Hearty Beef Orzo With Fresh Veggies (Printable view)
Tender beef and orzo pasta swim with fresh vegetables in a rich, savory broth for ultimate comfort in a bowl.
# 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
# Steps:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add beef stew meat and sear on all sides until browned, approximately 5 minutes. Remove beef from pot and set aside.
02 - In the same pot, add diced onion, minced garlic, sliced carrots, and sliced celery. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften and become fragrant.
03 - Stir in diced red bell pepper, diced zucchini, and cut green beans. Continue cooking for another 3 minutes to slightly soften the vegetables.
04 - Return browned beef to the pot. Add diced tomatoes with juice, tomato paste, beef broth, water, dried thyme, dried oregano, bay leaves, salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
05 - Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover pot and simmer for 30 minutes, or until beef becomes tender and vegetables are cooked through.
06 - Add orzo pasta to simmering soup and cook uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until pasta reaches al dente texture.
07 - Stir in fresh spinach leaves and cook for approximately 2 minutes until just wilted. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Remove and discard bay leaves before serving.
08 - Ladle hot soup into serving bowls. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley as garnish. Serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The orzo pasta makes it feel substantial enough to stand alone as a meal, no bread required
- It transforms whatever vegetables are languishing in your crisper drawer into something magical
02 -
- The orzo will continue absorbing liquid in the fridge, so if you're meal prepping, consider adding it fresh when reheating or keeping extra broth on hand
- I once skipped searing the beef to save time and the soup was noticeably less flavorful—those browned bits really do make a difference
03 -
- Cut your vegetables into uniform sizes so they cook evenly and no single ingredient overwhelms the others
- If the broth seems too thin at the end, remove the lid during the last 10 minutes of cooking to let some liquid evaporate