Braised Beef Orzo Greek (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ Main Ingredients

01 - 1 pound beef chuck, cut up into small cubes
02 - 2 tablespoons of olive oil
03 - A pinch of salt and a sprinkle of fresh black pepper, to your liking
04 - 1 shredded carrot (optional)
05 - 1 diced onion
06 - 3 minced garlic cloves
07 - 3 cups beef stock
08 - 1/4 cup of red wine or beef broth
09 - 3 tablespoons of thick tomato paste
10 - 1 (400g) can of whole tomatoes, crushed by hand

→ Spices & Aromatics

11 - Two bay leaves
12 - 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (ground)
13 - 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg powder
14 - 1/4 teaspoon of ground allspice

→ Pasta

15 - 1 cup of orzo pasta

# Instructions:

01 - Warm up your olive oil in a big oven-proof pot over medium-high heat. Sprinkle salt and pepper on the beef cubes, then toss into the pot. Let all sides brown nicely, about 2-4 minutes each. Move the beef to a plate for later.
02 - Using the same pot, toss in the diced onion. Let it soften for around 5 minutes. Add the shredded carrot and give it another minute. Mix in the minced garlic and tomato paste, and cook a bit more, just until it smells amazing.
03 - Pour red wine into the pot and use a wooden spoon to clean up any flavorful bits stuck on the bottom. Let the wine simmer for a short time.
04 - Pour in the beef stock along with the squashed tomatoes, ground spices, bay leaves, and browned beef. Stir everything together well.
05 - You’ve got choices: 1) For the stovetop, bring the mix to a boil, then lower the heat, cover up, and gently simmer for 2-4 hours until the meat's soft. 2) For the oven, cover the pot and cook at 140°C for about 2-4 hours. 3) Using a slow cooker? Shift everything into it, and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or HIGH for around 4-6 hours.
06 - Add the orzo to the mix, then: 1) On the stovetop, bring it back to a boil and cook for 10 minutes or until the orzo softens. 2) Put back in the oven, covered, for about 10-15 minutes. 3) Use the slow cooker on HIGH for another 10-15 minutes.
07 - Don’t forget to pull out the bay leaves before serving. Spoon the giouvetsi into bowls and dig in while it's hot.

# Notes:

01 - Giouvetsi is a hearty meal from Greece, pairing tender chunks of meat with orzo in a tasty tomato-based sauce.
02 - Greek spices like cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg give warmth and depth to this comforting dish.
03 - Swap the orzo with a gluten-free option or a tiny gluten-free pasta shape if you’re avoiding gluten.

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