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Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

A simple and nutritious weeknight bowl of soup filled with color, texture and flavor
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Main Course, Soup
Cuisine Greek
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • 3 Tablespoons Olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion finely diced
  • 3 carrots peeled and chopped
  • 3 celery stalks chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tomato diced
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 Tablespoon turmeric
  • 1 Tablespoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 4 cups low sodium or no salt chicken broth
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 cup orzo pasta
  • 1 bunch Tuscan kale stems removed and leaves chopped
  • 1 cup frozen petite peas
  • 1/3 cup fresh parsley finely chopped
  • ¼ cup fresh dill finely chopped
  • Zest and juice from 1 – 2 lemons I usually use around 1 ½

Instructions
 

  • Add the olive oil to a large pot over medium high heat. Add in the onions, carrots and celery with a pinch of salt and pepper and let these cook down for a couple minutes. Season the veggies with the turmeric, oregano and nutmeg, then add in the garlic and tomatoes. Give everything a toss, season with another pinch of salt and pepper and let it cook down for an additional 3 minutes.
  • Add in the chicken breast and coat it with the seasonings in the pot. Pour in the chicken broth and water and stir from the bottom to make sure nothing sticks. Bring this to a boil then lower the heat down to a simmer and halfway cover the pot for 15 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked through.
  • Use tongs to remove the chicken to a plate. Add in the orzo pasta, Tuscan kale and frozen peas and stir from the bottom to be sure the orzo doesn’t stick. Use 2 forks to shred up the chicken into large chunks and add it right back to the pot. Once the orzo if fully cooked through and al dente, taste for seasonings, add more liquid (water or broth) to your liking.
  • Turn off the heat, add in the chopped parsley and dill, lemon zest and juice. Stir everything up and serve. Enjoy!

Notes

You can substitute the Tuscan kale for fresh chopped spinach. If you do this, add it in at the end with the herbs and lemon.
Keyword Chicken Soup, Lemon Chicken, Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup, Orzo