This easy and quick Chicken with Orzo Recipe (Manestra) combines delicious orzo in a rich tomato sauce with succulent chicken pieces. Follow my step by step guide to making this light dish to perfection.
What is orzo?
Orzo is a staple widely used in Greek cuisine. Orzo is grain or rice shaped pasta made of semolina flour. Italians call it ‘barley’ due to its shape. Orzo is cooked similar to pasta and thus can create easy and quick dishes.
What is the difference between Giouvetsi and Manestra?
You may have heard these two terms and wonder what do they actually mean? Giouvetsi and Manestra are basically the same recipes varying only in their cooking methods. Both are orzo based dishes and both are widely known in Greece. Whilst Giouvetsi is orzo baked in the oven, Manestra is orzo cooked in a saucepan.
Can I use any other meat in this Chicken with Orzo Recipe (Manestra)?
You can use any meat you like in this orzo recipe. You can substitute chicken for beef, pork or veal. The trick to having a quick dish is to have small pieces of meat so that they cook faster. So, whatever meat I incorporate in my dish I make sure I have diced into small pieces.
What can I serve this Chicken with Orzo Recipe (Manestra)?
This Manestra recipe pairs up really well with any sour dip and Feta cheese.
