Traditional Giouvetsi | Greek Beef with Kritharaki (Orzo Pasta) | Stovetop Recipe

Traditional Giouvetsi | Greek Beef & Kritharaki (Orzo Pasta) | Stovetop Recipe This recipe is one bite from the MegaByte Menu journey, where food, culture and everyday life come together. Every recipe reflects a personal interpretation shaped by family, tradition and place. Ingredients 500–700 g beef, cut into cubes (adjust to suit your pot) 1 large onion, finely chopped 1–2 tablespoons tomato paste Optional: ½ can chopped tomatoes or freshly grated tomatoes, to your liking 250 g kritharaki (orzo pasta) (adjust according to the amount of broth) Olive oil Salt, to taste Freshly ground black pepper, to taste 3–4 whole cloves 1 small cinnamon stick or ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon Water, as needed throughout cooking Method 1. Brown the Beef Heat a little olive oil in a large pot or braiser over medium heat. Lightly brown the beef on all sides. The goal is to develop a little colour—not to deeply sear it. Remove the meat from the pot and set it aside. 2. Cook the Onion Add a little more olive oil if needed. Add the chopped onion and cook gently for 1–2 minutes until softened. Do not heavily brown the onion. Traditional Greek red stews rely on gently softened onions rather than deeply caramelised ones. 3. Build the Sauce Add the tomato paste and cook it for about a minute, stirring constantly to remove its raw flavour. Return the beef to the pot. If you like, add: ½ can chopped tomatoes, or freshly grated tomatoes. This is completely optional. Tomato paste alone produces an excellent result. Season with: Salt Black pepper Whole cloves One small cinnamon stick (or ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon). The cinnamon should be subtle. It should gently perfume the sauce without becoming the dominant flavour. 4. Simmer Add enough water to cover the meat. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to a slow simmer. Cook until the beef is almost fork tender. A pressure cooker may also be used for this stage to reduce cooking time. 5. Add the Kritharaki (Orzo) Once the beef is tender, add the kritharaki. Add additional water as required because the pasta absorbs a significant amount of liquid while cooking. Season this extra water with a little more salt. For this recipe, 250 g of kritharaki produced the right consistency, but you can adjust the quantity depending on how much broth remains in your pot. 6. Finish Stir frequently while the pasta cooks. Watch the kritharaki carefully. You want it fully cooked and swollen, but still holding its shape. Avoid overcooking it until it becomes soft and mushy. If necessary, add a little more hot water during cooking to maintain the desired consistency. Finish with an extra drizzle of olive oil if desired. Traditional Notes This recipe is intentionally simple. Good-quality beef naturally produces a rich, flavourful broth. There is no need for stock cubes, bouillon powders, artificial broths, or unnecessary flavour enhancers. Likewise, this dish does not require garlic, carrots, celery or other vegetables often added to similar tomato sauces. The beauty of this traditional recipe comes from the balance between: quality beef, tomato, cinnamon, cloves, olive oil, and perfectly cooked kritharaki. Keeping the ingredient list simple allows every flavour to shine. MegaByte Menu Tip Some cooks lightly toast the dry kritharaki in a little olive oil before adding liquid. This creates a thin toasted outer layer that helps the pasta hold its shape during cooking and reduces the chance of it becoming overly soft. This step is optional but worth trying if you prefer firmer kritharaki. Bread Making Ingredients: Katoomba Atta Flour 5 kg https://amzn.to/4ep5n8h Wholegrain Milling Co Sustainable Stoneground Whole Rye Flour, 5kg https://amzn.to/4e9LIrH Wholegrain Milling Co Organic Premium White Bakers Flour, 5kg https://amzn.to/4fmNpV0 Wholegrain Milling Co Sustainable Premium White Bakers Flour, 5kg https://amzn.to/4xbtvTm Wholegrain Milling Co Sustainable Wholewheat Bakers Flour, 5kg https://amzn.to/4e3SCPf Wholegrain Milling Co Organic Stoneground White Bakers Flour, 5kg https://amzn.to/4uQbQ1L Wholegrain Milling Co Sustainable Stoneground White Bakers Flour, 5kg https://amzn.to/4vvjsa7 Wholegrain Milling Co Organic Stoneground Whole Spelt Flour, 5kg https://amzn.to/4obW4Mk Wholegrain Milling Co Sustainable Premium White Spelt Flour, 5kg https://amzn.to/4ap2ulp Wholegrain Milling Co Organic Stoneground White Spelt Flour, 5kg https://amzn.to/4g7zi66 J.C.'s Quality Foods Linseed 500G (Pack of 2) https://amzn.to/4awbkOm Honest to Goodness Celtic Sea Salt Coarse, 600g https://amzn.to/43QKv3I Lotus Coarse Celtic Sea Salt, 1 kg https://amzn.to/4ui4DGK #MegaByteMenu #GreekRecipe #TraditionalGreekFood #GreekCooking #GreekCuisine #Kritharaki #OrzoPasta #BeefRecipe #GreekBeef #MediterraneanCooking #OnePotMeal #StovetopRecipe #ComfortFood #HomeCooking #FamilyRecipe #TraditionalRecipe #AuthenticGreek #TomatoRecipe #OliveOil #SlowCooking #EasyDinner #RusticCooking #AchaianStyle #FoodFromGreece #CookingFromScratch