Manestra Recipe: Easy Recipe for Greek Tomato and Orzo Soup

Manestra, or Greek orzo pasta soup, is a simple and comforting soup made with orzo pasta, tomatoes, and various herbs and spices. Other typical ingredients in a manestra recipe are onions, garlic, and oregano, and the soup may also include carrots and celery. Orzo pasta is added to the broth and cooked until tender.

Manestra is a popular dish in Greece, especially during the winter, and is often served with a sprinkle of grated cheese and a side of bread. It is similar to the Italian soup minestra d’orzo. Here is our recipe for manestra.

Useful Information

Ingredients for the Manestra Recipe

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium red onion, finely diced
• 2 celery sticks, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon of tomato puree 
• 250 g orzo
• 400 g can of chopped tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 litre of vegetable stock
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

How to Make the Manestra Recipe

• Add the olive oil to a large pan and put over medium heat on the hob.
• Then, add the onion and celery and saute for approximately four minutes until the ingredients begin to soften.
• Add the garlic to the pan and cook for another minute, then add the tomato puree and cook for a further minute.
• Next, add the orzo to the pan and cook for another two or three minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the chopped tomatoes, sugar, and oregano to the other ingredients and stir.
• Pour over the vegetable stock and stir again before bringing the soup to a boil.
• When the soup is boiling, reduce the heat, cover the pan, and allow the ingredients to simmer for ten minutes.
• Season the soup with salt and freshly ground black pepper and cook for five minutes before serving.

Additional Tips for Making Greek Tomato and Orzo Soup

• Add a large glass of dry red wine to the soup for a richer flavour. If you want to add wine, put it in after the onions, celery, and garlic. Leave it to simmer for approximately five minutes to let the alcohol cook out before adding the tomato puree, orzo, and chopped tomatoes. 
• You can also add some chopped carrots to the soup. Dice them finely and add them to the pan with the onions and celery at the beginning of making the manestra recipe.