Easy Orzo, Leek and Dill Soup Recipe
This Easy Orzo, Leek, and Dill Soup is a comforting and flavorful vegetarian dish perfect for a light lunch or dinner. Combining tender orzo pasta with fragrant leeks, fresh dill, and a hint of lemon, this soup is both refreshing and hearty. Made with simple ingredients and cooked on the stovetop, it’s quick to prepare yet full of vibrant flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 28 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
For the soup:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 red onion, finely chopped
- 3 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 carrot, diced
- 1 leek, diced (include green parts)
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 4.25 cups orzo pasta (120 g)
- 6 1/3 cups vegetable broth (made from cube and boiling water)
- 3 to 4 fresh dill sprigs
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
For serving:
- Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- Additional fresh dill sprigs
Instructions
- Prepare Vegetables: Finely chop the red onion and garlic cloves. Dice the carrot and leek, including the green parts. Add all the chopped vegetables to a large pot with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, then season with salt and pepper. Sweat the vegetables over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 6 minutes until they begin to soften and become fragrant.
- Make Vegetable Broth: While the vegetables are sweating, boil water and dissolve a vegetable broth cube in it to make 6 1/3 cups of hot vegetable broth. Whisk until the cube is fully dissolved, then set aside.
- Cook Orzo in Broth: Add the orzo pasta to the pot with the softened vegetables. Pour in the prepared hot vegetable broth and sprinkle in the dried thyme. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer. Let it cook, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, for about 12 minutes until the orzo is tender.
- Season and Add Dill: Taste the soup and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Squeeze in the juice from half a lemon and stir in 3 to 4 fresh dill sprigs, chopped or whole based on preference. Taste again and adjust if necessary. For a brighter flavor, add an extra splash of lemon before serving.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls. Drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil over each serving and garnish with an additional fresh dill sprig. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- You can substitute the orzo with other small pasta shapes like acini di pepe or small shells.
- Use homemade vegetable broth for a richer flavor if available.
- For a creamier texture, stir in a splash of cream or coconut milk at the end.
- Adjust the amount of lemon juice to your preferred level of brightness.
- Fresh dill is essential for the signature flavor, but dried dill can be used in a pinch.
Keywords: orzo soup, leek soup, dill soup, vegetarian soup, easy soup recipe, Mediterranean soup, lemon dill soup
Find it online: https://cookwithyana.com/easy-orzo-leek-and-dill-soup-recipe/
