Lemon Squash Soup With Orzo Food

LEMON ORZO

Steps:

• Simmer 1 cup orzo in a saucepan with 2 1/2 cups water, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon dried mint, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon paprika and 2 strips lemon zest, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool slightly. Stir in 2 chopped scallions, the juice of 1 lemon, and salt to taste.

CREAMY LEMON ORZO

Steps:

• Bring the chicken broth, 1 cup water and the bay leaves to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Meanwhile, melt 3 tablespoons butter in a medium dutch oven over medium heat. Add the leeks and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned, about 4 minutes. Stir in the orzo and thyme; season with salt and pepper. Add the warm broth mixture and adjust the heat to maintain a simmer. Add the heavy cream and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Remove the bay leaves. Stir the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, the parsley and the lemon zest and juice into the orzo; season with salt and pepper.

LEMON CHICKEN ORZO SOUP

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook orzo in the boiling water until partially cooked through but not yet soft, about 5 minutes; drain and rinse with cold water until cooled completely.
• Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook and stir carrots, celery, and onion in hot oil until the vegetables begin to soften and the onion becomes translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Season mixture with thyme, oregano, salt, black pepper, and bay leaf; continue cooking another 30 seconds before pouring chicken broth into the pot.
• Bring the broth to a boil. Partially cover the pot, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until the vegetables are just tender, about 10 minutes.
• Stir orzo, lemon juice, and lemon zest into the broth; add chicken. Cook until the chicken and orzo are heated through, about 5 minutes. Add baby spinach; cook until the spinach wilts into the broth and the orzo is tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Ladle soup into bowls; garnish with lemon slices and Parmesan cheese.

GREEK LEMON AND ORZO SOUP

Steps:

• In a soup pot, bring the broth, lemon peel, bay leaf and saffron to a boil.
• Stir in the orzo and boil for 5 minutes.
• Cover, remove the pan from the heat and let the orzo steep for 5 minutes.
• Discard the lemon peel and a bay leaf.
• In a bowl, whish the eggs and egg yolks, lemon juice and hot sauce.
• Whisk in ½ cup soup to temper the eggs, then whish the egg mixture into the soup.
• Cook on low heat, whisking, for 5 minutes.
• Stir in the parsley; season with salt and pepper. Serve with pita chips.

BROWN-BUTTER ORZO WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• In a medium Dutch oven, or a large (12-inch) skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Cook, swirling occasionally, until the foam subsides, the milk solids turn golden brown and it smells nutty and toasty, 3 to 4 minutes. (Watch carefully to see that it doesn't burn.)
• Stir in shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Add squash, sage, a large pinch of salt, the 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and the 1/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes, and cook until squash is golden at the edges and begins to soften, 12 to 17 minutes.
• Add stock and bring to a simmer. Stir in orzo, lemon zest and the 1 teaspoon salt. Cover the pan and simmer over medium-low heat until orzo is just tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, 14 to 18 minutes, stirring once or twice. If the pan dries out before the orzo and squash are tender, add a splash or two of water.
• Remove pan from heat and stir in Parmesan. Taste and add more salt if needed, and a squeeze of lemon juice if the dish needs brightness. Dollop with ricotta if using, and sprinkle with more grated Parmesan and black pepper just before serving, garnishing the top with more red-pepper flakes and sage.

LEMON SQUASH SOUP WITH ORZO

Steps:

• Cut the squash in half lengthwise and then crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices; set aside.
• Melt the butter in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Add squash and season with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes.
• Add 4 cups of the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for an additional 15 minutes, or until the squash is very soft.
• Use an immersion blender to create a smooth, thick puree. (If using a regular blender, allow soup to cool before pureeing, and then return it to the pot.)
• Bring back to a boil. Add the orzo and reduce the heat, cooking until the pasta is tender, about 7 to 8 minutes. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer.
• Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, combine the cream, egg yolks and lemon juice. Whisk until smooth. Add the cream/egg mixture to the soup and whisk over low heat until blended. Do not let the soup come back to a boil or the egg yolks will curdle.
• Stir in the mint. If the soup is too thick at this point, add the remaining cup of stock. Serve immediately.