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Home » Main course

Greek tomato orzo(kritharaki)

Published: Jun 5, 2023 by Vandana Chauhan. This post may contain affiliate links.

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Greek tomato orzo or Kritharaki is a simple but delicious one-pot Greek comfort food that gets ready in just 30 minutes. If you are looking for a light and enjoyable weeknight dinner recipe, this Kritharaki in tomato sauce is a perfect recipe. It can be enjoyed by vegans too.

Greek orzo with tomatoes in a bowl with a spoon.

My favorite cuisine keeps on changing after every few years and one of my current favorites is Mediterranean cuisine, Greek in particular.

The frequency of posting recipes on my blog from a particular cuisine also keeps on changing depending on what I am loving the most on those days.

My current love for Mediterranean cuisine is quite clear from the fact that I am posting at least one new dish from this cuisine almost every week.

Today, I am sharing a simple but very tasty pasta recipe from this cuisine called Greek tomato orzo or Kritharaki. The Greek name of this dish is Manestra.

It gets ready in less than 30 minutes and can be enjoyed by vegans too.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients needed
  • Ingredient notes and substitute suggestions
  • How to make Kritharaki in tomato sauce?
  • How to serve Greek tomato orzo?
  • Storing and reheating tips
  • Recipe tips, tricks, and variation suggestions
  • Frequently asked question
  • Try easy vegetarian Greek recipes at home
  • Other orzo recipes
  • Recipe

Ingredients needed

To make Greek tomato orzo, you will need the basic ingredients shown below:

Ingredients for tomato kritharaki recipe, labeled.

Ingredient notes and substitute suggestions

  • Tomatoes: I have used Roma tomatoes which are also known as plum tomatoes. Feel free to use any variety of red tomatoes that you have. Just make sure that the tomatoes that you are using are juicy and ripe. Canned crushed or diced tomatoes can be used too. You can also use passata.
  • Pasta: This dish is made with a type of Greek pasta called Kritharaki. Kritharaki is similar to Orzo pasta. Since orzo is more easily available everywhere, you can make manestra with orzo too. You can also use any other shortcut pasta of your choice if you don't like orzo. Kritharaki is generally bigger in size than an average orzo.
  • Onion: Red or brown both are fine to be used in this recipe.
  • Tomato paste: It gives a rich tomato flavor to the dish.
  • Parsley: Instead of parsley, you can also use fresh basil or dill.
  • Seasonings: I have seasoned this Kritharaki with red chili flakes, dried oregano, ground black pepper, and salt. You can use seasonings of your choice.
  • Vegetable stock: Though you can use water too I would recommend using vegetable stock instead as it makes this Greek orzo more flavorful.
  • Olive oil: Use good quality extra-virgin olive oil.

Other ingredient details and nutritional information are given in the recipe card ahead.

How to make Kritharaki in tomato sauce?

This Kritharaki recipe is very easy to make, you just need to follow the simple step-by-step instructions given below:

Collage of images of steps 1 to 4 Greek tomato orzo recipe.

Step 1: Heat oil in a large pot or pan. Add chopped onion and garlic. Saute until the onion turns translucent.

Step 2: Cut Roma tomatoes in half and add to the pot. Add salt, ground black pepper, red chili flakes, and dried oregano.

Step 3: Mix and cook for 12-15 minutes or until the tomatoes turn mushy.

Step 4: Mash with a masher or spatula.

Collage of images of steps 5 to 8 Greek tomato orzo recipe.

Step 5: Add tomato paste and cook for a few seconds.

Step 6: Add kritharaki and saute for a minute.

Step 7: Add vegetable stock and mix everything.

Step 8: Cook uncovered for 12-15 minutes on medium heat i.e. until the Kritharaki is cooked. Garnish with chopped parsley.

Your delicious Greek orzo in tomato sauce is ready to be enjoyed!

Kritharaki in tomato sauce garnished with chopped parsley.

How to serve Greek tomato orzo?

Serve this Greek orzo warm or hot. You can drizzle some extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice on it before serving.

Non-vegans may add crumbled feta cheese on top.

You can pair it up with garlic bread or any toasted bread. Even roasted vegetables or a refreshing salad can be served with Manestra.

Storing and reheating tips

Store the leftover Greek orzo in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.

Microwave for a few minutes to reheat. Or, reheat on the stovetop. The orzo will absorb the sauce if left for a long period. You may add some hot water while reheating to adjust the consistency.

Recipe tips, tricks, and variation suggestions

  • You can also use passata or canned crushed or diced tomatoes instead of fresh Roma tomatoes in this recipe. But I feel the one made with fresh tomatoes tastes better as I enjoy the taste of fresh ingredients more than canned ingredients.
  • Some people also add grated carrots to the sauce, you can do that too if you want.
  • Saute the pasta in the sauce for about a minute before adding the liquid.
  • Different people have different consistency preferences for this Greek tomato Kritharaki. Some like kritharaki with a risotto-like consistency but some prefer it more on the soupy side. Adjust the amount of stock depending on what consistency you prefer.
  • If you feel the need for adding more liquid to tomato orzo, add hot or warm stock to it.
  • You may add a little sugar to the sauce to balance the acidity of the tomatoes.
  • Non-vegans may add some crumbled feta or shredded cheese before serving.
  • You may also garnish it with sliced kalamata olives.
  • Instead of vegetable stock, you can use water too but vegetable stock will make the dish more flavorful.
  • If you don't like orzo, use any short-cut pasta of your choice.

Frequently asked question

Is Kritharaki a grain?

No, just like orzo, Kritharaki is a rice-shaped pasta not grain.

Is Kritharaki gluten-free?

No, Kritharaki is made with durum wheat semolina so it's not gluten-free.

Try easy vegetarian Greek recipes at home

If you enjoyed this Greek orzo with tomatoes and want to try more easy vegan or vegetarian Greek recipes at home then, don't miss to check out the following links:

  • Greek watermelon salad
  • Greek potato salad
  • Revithia soupa-Greek chickpea soup
  • Fasolada-Greek white bean soup
  • Greek baked lima beans
  • Spanakorizo- Greek spinach rice
  • Greek spaghetti

Other orzo recipes

Looking for more ways to use orzo in your recipes? Do check out the following links:

  • Vegetable orzo soup
  • Orzo feta salad with chickpeas
  • Mushroom and green peas orzo
A bowl of Greek tomato orzo with a spoon.

If you liked this recipe, please leave a star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ in the recipe card below. You can also follow me on Instagram, Youtube, and Pinterest.

Recipe

Greek tomato orzo kritharaki garnished with chopped parsley.

Greek tomato orzo(Kritharaki)

Greek tomato orzo or Kritharaki is a simple but delicious one-pot Greek comfort food that gets ready in just 30 minutes. If you are looking for a light and enjoyable weeknight dinner recipe, this Kritharaki in tomato sauce is a perfect recipe. It can be enjoyed by vegans too.
5 from 6 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean
Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 346kcal
Author: Vandana Chauhan

Equipment

  • 1 large cooking pot or pan
  • 1 Spatula
  • 1 food masher
  • Knife and chopping board

Ingredients

  • 250 grams Kritharaki or orzo
  • 400 grams roma tomatoes cut into half
  • 1 medium red onion finely chopped
  • 2 large garlic cloves finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley for garnishing
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • ½ teaspoon red chili flakes adjust to taste
  • ½ tablespoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 5 cups vegetable stock

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a cooking pot. Add chopped garlic and onion. Saute until the onion turns translucent.
  • Add tomato halves, salt, pepper, red chili flakes, and oregano. Mix and cook for around 12- 15 minutes on medium heat i.e. until the tomatoes are cooked and start turning mushy.
  • Mash the tomatoes with a masher.
  • Add tomato paste, mix, and cook for around 30 seconds.
  • Add orzo and saute for a minute.
  • Add vegetable stock and mix everything. Cook uncovered for around 12 to 15 minutes on medium heat i.e. until the orzo is cooked.
  • Garnish with chopped parsley and enjoy!

Video

Notes

  1. You can also use passata or canned crushed or diced tomatoes instead of fresh Roma tomatoes in this recipe. But I feel the one made with fresh tomatoes tastes better as I enjoy the taste of fresh ingredients more than canned ingredients.
  2. Some people also add grated carrots to the sauce, you can do that too if you want.
  3. Saute the pasta in the sauce for about a minute before adding the liquid.
  4. Different people have different consistency preferences for this Greek tomato Kritharaki. Some like kritharaki with a risotto-like consistency but some prefer it more on the soupy side. Adjust the amount of stock depending on what consistency you prefer.
  5. If you feel the need for adding more liquid to tomato orzo, add hot or warm stock to it.
  6. You may add a little sugar to the sauce to balance the acidity of the tomatoes.
  7. Non-vegans may add some crumbled feta or shredded cheese before serving.
  8. You may also garnish it with sliced kalamata olives.
  9. Instead of vegetable stock, you can use water too but vegetable stock will make the dish more flavorful.
  10. If you don't like orzo, use any short-cut pasta of your choice.
  11. More recipe tips and tricks are shared in the post above, please follow them to make this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 346kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 1222mg | Potassium: 489mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1774IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Tag me on instagram #greenbowl2soul

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5 from 6 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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Hi! Thanks for stopping by my blog. My name is Vandana Chauhan and I am on a mission to explore vegan/ vegetarian recipes from around the world. I am delighted to welcome you to join me on this exciting journey.

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