Description
Savor warmth with this hearty beef celery orzo stew, a comforting Mediterranean-inspired dish blending tender meat and delicate pasta. Robust flavors and rich textures promise a satisfying meal you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 stalks celery, chopped
- 2 large carrots, sliced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 can (14.5 ounces / 411 grams) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 4 cups (946 milliliters) beef broth
- 1 cup (170 grams) orzo pasta
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare a robust cooking vessel and heat olive oil over medium-high temperature, creating a sizzling surface for meat transformation.
- Strategically place beef cubes into the hot oil, ensuring each piece develops a rich caramel-colored exterior through thorough browning (approximately 3-4 minutes per surface). Extract meat and reserve.
- Utilize the same pot’s flavorful remnants to sauté aromatic ingredients – onions and garlic will release their intense fragrance within 2-3 minutes.
- Introduce celery, carrots, and bell peppers, allowing vegetables to soften and develop deep flavor profiles over 5-7 minutes.
- Reunite browned beef with vegetable medley, incorporating diced tomatoes, beef broth, thyme, bay leaves, salt, and pepper into a harmonious mixture.
- Reduce heat, cover, and allow stew to simmer gently for 60 minutes, periodically stirring to prevent ingredient separation.
- Incorporate orzo pasta, continuing uncovered cooking for 10-12 minutes until pasta reaches perfect tenderness.
- Eliminate bay leaves, taste and refine seasoning as needed.
- Transfer stew into serving vessels, optionally adorning with fresh parsley and delicate Parmesan cheese shavings for enhanced visual and flavor complexity.
Notes
- Ensure beef is patted dry before searing to achieve a perfect golden-brown crust that locks in maximum flavor.
- Choose tough, marbled cuts like chuck roast or shoulder for rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture during slow cooking.
- Swap beef with ground turkey or plant-based protein for a lighter, diet-friendly version that maintains the stew’s hearty essence.
- Toast orzo briefly in the pot before adding liquid to enhance its nutty flavor and prevent mushiness during cooking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg