Monday, October 25, 2010

Perfectly Simple Chicken and Orzo Soup

I don't use the word "perfect" lightly, I was just blown away with the simply beautiful result of this simple method to make chicken soup. Instead of using a complicated method, I relied on the most basic of ways to create what turned out to be a flavorful fall dish. The orzo jazzes up this recipe, but feel free to use noodles or any other pasta.

Perfectly Simple Chicken and Orzo Soup


2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 celery stalk, diced
1 carrot, sliced
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
12 cups water
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1/2 pound orzo, uncooked

In a large stock pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the onion, celery and carrot. Cook for 5 minutes or until the vegetables become tender. Add the chicken and let cook for 2 minutes, flip, and let cook 2 more minutes.

Add the water, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Allow to simmer 15 minutes. Remove the chicken to cool (so you may shred it). Return the broth to a boil and add the orzo. Let simmer for 10 minutes or until the orzo is al dente.

Meanwhile, shred the chicken. Once the orzo is cooked, reduce the heat to low, add the chicken and keep warm until ready to serve.

Serves 6.

Not to make a grand statement about this soup, but a lingering cough was gone after a couple bowls...

SPC

7 comments:

Jenny Terry said...

I think you made this just to ease my post tosillectomy blues! Thanks sis!

Jenny Terry said...

Okay - for the non-culinarily inclined followers (or maybe just for me)... I want to make this and just copied the recipe but in two parts you say to bring to a boil and then simmer. Does that mean bring to a boil and then reduce heat or let boil? :) I know I am a sorry cook!!!

Sweet Pea Chef said...

Hey girl. How are you? Hope the throat is doing well. You are a ROCK STAR and don't you forget it.

Bring it to a boil (huge big bubbles and a rapid pace of them breaking) and then reduce heat to a simmer, where the broth will be just barely bubbly (on a scale of one to ten on a stove top dial, a simmer is usually about a two).

Call me if you need anything else!

sarah22277 said...

I will defintely be making this soup tonight- I already have all of the ingredients in my fridge :)

Slacker Mama said...

*Very* excited to see this recipe. E loveslovesloves chicken noodle soup from Wegmans and Panera, and I was just mentioning to John that I needed to find an easy recipe to make at home. YAY!

Sweet Pea Chef said...

Slacker--I am sure you could omit the celery. :)

Jenny Terry said...

Made it - LOVED it!!