Description
Comforting Mediterranean Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup warms hearts with its zesty broth and tender chicken. Quick and nourishing, this soul-satisfying soup delivers a perfect balance of tangy citrus and hearty protein you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup (170 grams) uncooked orzo pasta
- 6 cups (1.4 liters) low-sodium chicken broth
Vegetables and Herbs:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 cups fresh spinach leaves
Seasoning and Finishing Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) olive oil
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Warm olive oil in a spacious pot over moderate heat, creating a foundation for flavor development.
- Incorporate diced onion, carrots, and celery, sautéing until vegetables soften and release their aromatic essence, approximately 5 minutes.
- Introduce minced garlic, dried thyme, oregano, and bay leaf, allowing the herbs to bloom and intensify their fragrance for one minute.
- Stream chicken broth into the vegetable mixture, elevating the temperature until the liquid reaches a rolling boil.
- Gently nestle whole chicken breasts into the bubbling liquid, reducing heat to a gentle simmer and covering the pot.
- Allow chicken to poach slowly, ensuring thorough cooking and maintaining tenderness for 15-20 minutes.
- Carefully extract chicken from the broth, using two forks to delicately shred the meat into succulent threads.
- Reintroduce shredded chicken to the simmering broth, preserving its moisture and flavor.
- Sprinkle orzo pasta into the liquid, stirring occasionally and monitoring its transformation to al dente perfection.
- Brighten the soup with vibrant lemon zest and freshly squeezed juice, infusing a citrusy complexity.
- Delicately fold spinach leaves into the soup, watching them wilt and integrate seamlessly.
- Calibrate seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper, adjusting to personal taste preferences.
- Discard the bay leaf to prevent any potential bitter undertones.
- Ladle the aromatic soup into serving bowls, crowning each portion with a sprinkle of verdant parsley.
Notes
- Control vegetable softness by cutting uniform sizes, ensuring even cooking and perfect texture.
- Prevent orzo from becoming mushy by adding it later in the cooking process and stirring occasionally.
- Enhance flavor depth by using homemade chicken broth instead of store-bought for a richer taste profile.
- Customize the soup for dietary needs by substituting chicken with tofu or using gluten-free orzo for alternative diets.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg