This hidden veggie orzo soup with chicken is the ultimate comfort food. Not only is it easy, but has the most stunning color due to the blended hidden veggies. This soup is for anyone that might be picky with veggies and loves a delicious and smooth texture. I hope that this recipe gives you inspiration and helps your little ones as I know how picky kids can be with veggies. I have been blending veggies into my soups and sauces for as long as I can remember so I know you will absolutely love it. With the busy school/work year, this recipe is perfect in a thermos, and I know kids and adults won’t be able to get enough! Soup is so comforting and cozy, it’s simply one of my favourite dishes to make.
Hidden Veggie Orzo Soup
This soup is for anyone that might be picky with veggies and loves a delicious and smooth texture. I hope that this recipe gives you inspiration and helps your little ones as I know how picky kids can be with veggies.
Ingredients
- 6 cups of water
- 4 cups of unsalted organic veggie broth
- 3 peeled shallots one whole peeled yellow/white onion also works
- 2 celery ribs cut in half
- 1 peeled carrot
- 3 peeled whole garlic cloves
- ½ of a red bell pepper any bell pepper works
- 5 chicken drumsticks you can use any cut of chicken but dark meat is the most flavourful
- salt to taste start with ½ a tablespoon and taste and adjust after the soup is cooked
- ¾ cup orzo or pastina
- handful of fresh parsley for garnish to taste
Instructions
- Fill a big pot with water and organic unsalted vegetable broth. Add in the whole peeled and washed vegetables and let it come to a boil. Once boiling, add the chicken drumsticks or thighs. Skim off any foam with a spoon and add salt. Make sure to add more as you taste and adjust at the very end.
- Once it’s boiling, be sure to reduce the heat to medium-low and semi-cover it with a lid. Let it go for 45-60 minutes or until the veggies are all super soft, the chicken is boiled, and broth has reduced.
- You can now take out the chicken, let it cool, shred or cut it. If the chicken has bone or skin, you can compost it. Take out the whole veggies with a slotted spoon and throw them in the blender with two ladles of the clear broth.
- Blend until everything is nice and smooth, add it back into the pot. Add the orzo and cook for 7-8 minutes or until al-dente. Add in the shredded chicken and fresh parsley for garnish, stir and enjoy.
Notes
I usually use a whole peeled yellow onion but I didn’t have any on hand so I used a few shallots instead. Feel free to use any onion except red in this recipe.
Feel free to use ONLY water if you don’t want to add stock into the pot in the beginning. I have made it without stock many times and it’s just as delicious.
If you want to make this soup vegan or vegetarian, simply leave out the chicken completely.
Can I freeze this soup: Yes. Let it cool completely, transfer into a freezer safe container in the freezer.
Hot soup (or other hot liquids, for that matter) will steam and expand in a stand blender, which can push the top off and cause a mess and burn hazard. When pureeing hot soup, do it in batches. Fill the blender 1/3 to 1/2 full, remove or loosen the center cap from the lid of the blender. Cover the lid with a folded dishcloth and hold it down when blending.
How can I send this to my kids for school: I would add boiling hot water into a thermos and close it so that it pre-heats. In the meantime, I would warm up my soup on the stove.
Dump out the hot water out of the thermos and add the soup in. Leave some room at the top so that it doesn’t create a vacuum seal for them as the thermos will be harder to open. Can I use pasta, rice, or noodles: Yes absolutely, you can use anything you love in chicken soup. Just be sure to add it in after you have taken out the whole boiled veggies and chicken.
Dump out the hot water out of the thermos and add the soup in. Leave some room at the top so that it doesn’t create a vacuum seal for them as the thermos will be harder to open. Can I use pasta, rice, or noodles: Yes absolutely, you can use anything you love in chicken soup. Just be sure to add it in after you have taken out the whole boiled veggies and chicken.
My favourite organic broth is by Kettle and Fire. You can use my link and code for 20% off: https://kettleandfire.com/modernnonna code MODERNNONNA
If you are in Canada, Natura Market will carry Kettle and Fire so please check online.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
7 Responses
I made this soup and it was so good on a gloomy day. I have never had a soup like this and it was amazing! It was even better the second day as it thickened up a bit. Thank you!
So happy Heather and you’re right, soup the next day is EVEN better. Thank you for this comment
Love this soup, it is so delicious. Making it for the second time.
Glad it was a hit Mel!
This soup was delicious, wonderful depth of flavour. We really enjoyed this and I’m looking forward to making some of the other Hidden Veggie soups. Also made some for a friend having surgery for easy to eat meals when she comes home.
So happy you loved it Sheila
Hope your friend feels better ASAP