Pressure cooker giouvetsi, Greek lamb with orzo
Tender lamb in a cinnamon scented tomato sauce with orzo cooked right in the sauce, finished with grated cheese.
- Time1 hr 15
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £2.50 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- 870kcal
- 55.3gcarbs
- 8gof which sugars
- 48.1gfat
- 21.1gsaturates
- 50.3gprotein
- 4.6gfibre
- 1.1gsalt
A rough estimate worked out from the ingredients, for the serving size above. It is a guide only and not medical advice. If you count carbs or manage diabetes, check with your own tools and your care team.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Pat the lamb dry and season well. Heat the oil on Sauté and brown the lamb in two batches, 3 to 4 minutes each, then set aside.
8 min - 2
Add the onion to the pot with a splash of water and scrape up the brown bits. Cook for 4 minutes, then add the garlic and tomato purée for 1 minute. Pour in the wine and bubble for 2 minutes.
7 min - 3
Add the tomatoes, cinnamon, allspice, oregano, bay, 200 ml water and the lamb. Lock the lid, set to sealing and cook at high pressure for 25 minutes. It takes about 10 minutes to come up to pressure first.
25 min - 4
Let the pressure drop naturally for 10 minutes (natural release), then open the valve. This keeps the lamb tender.
10 min - 5
Take out the cinnamon and bay. Set the pot to Sauté, stir in the orzo and the boiling water and bring to a simmer with the lid off.
- 6
Simmer for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring often, until the orzo is just tender and the sauce is thick and glossy. Add a splash of hot water if it catches. Do not use pressure for the orzo, as it can turn to paste.
11 min - 7
Stir in half the cheese and the parsley and serve with the rest of the cheese on top. No pressure cooker? Braise the lamb in the sauce in a covered pot for 1 hour 30 minutes, then add the orzo and water and simmer as above.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
