Beef Giouvetsi (Braised Beef and Orzo)

Beef Giouvetsi (Braised Beef and Orzo)

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes Total Time: 3 hours 40 minutes Servings: 4

Tender braised beef in a Greek style tomato and orzo sauce.

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ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound beef (suck as chuck), cut into bite sized pieces
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 carrot, shredded (optional)
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1/4 cup red wine (or beef broth)
• 3 cups beef broth (or chicken broth, or vegetable broth)
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can tomatoes, crushed with hands*
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 dried bay leaves
• 1 cup orzo (gluten-free for gluten-free)

directions

1. Heat the oil in a large oven safe pan over medium-high heat, add the beef, seasoned with salt and pepper to taste, and brown, about 2-4 minutes per side, before setting aside.
2. Add the onion and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the carrot and cook for a minute.
4. Add the garlic and tomato paste, mix and cook for a minute.
5. Add the wine and deglaze the pan, scraping up and brown bits off of the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon as the wine sizzles.
6. Add the broth, tomatoes, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, bay leaves, and beef, mix and either: (1) bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, until the beef is falling apart tender, about 2-4 hours; OR (2) cover, transfer to a preheated to 275F/140C oven and cook until falling apart tender, about 2-4 hours; OR (3) transfer to a slow cooker and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or on HIGH for 4-6 hours.
7. Mix in the orzo and either: (1) bring to a boil and cook until the orzo is tender, about 10 minutes; OR (2) cover, return to the oven and cook, covered, until the orzo is cooked, about 10-15 minutes; OR (3) cook on HIGH, covered, until the orzo is cooked, about 10-15 minutes.
8. Remove the bay leaves and enjoy!

Option: If making in a slow cooker you can optionally skin steps 1-4 and simply throw everything except the orzo into the slow cooker.
Option: Dice the carrot instead of shredding it and cook with the onion.
Option: Add 1 stalk celery, diced, and cook with the onion.
Option: Serve garnished with parsley.
Option: Serve garnished with feta, kefalotyri, mizithra, parmesan, pecorino, etc.

Nutrition Facts: Calories 391, Fat 13g (Saturated 3g, Trans 0.3g), Cholesterol 71mg, Sodium 675mg, Carbs 33g (Fiber 4g, Sugars 7g), Protein 33g

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