Bursting with fresh lemon flavour, this brothy orzo soup with chickpeas and plenty of dill is so easy (ready in about 40 minutes!) and the perfect light yet balanced plant-based dinner.
Looking for a light yet balanced meal? This simple lemony orzo soup with chickpeas is packed with fresh dill.
I think it’s so weird that I will almost NEVER order a soup in a restaurant…but it’s one of the meals that I’m most excited about making at home.
It helps that it’s the kind of plant-based dinner my omnivore kids will rarely complain about. It makes it easy to get your veggies in (you know my dietitian heart LOVES the veggies). Plus, it’s a comforting one pot dinner that I’ll never get tired of because there are endless ways to make it.
This easy vegan orzo and chickpea soup is inspired by Greek avgolemono soup but it’s not quite true to the original because well, no chicken…but/and/also, this soup is light and brothy, without using a thickener to make it creamier (avgolemono actually refers to a mixture of egg and lemon used to thicken the soup).
Although, if you want it creamier, you could absolutely swirl in a little homemade cashew cream at the end. I tried it as I was testing this recipe and it’s delish!
This lemony orzo soup is SO satisfying because I’ve absolutely loaded it with aromatic veggies like onion, garlic and fennel (yes, you can sub celery if that’s what you’ve got!) plus a ton of fresh lemon and dill (essential!). You’ve got enough chickpeas to lend some plant-based protein and fibre plus silky orzo. Because, well, orzo is the best.
It’s the kind of midweek dinner hero made from mostly long storage veggies and pantry staples plus it comes together in about 35-40 minutes, depending on how fast you chop. So enough talking, let’s get cooking!!!
Looking for more flavourful, fun plant-based recipes that will have you feeling good? Grab a copy of my latest cookbook, Plant Magic!
Here’s how to make this bright + lemony orzo soup with chickpeas
If you’re making this soup gluten free, just swap in a tiny GF pasta OR leftover rice!
First things first: let’s talk ingredients. If you’re new here, you need to know that I’m obsessed with Better Than Bouillon. I think it makes your soups taste better. Plus, it’s actually lower waste and more affordable per use than boxed broth. But if you don’t have it, or need a gluten free recipe, just sub broth for the water!
I’ve got a few tips and tricks and step-by-step photos here for you…but scroll down for the full recipe!
I’m a stickler for chopping everything small in my soups…I just think it makes the texture so much nicer!
It’s worth taking the time to properly cook down the veggies first as this will build more flavour!
No orzo on hand? Any other tiny pasta, like ditalini, or stellini (stars) will be cute!
Heads up: orzo likes to stick. Be sure to stir often, as it simmers!
We pop the lemon, dill and nutritional yeast in last for a burst of flavour!
More nourishing vegan soups
Easy + Nourishing Green Soup Recipe
Brothy Red Lentil Soup With Carrots
Roasted Tomato Soup with Sunflower Gremolata Topping
Nourishing Vegan Lasagna Soup with Tofu Crumbles
Carrot, Lentil and Fresh Ginger Soup with Coconut Milk
Bright + Lemony Orzo Soup with Chickpeas
Bursting with fresh lemon flavour, this brothy orzo soup with chickpeas and plenty of dill is so easy (ready in about 35 minutes!) and the perfect light yet balanced plant-based dinner.
Servings 4 servings
Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil1 medium yellow onion diced½ small fennel bulb diced, or sub 2 ribs celery2 medium carrots diced5 cloves garlic chopped7 cups water2 tablespoons Better than Bouillon vegetarian chicken concentrate sub gluten free broth in place of BTB + water for a GF option1 large bay leaf½ teaspoon dried oregano2-14 ounce cans chickpeas rinsed and drained1 cup orzo pasta sub dry or leftover rice for GF option½ cup fresh dill finely chopped 1 medium lemon zested and juiced (about ¼ cup juice)1 tablespoon nutritional yeastsalt and pepper to taste
Imperial – Metric
Instructions
Warm oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the fennel, onion and carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and glossy, about 8-10 minutes.
Add garlic and stir often for one minute. Season with salt and pepper.
Add water, bouillon concentrate, chickpeas, bay leaf and oregano and bring to a boil on high.
Once boiling, add orzo and turn heat back down to medium. Simmer until tender, 12-15 minutes.
Turn off heat, add nutritional yeast, lemon juice, zest and dill. Stir and taste. Adjust lemon, salt or pepper as desired. Enjoy!
Ingredients
Instructions
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