Manestra - Poor Greek Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/3 cup olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
4 large garlic cloves, pressed
1 teaspoon oregano, dried
2 1/2 lbs tomatoes, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
8 cups water
1/3 cup orzo pasta
1/3 cup parmesan cheese or 1/3 cup kefalotyri, grated
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
1 tablespoon mint, shredded (optional)

Preparation

Heat the olive oil in a sauce pan over medium high heat. Add the onion, garlic and oregano and saute until the onion wilts, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the tomatoes and saute until they collapse, about 10 minutes.
Add the salt and water, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the tomatoes are very soft and the liquid is very dark, about 40 minutes.
Add the orzo and simmer until it is tender, about 5 minutes.
Serve with grated cheese on top and shredded mint leaves.