Hearty Beef And Orzo Soup (Print)
Tender beef and orzo pasta swim with fresh garden vegetables in a savory broth for ultimate comfort.
# 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 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
# How To Make It:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add beef pieces and sear on all sides until well browned, approximately 5 minutes. Remove beef from pot and set aside.
02 - In the same pot, add onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften and onion becomes translucent.
03 - Stir in red bell pepper, zucchini, and green beans. Continue cooking for another 3 minutes to slightly soften 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 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. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until orzo 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.
08 - Remove and discard bay leaves. Ladle hot soup into serving bowls and garnish generously with chopped fresh parsley.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything cooks in one pot, leaving you with minimal cleanup and maximum flavor
- The orzo absorbs all those savory beef and vegetable flavors, making every bite feel like a hug
02 -
- The orzo will continue absorbing liquid if left in the soup, so store pasta separately if making ahead
- Browning the beef properly creates flavor compounds that dissolve into the broth, so dont skip this step
03 -
- Cut all your vegetables into similar sizes so they cook evenly and look beautiful in the bowl
- Let the soup rest for 10 minutes off the heat before serving to let the flavors settle