Hearty Beef And Orzo Soup (Printable Version)
Tender beef and orzo pasta simmer with fresh garden vegetables in a rich, savory broth for the ultimate cozy meal.
# 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 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
# Directions:
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 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 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, until pasta is cooked 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 bowls and garnish with chopped fresh parsley.
# Quick Tips:
01 -
- The orzo absorbs all that beefy flavor while still keeping its perfect texture
- This soup somehow tastes even better the next day, making it the ultimate meal prep secret
02 -
- The orzo will continue absorbing liquid if you store this soup overnight, so you may need to add more broth or water when reheating leftovers
- Seizing the beef properly creates those browned bits on the bottom of the pan, which deglaze into the soup and add incredible depth
03 -
- Cut all your vegetables into similar sizes so they cook evenly and nobody gets a giant chunk of carrot in their spoon
- If the soup seems too thick after adding the orzo, add more water or broth one cup at a time until it is the consistency you like