Ingredients for Chicken Lemon Orzo Soup
To create this orzo soup, gather the following ingredients:
- Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are recommended in the recipe, but chicken thighs can be a suitable alternative. Alternatively, you can use 4 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken or leftover cooked chicken.
- Orzo: The star ingredient, and if orzo is unavailable, other small pasta options like acini di pepe, ditalini, or stelline pasta can be used.
- Lemon: A touch of fresh lemon juice and lemon zest to infuse a burst of flavor.
- Onion, Carrot, and Celery: The classic mirepoix mix, forming the base of the soup.
- Garlic: Adding depth and aroma to the dish.
- Herbs: A blend of oregano, parsley, basil, and dill to season and flavor the soup. The recipe specifies dried herbs, but fresh ones are a fine alternative, with the caveat of tripling the quantity when using fresh herbs and adding them towards the end of the cooking process.
- Spinach: Providing greenery and color to the soup.
- Chicken Broth: While chicken broth is preferred, vegetable broth is also a viable substitute.
Additionally, you’ll need some olive oil, salt, and black pepper to complete the recipe.
Dietary Adaptions
For a Gluten-Free Version: Substitute orzo with gluten-free short-cut pasta or rice and ensure the broth is gluten-free.
For a Dairy-Free Version: No modifications are necessary, as this soup is already dairy-free.
