Hearty Beef And Orzo With Garden Veggies (Printable)

Tender beef and orzo pasta with fresh garden vegetables in savory broth

# What You 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 stew meat and sear on all sides until browned, about 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. Cook for another 3 minutes to begin softening.
04 - Return seared beef to the pot. Add diced tomatoes with juice, tomato paste, beef broth, water, dried thyme, dried 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 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. 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 -
  • It transforms humble stew meat into something extraordinary with slow simmering
  • The orzo absorbs all those savory flavors making every bite satisfying
02 -
  • The orzo continues absorbing liquid even off the heat so plan accordingly if making ahead
  • Sear your beef in batches rather than crowding the pot or it will steam instead of brown
03 -
  • Cut your beef into slightly larger pieces since it shrinks during cooking
  • Taste your broth before adding salt since brands vary dramatically

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