Hearty Beef Orzo Soup (Printable)
Tender beef, orzo pasta, and fresh garden vegetables simmered in a rich, savory broth for a comforting meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Beef
01 - 1 lb beef stew meat, cut into bite-size pieces
→ Vegetables and Aromatics
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 and Pantry Staples
14 - 3/4 cup orzo pasta
15 - 1 tbsp tomato paste
→ Herbs and Seasonings
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 Steps:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add beef pieces and sear on all sides until 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.
03 - Stir in red bell pepper, zucchini, and green beans. Continue cooking for an additional 3 minutes.
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 thoroughly 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 reach desired tenderness.
06 - Add orzo pasta to the pot and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until orzo is cooked al dente.
07 - Stir in fresh spinach leaves and cook until wilted, approximately 2 minutes. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
08 - Remove and discard bay leaves. Ladle hot soup into serving bowls and garnish with freshly chopped parsley.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The orzo soaks up all that savory broth and becomes incredibly tender while thickening everything naturally.
- It reheats beautifully for lunch the next day, somehow tasting even better after the flavors mingle overnight.
02 -
- The orzo continues absorbing liquid as it sits, so add a splash of water or broth when reheating leftovers.
- Cut all your vegetables about the same size as the beef pieces for the most balanced spoonfuls.
03 -
- Brown the beef in batches rather than crowding the pot, because proper searing creates the deep flavor base for the entire soup.
- Taste the broth after adding tomatoes since their acidity varies and you may need to adjust your seasoning more than expected.