Toasted Orzo Chicken Soup

By t1bishop

wonderful soup

Ingredients

• One 32-ounce container (4 cups) chicken stock
• 1 pound skinless, boneless
• chicken breast pieces or tenders
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3/4 cup orzo pasta
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
• 1 small zucchini, finely chopped
• 1 carrot, finely chopped
• 1/2 small red bell pepper, finely chopped
• 2 shallots or 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• Salt and pepper
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1/4 cup finely chopped flat-leaf
• parsley
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon peel

Preparation

Step 1

1. In a medium pot, bring the chicken stock and chicken to a simmer. Lower the heat and poach the chicken for 12 minutes.
2. Heat a dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat. Add the butter to melt. Add the orzo and cook, stirring, until deeply toasted, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
3. Add the EVOO, 2 turns of the pan,
to the dutch oven. Add the zucchini,
carrot, bell pepper, shallots and
garlic; season with salt and pepper.
Cook, stirring occasionally, until the
vegetables are softened, 7 to 8 minutes. Return the orzo to the pot.
4. Remove the chicken from the
stock. Skim and discard the fat from
the stock; transfer the stock to the
dutch oven. Chop, dice or shred the
chicken and add to the soup with 2 cups water. Bring the soup to a boil and cook until the orzo is just tender, 5 minutes. Add the peas during the last minute of cooking. Turn off the heat; stir in the parsley and lemon peel. Serve immediately.