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.
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
To make Greek tomato orzo, you will need the basic ingredients shown below:
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:
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.
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!
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
No, just like orzo, Kritharaki is a rice-shaped pasta not grain.
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:
If you try any of my recipes, please rate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ it on the recipe card and also leave your feedback in the comments section below. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and subscribe to my youtube channel.
Recipe
Greek tomato orzo(Kritharaki)
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
- 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.
- More recipe tips and tricks are shared in the post above, please follow them to make this recipe.
Leave a Reply