Yiouvetsi — Keto Lamb and Orzo Bake

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The Portara (Temple of Apollo gate)

📍 Where this dish comes from: Naxos · The Portara (Temple of Apollo gate)
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Yiouvetsi — Keto Lamb and Orzo Bake, plated and ready to serve

Yiouvetsi is a beloved Sunday bake in Greece — lamb braised in a rich tomato sauce, with orzo pasta absorbing all of the incredible braising juices and turning sticky and magnificent. The keto version replaces orzo with miracle noodles or hearts of palm pasta. The lamb and the sauce remain entirely, gloriously intact.

What You’ll Need

Ingredients for Yiouvetsi — Keto Lamb and Orzo Bake

Yiouvetsi — Keto Lamb and Orzo Bake

Yiouvetsi is a beloved Sunday bake in Greece — lamb braised in a rich tomato sauce, with orzo pasta absorbing all of the incredible braising juices and turning sticky and magnificent.
Print Recipe
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Greek
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 395kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs bone-in lamb shoulder chops or neck
  • 2 packages (7 oz each) hearts of palm pasta drained and rinsed
  • 1 large onion diced
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 cans (14 oz each) crushed tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup dry red wine
  • 1 tsp each ground cinnamon and allspice
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cups beef or lamb broth
  • Grated graviera or kefalotyri cheese to serve
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325F (160C). Season lamb generously.
  • Brown lamb in olive oil in a large oven-safe Dutch oven over high heat, 4 minutes per side. Remove.
  • Saute onion until soft. Add garlic, cook 1 minute. Add wine and deglaze. Add crushed tomatoes, broth, cinnamon, allspice, and oregano.
  • Return lamb to pot. Bring to a simmer, cover, and braise in the oven 1.5 hours.
  • Remove lamb. Add hearts of palm pasta to the sauce in the pot. Nestle lamb back on top. Return to oven uncovered for 20 minutes until pasta has absorbed sauce.
  • Serve with grated cheese over the top.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 395kcal | Protein: 38g | Fat: 22g | Fiber: 2.5g
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Cooking Yiouvetsi — Keto Lamb and Orzo Bake in the kitchen

Health Benefits

  • Bone-in lamb braising releases collagen into the cooking liquid, creating a natural gelatin that supports gut lining, joint cartilage, and skin elasticity.
  • Hearts of palm provides prebiotic resistant starch and potassium.
  • The combination of cinnamon and allspice in the braising liquid has documented blood sugar-stabilizing effects.

Pairs Well With

  • Maroulosalata — Greek Romaine Salad with Dill
  • Spanakorizo — Keto Spinach Rice
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