Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
warming soup made with just a handful of ingredients that will definitely make any day better.
Few things are as comforting as a bowl of chicken soup, and this lemon chicken orzo soup takes flavors to the next level!
Why you’ll love this lemon chicken orzo soup
It’s a soup that will warm you up to your core while being super easy to make.
The soup is packed with nutritious veggies, lean chicken for protein and orzo to transform into a complete meal.
The flavors are vibrant and take the concept of chicken soup to a whole new level!
Orzo – Also called risoni, orzo is actually pasta, even though it looks like rice. You can use regular or wholewheat orzo in this soup. Make sure you check the directions on the package regarding cooking times.
If you don’t have orzo pasta, you can transform this into a chicken noodle soup or a rice soup!
Lemon juice – The juice of a small lemon will infuse loads of citrusy flavor into this soup. That’s approximately the equivalent of 2 tablespoons. For even more flavor, add the lemon zest as well.
Fresh dill – This is the secret ingredient that turns this soup into a masterpiece! Don’t substitute with dried dill because the flavor is not the same.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 medium carrot, diced
- 2-3 celery stalks, diced
- 1 medium leek, white and light green parts only, finely chopped
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 6 cups (1.5 litres) chicken stock
- 2 chicken breasts (about ¾ lb / 350 g)
- 1 cup (225 g) orzo
- Juice of 1 small lemon
- 1 cup (30 g) fresh dill, finely chopped
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
INSTRUCTIONS:
Heat the olive oil in a stock pot or Dutch oven and cook the carrot and celery for 4-5 minutes over medium heat.
Add the leek and cook for 2-3 minutes, then add the garlic and continue to cook for another minute.
Next, add the chicken stock and chicken breasts. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes with a lid placed ajar on the pot.
Take out the cooked chicken and set it aside on a plate. Add the orzo to the pot and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally so the orzo doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
Meanwhile, shred the chicken using two forks. When the orzo is cooked, add the shredded chicken back to the pot together with the lemon juice and fresh dill.
Season to taste and serve immediately with your favorite crusty bread if you like.
