Are you looking for a hearty and flavorful soup that’s also easy to make? Look no further than this simple and delicious Orzo and Red Pepper Soup! This soup is a wonderful combination of vegetables, orzo pasta, and savory herbs that come together in one comforting bowl. It’s perfect for a cozy family dinner, a potluck, or even a light lunch.

Not only is this soup delicious, but it’s also incredibly simple to make. With just a few ingredients and a few steps, you can have a nutritious and delicious soup on the table in no time.

Before you get started, you’ll need a few ingredients that you can find at most any grocery store. Orzo pasta, red peppers, onions, garlic, vegetable broth, and a few herbs are all you need to make this delicious dish. The ingredients are simple, but the flavor is anything but! The sweetness of the red peppers, the savory herbs, and the creamy orzo come together to create a soup that’s truly delicious.

This soup is great served on its own, but if you’d like to add an extra layer of flavor, try serving it with a dollop of Greek yogurt or a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. It’s also fantastic with a side of crusty bread (bonus points for homemade!) or a simple salad.

So if you’re looking for a hearty and flavorful soup that’s also easy to make, read on to learn how to make Orzo and Red Pepper Soup. Below I’ll be providing an ingredient checklist, as well as five tips to up your soup game.

Ingredient Checklist

Red Bell Peppers. Aside from their signature sweet and smoky flavor, bell peppers also bring a nice pop of color to the soup.
Serrano Peppers. These are a medium-hot variety of chili pepper, with delicious ‘chili flavor’ and a just of smokiness.
Garlic. Crush it, peel it, and pop it into the soup. No need to fuss with dicing this time around. Garlic is serving as a key aromatic for today’s soup.
Jalapeno Peppers. These are a milder variety of chili pepper. They are a great addition to the soup, giving it a bit of heat and milder chili flavor.
Grape Tomatoes. Grape tomatoes are a sweet and juicy variety of tomato, and I find them perfect for today’s soup. However, feel free to use whichever variety of tomato you have on hand.
Fresh Basil. These add a lovely herbal flavor to the soup.
Dried Oregano. A delightfully fragrant herb that adds a savory flavor to the soup.
Sugar. A key ingredient, as sugar helps to balance out the flavors of the soup and add a bit of sweetness.
Sea Salt. This is one recipe where I do recommend sea salt. It’s a great way to enhance the flavor of the soup.
Scallions. For the purposes of today’s soup, think of scallions s a milder variety of onion.
Chicken Stock. Good soup starts with a good stock. Use your preferred chicken stock. I’m using Vegeta Real Gourmet Stock.
Orzo. A type of pasta that is often used in soups and Greek red sauces. I’m using it purely as a matter of preference. Feel free to use your pasta of choice.
Olive Oil. As always, I recommend a decent quality extra virgin olive oil.

Five Tips for Making Great Soup

Start with a quality stock: When making soup, it's important to start with a top notch stock. This is often the foundation for the soup, and will determine the overall flavor. Try to use a good-quality stock, such as homemade chicken or beef stock, or a good store-bought stock that you enjoy. When it comes to store-bought stocks, preference is king.
Get Creative with the Ingredients: When building flavor, think about adding ingredients that will add flavor and complexity. Mix and match spicy chili peppers with sweet ingredients like raisins, honey, or cinnamon. Layer the savory ingredients, such as matching meaty ingredients like sausage with herbs like rosemary. Then of course don’t forget the basics like onions, garlic, celery, carrots, herbs, spices, and other aromatics.
Simmer slowly: Simmering soup slowly is essential for developing a rich, flavorful soup. This will allow all of the flavors to meld together and create a delicious soup. Never, ever bring a soup to a full boil unless the recipe specifically directs you to do so.
Don't forget the acid: Adding a bit of acid, such as lemon juice or vinegar, can help to balance the flavors of the soup. This is especially important if the soup is a bit too salty or bland.
Taste and adjust: Don't be afraid to taste the soup and adjust the seasoning or other ingredients as needed. This is the best way to ensure that the soup is just right!

Peppers & Orzo Soup

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5 from 5 reviews

Author: Living the Gourmet
Total Time: 50 minutes
Yield: 4-6 1x

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Ingredients

Units Scale

3 red bell peppers - charred
1 - 2 Serrano peppers - charred
4 large cloves of garlic - chopped
1 jalapeno - charred
1-pint grape tomatoes
2 Handfuls of fresh basil leaves
1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. sea salt
1 bunch of fresh scallions
1 quart of chicken stock
1 lb. of orzo
2 - 3 tbs. olive oil

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Instructions

Place the bell peppers on an open flame to char. Carefully monitor the peppers and using tongs turn as the char is achieved. Set aside to cool before scraping the car off. If you do not have a gas burner stove you may achieve this in a dry cast iron pan.
Place the Serrano peppers and jalapeno pepper in a small dry, cast iron frying pan to achieve a nice char and set aside. The Serrano peppers are for garnish when the dish is served.
Place the grape tomatoes in a dry sauce-pot and let char. Add the sugar and dried oregano over the tomatoes. Add a tablespoon of olive oil and the garlic gently mash the tomatoes and garlic.
When the bell peppers cool, scrape the char and remove the ribs and seeds and slice thin. Add to these to the tomatoes. Slice the jalapeno pepper thin with or without the seeds, the seeds add more heat to the dish so this is up to your preference, and add to the pot.
Using a pastry blender, chop the peppers into small chunks.
Add a handful of chopped fresh basil to the pot and toss.
Add the chicken broth and salt and let this gently simmer for 15 – 20 minutes. Taste for seasoning.
Prepare the orzo as directed and drain.
In a small cast iron frying pan grill the scallions a tablespoon of olive oil and the other handful of fresh basil. Add a sprinkle of sea salt and cook until a nice char is achieved on the scallions.
Add to the pot of peppers and broth.
Slice the Serrano pepper for garnish.
Place the orzo at the bottom of a bowl and top with the peppers and broth, a drizzle of olive oil another dash of sea salt and fresh ground black pepper and garnish with a slice or two of the Serrano pepper.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1

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And that’s our Orzo and Red Pepper Soup! We hope you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you try it at home, please let us know how it turned out. We love heard from you!

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Thanks again, and happy cooking!

Peppers & Orzo Soup

Ingredient Checklist

Five Tips for Making Great Soup