I love soup, but for some reason it’s one of those dishes that I never make at home. I don’t know why, maybe it’s because I live in a house of boys … and bigger boys. Meals usually consist of manly food, like burgers, roast, and steak. If I put a bowl of soup in front of my husband and son, I’m quite sure they would stare at me as if I’d sprouted three horns on my head. Soup is not man food, at least in my house.

But a girl’s gotta have something for herself every now and then, and this girl wanted a bowl full of warm, delicious soup. When I found this Spinach Lemon Orzo Soup recipe from TK member Cassie, I knew it fit the bill perfectly.

I love recipes that have just a few simple ingredients, and this one (adapted from Faith Durand of The Kitchn) is super simple but definitely delicious.

First, heat your oil in a large heavy pot or stock pot.

Add the onion and garlic and cook for 3-4 minutes until fragrant. Please ignore my black-bottomed pot. It perpetually looks dirty even though it’s not, kind of like my 5-year-old, who usually is.

Add the lemon zest, red pepper flakes and thyme. (Note: I only had fresh thyme on hand, so I doubled the amount and used 2 teaspoons.) Cook another 3 minutes until the onions are tender and translucent.

Turn the heat to medium and add the orzo.

Now add that yummy spinach. Cook for 1 minute.

Add the lemon juice.

Add your broth. You can use chicken or vegetable. Bring to a light simmer and cook for 12-15 minutes, until the orzo is barely tender.

Whisk the water and cornstarch together in a small bowl.

With the soup at a light boil, whisk in the cornstarch mixture and stir rapidly. Allow the soup to thicken, about 3 minutes.

Serve immediately garnished with freshly grated Parmesan.

I love the delicious mix of flavors and textures in this soup, and the parmesan adds the perfect crowning touch. I enjoyed my lunch so much, I ALMOST felt guilty about the PB&Js that my men decided to eat, after they refused to eat my non-manly soup. Their loss!

A hearty thank you Cassie for sharing this delicious recipe! Make sure you visit her blog Bake Your Day, where you will find so many wonderful looking dishes.

Recipe

Spinach Lemon Orzo Soup

by BakeYourDay on October 18, 2011 in Brothy Soups, Soups
See this recipe post on BakeYourDay’s site! October 18, 2011

Brothy SoupsSoups

4.73 Mitt(s) 22 Rating(s)

Prep Time 5 Minutes

Cook Time 20 Minutes

Difficulty Easy

Servings 8

8

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Recipe Description

Healthy, creamy vegetarian soup that is quick to throw together and tastes like it has simmered all day.

Preparation Instructions

Heat the oil in a large heavy pot or stock pot. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 3-4 minutes until fragrant. Add the lemon zest, red pepper flakes and thyme and cook another 3 minutes until the onions are tender and translucent. Turn the heat to medium and add the spinach and orzo. Cook for 1 minute and then add the broth and lemon juice.

Bring to a light simmer and cook for 12-15 minutes until the orzo is barely tender. Whisk the water and cornstarch in a small bowl. With the soup at a light boil, whisk in the cornstarch mixture and stir rapidly. Allow the soup to thicken, about 3 minutes.

Serve immediately garnished with freshly grated Parmesan.

Cassie’s notes:
This soup is also great with 1-2 cups of cooked chicken added in. Feel free to use chopped frozen spinach—just make sure you thaw, drain and squeeze out the excess water.

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 1 whole Large Onion, Chopped
• 2 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 1 whole Lemon, Zested And Juiced
• 1 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
• 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
• 2 cups Fresh Spinach Leaves, Packed
• 1-½ cup Uncooked Orzo Pasta
• 8 cups Vegetable Or Chicken Broth
• 2 Tablespoons Water
• 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
• ¼ cups Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese, More Or Less As Needed

 
 
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Amber is a stay at home mom who lives in the heart of the Missouri Ozarks. It’s a long way from where she grew up, in Wales (yes, way over in the U.K.). The recipes in her blog Sprinkled with Flour include her original creations as well as her family recipes. Go check them out!