Beef & Orzo Mediterranean Style

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 -4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can tomatoes
• 1 1/2 cups beef broth
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh oregano or 1/2 teaspoon crumbled dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 8 ounces dried orzo pasta (1 cup)
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed
• 1/2-3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Recipe

• 1 sprinkle salt into a 10 to 12 inch frying pan over medium-high heat. crumble beef into pan and cook, stirring often, until meat begins to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. reduce heat to medium, stir in onion, and continue to cook, stirring, until onion is soft but not brown, about 5 minutes. spoon off and discard excess fat.
• 2 add garlic, tomatoes (break them up with a spoon) and their liquid, broth, oregano, and pepper. bring mixture to a boil then stir in pasta. reduce heat, cover and simmer gently until pasta is tender to bite, 10 to 12 minutes.
• 3 meanwhile, squeeze as much liquid as possible from spinach. stir spinach into pasta mixture just until heated through. serve with cheese to add to taste.