Lemon, Chicken & Orzo Soup

I've made a similar soup a few times in the past, but never written down or posted the recipe before.  (I have posted some lemon, chicken and rice recipes, but I really love the use or orzo in this one.)  For New Year's Day, we got everyone in the family their own Cornish Game Hens for dinner.  The kids loved them, but we had a ton of meat leftover.  We froze it and made broth with the carcasses (which I used on Chicken and Dumplings).  For this soup, I just used store-bought broth, but I used the meat from the Cornish Game Hens. 

I love lemon is savory dishes like this chicken soup.  I love, love, love lemon in my chicken soup.  Our fave little Pasterlaria here has delicious Canja- Portuguese chicken soup, usually made with lemon.  Theirs has cloves and other flavors in it.  I love that soup- but have been denied the recipe so far.  We will try again!    

Lemon, Chicken & Orzo Soup

by What a Dish!

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

2 stalks celery, sliced

2 large carrots, sliced

6 cups chicken broth, store-bought or homemade

3-4 cups cooked, diced chicken meat

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2- 3/4 cup dry orzo 

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1.  In a large stockpot or soup pot, heat olive oil over medium heat.  Add onion and cook and stir for a few minutes until it begins to soften.  Add garlic and cook for about a minute.  Add celery, carrots and chicken broth and bring to a simmer.  Add chicken, basil and black pepper.  Simmer for 15 minutes, or until carrot is cooked (feel free to simmer longer if desired!).  

2.  Bring the heat up to a low boil.  Add the dry orzo pasta, and stir in.  Lower heat back to simmer, and simmer soup until orzo is cooked through (about 12-15 minutes).  Add the fresh lemon juice and heat through on low heat. Taste and add salt, if needed.  Serve.

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