Hearty Beef And Orzo With Fresh Garden Veggies (Printable)
Tender beef and orzo pasta simmer with fresh garden vegetables in a rich, savory broth for the ultimate comfort bowl.
# Ingredient List:
→ 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 into 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.
03 - Stir in diced red bell pepper, diced zucchini, and cut green beans. Continue cooking for another 3 minutes to begin softening.
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 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, until beef and vegetables are tender.
06 - Add orzo pasta to simmering soup and cook uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until orzo is al dente.
07 - Stir in fresh spinach leaves and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
08 - Remove and discard bay leaves. Ladle hot soup into serving bowls and garnish with chopped fresh parsley.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The tender beef melts in your mouth while the orzo gives each spoonful this satisfying, almost risotto like creaminess
- Its one of those rare soups that actually keeps you full for hours without feeling heavy
02 -
- The orzo will continue absorbing liquid even off the heat so if you plan to refrigerate leftovers, add a splash of water when reheating
- Removing the beef to sear it separately prevents it from becoming gray and tough from boiling
03 -
- Cut your vegetables into uniform sizes so everything cooks evenly and no single ingredient overpowers the others
- Let the soup rest for 10 minutes off the heat before serving to let the flavors really marry together