Here’s a cozy, fall-inspired soup recipe that’s sure to warm you up! It’s a chicken and orzo soup with a tomato base, perfect for dipping bread. Let’s get started!
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced or minced
- 1/4 cup of tomato paste
- 1/2 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
- 4 cups of chicken broth
- Salt to taste
- 1 cup of orzo pasta
- 2 cups of chopped or shredded cooked chicken (rotisserie chicken works great)
- 1/4 cup of heavy cream
- 1-2 cups of water, as needed
- Parmesan, herbs, red pepper flakes, and lemon for serving
- Bread for serving
- Optional: pesto for serving (recipe below)
Instructions:
- Heat the olive oil in a soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until it’s soft and fragrant, but not browned.
- Add the tomato paste and Italian seasoning, and cook until it caramelizes and turns a deep red color, about 5 minutes.
- Gradually add the broth until it blends into a smooth liquid. Now’s a good time to add salt. Start with 1/2 teaspoon and adjust to taste.
- Add the orzo and simmer for about 10 minutes until the orzo is soft. If needed, add more water or broth to get your desired soup consistency. Stir in the heavy cream.
- Add the chicken and squeeze in some lemon juice to brighten the flavors.
- Serve the soup topped with Parmesan, herbs, red pepper flakes, and hot crusty bread. If you like, serve with a side of pesto for dipping the bread in before dunking it in the soup. Delicious!
Notes:
- It’s best to use a nonstick pan for this recipe to prevent the orzo from sticking. If you don’t have a nonstick soup pot, a large sauté pan will work.
- For the optional pesto, blend 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, 1 clove garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 cup packed basil leaves, and 1 cup packed spinach in a food processor until it forms crumbles. Drizzle in about 1/4 cup olive oil until it becomes a sauce. Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice. It’s the perfect companion for bread and soup dunking.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Soup
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Keywords: orzo soup, chicken soup, chicken orzo soup
Enjoy your meal! If you make this recipe, don’t forget to share your masterpiece!
