Hearty Beef And Orzo Soup (Printable)
Comforting soup with tender beef, orzo pasta, and fresh garden vegetables in savory broth.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 pound beef stew meat, cut into bite-size pieces
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 tablespoons 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 can (14.5 ounces) 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 tablespoon tomato paste
→ Spices & Herbs
16 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
17 - 1 teaspoon 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 Prepare:
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 slightly soften.
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 black pepper. Stir thoroughly to combine.
05 - Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes, until beef is tender and vegetables are cooked through.
06 - Add orzo pasta to simmering soup and cook uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until pasta reaches al dente texture.
07 - Stir in fresh spinach leaves and cook for about 2 minutes until just wilted. 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 -
- This soup transforms budget friendly stew meat into something that tastes like it simmered all day, but actually comes together in just over an hour
- The combination of orzo pasta and garden vegetables creates a satisfying texture that feels substantial but not heavy
02 -
- I once skipped searing the beef to save time and the soup was noticeably less flavorful, so do not skip that first browning step
- The orzo will continue absorbing liquid as the soup sits, so if you are meal prepping, cook the pasta separately and add it when reheating
03 -
- Cut your vegetables into uniform 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