipe Nutrition Calculator
Tried this recipe?Mention @BowlofDelicious or tag #BowlofDelicious!
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Comments
Emily
Absolutely fantastic. Was so pleasantly surprised by how much flavor was in the dish. I added a few extra spices and used gluten free orzo pasta from Barilla. 10/10!!!Reply
Elizabeth Lindemann
So glad you liked it! And great to know it worked well with GF orzo!
Reply
Emily
Wow!!! How delicious!! Added a few extra spices based on person preference. 10/10 recipe – weeknight easy, pantry staples, and healthy!!!Reply
Elizabeth Lindemann
So glad you liked it!
Reply
Jana
Anybody tried using an instant pot for this? I’m assuming it would just need reduction in water. Not sure of the time under pressure though after adding orzo and water.
Reply
Elizabeth Lindemann
I haven’t used an instant pot for this, but this might be a good place to get started! https://iheartvegetables.com/instant-pot-orzo/
Reply
Kim
Very tasty and easy to prepare. The cinnamon note won my picky eaters. Thank you for sharing.Reply
Elizabeth Lindemann
So glad you and your family liked it!
Reply
Ellen
I’d love to try this recipe. In the U.S., tomato paste typically comes ia a 6 ounce can or 12 ounce can, or in a 4 to5 ounce tube. This makes me wonder if you use tomato sauce, which comes in 8 ounce cans. I clicked on the words “tomato paste” in the recipe and it took me to pinto beans on Amazon. I’m confused! Can you help?
Reply
Elizabeth Lindemann
Goodness, thank you for letting me know the link brought you to pinto beans instead of tomato paste! I went ahead and fixed it. To answer your question, I use a 6-oz can of tomato paste. Tomato paste has a much more concentrated tomato flavor than tomato sauce, as well as less liquid. I do recommend using tomato paste, not sauce. The ingredients should say 6 oz, not 8 – so I went ahead and fixed that too. Hope that helps, and thanks again for asking this question!
Reply
Lynnette
I made a vegetarian version by using a tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil, and Impossible “beef”. I agree with the comments about making sure to allow the tomato paste to brown slightly. You want to allow those flavors to blend before adding water. This is such a lovely dish!
Reply
Elizabeth Lindemann
So glad you liked it!
Reply
Victoria
Delicious! Only thing I did differently was use a 6 ounce can of tomato paste instead of 8 ounces because that’s what I had and it was still awesome. Super easy to make and very cozy and comforting. Would definitely make it again!Reply
Elizabeth Lindemann
So glad you liked it! It’s definitely a favorite in our house!
Reply
Karen Kornichuk
My husband’s parents loved this. They always made Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food when my husband was growing up, so it was great to make something they loved. Thank you!Reply
Elizabeth Lindemann
So glad you liked it!
Reply
Bilal Khan
😋🤤Reply
Elizabeth Lindemann
So glad you liked it!
Reply
Courtney Fulton
This was amazing. I needed quick comfort food!!! Soooo delicious.Reply
Elizabeth Lindemann
So glad you liked it!
Reply
Andrea
I love this recipe! Comes out as good as when my yaiya made it!
YUMMY!Reply
Elizabeth Lindemann
So glad you liked it!
Reply
Melissa
Any recommendations for side dishes?
Reply
Elizabeth Lindemann
I love it with a simple Greek salad! https://www.bowlofdelicious.com/greek-salad/
Reply
Hannah
I love this! It’s super easy and delicious. Second time around after reading the comments I thought I’d add garlic, but I really love the subtle flavor as is so I didn’t. I think the secret is really cooking the tomato paste until it gets rich and dark. Perfect cold weather dish!Reply
Elizabeth Lindemann
So glad you liked it! Yes, great point about the tomato paste.
Reply
Dawn
Easy and quick to prepare. If pasta can be considered light, this comfort meal is delicious without feeling too heavy. Love the flavor of cinnamon and mint, not overpowering. Absolutely the best comfort meal anytime… a go to favorite!Elizabeth Lindemann
So glad you liked it!
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