MANESTRA

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil (for sautéing)
• 1 medium Onion (about 150 g, finely chopped)
• 3 cloves Garlic (minced)
• 1/4 cup White Wine (dry, optional but adds depth)
• 2 tablespoons Tomato Paste (concentrated tomato flavor)
• 2 cups Water (adjust for desired sauce thickness)
• 2 pieces Bay Leaves (whole, remove before serving)
• 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
• 1 teaspoon Salt (or to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper (freshly ground)
• 1 cup Orzo Pasta (uncooked)
• 100 grams Feta Cheese (crumbled, Greek style)
• 50 grams Kefalotyri Cheese (grated; can substitute with aged Parmesan)

Instructions

1. Prep Vegetables

   Finely chop the onion and mince the garlic cloves.

   Time: PT5M

2. Sauté Onion & Garlic

   Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, about 3‑4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and sauté another 1‑2 minutes until fragrant.

   Time: PT5M

   Temperature: medium heat

3. Deglaze with White Wine (Optional)

   Pour in the white wine, stirring to loosen any browned bits. Let it reduce by half, about 2‑3 minutes.

   Time: PT3M

   Temperature: medium heat

4. Build the Tomato Base

   Stir in the tomato paste, water, bay leaves, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.

   Time: PT5M

   Temperature: medium heat

5. Par‑Cook the Orzo

   In a separate pot, bring water to a boil, add a pinch of salt, and cook the orzo for about 6‑7 minutes, just shy of al dente. Drain and set aside.

   Time: PT10M

   Temperature: boiling

6. Combine Orzo and Sauce

   Add the par‑cooked orzo to the simmering tomato sauce. Stir gently and let it cook together for another 5 minutes, or until the orzo is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid.

   Time: PT5M

   Temperature: medium‑low heat

7. Finish with Cheese

   Remove the skillet from heat. Sprinkle the crumbled feta and grated kefalotyri over the top. Let the residual heat melt the cheeses slightly before serving.

   Time: PT2M

Nutrition Facts

Calories

350

Protein

12 g

Carbohydrates

45 g

Fat

12 g

Fiber

3 g