Description
Greek-inspired pressure cooker chicken orzo soup delivers comfort in a bowl, blending hearty proteins with delicate pasta. Mediterranean flavors and quick preparation make this soup a perfect weeknight meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) chicken breasts (or thighs), boneless, skinless
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 0.75 cup orzo pasta
- 1 cup baby spinach or kale
- 0.5 cup frozen peas
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 0.5 tsp dried thyme
- 0.5 tsp dried oregano
- 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Aromatic Foundation: Ignite the pressure cooker’s sauté mode and drizzle olive oil. Sauté onions, carrots, and celery until they transform into a soft, translucent canvas of flavor.
- Herbal Awakening: Introduce minced garlic, thyme, oregano, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Allow the herbs to dance and release their vibrant essence for a moment.
- Liquid Embrace: Nestle whole chicken breasts into the vegetable-herb landscape, then cascade chicken broth over the ingredients, fully immersing the meat.
- Pressure Performance: Lock the pressure cooker lid, seal the valve, and launch high-pressure cooking for 10 minutes. After completion, rest for a 5-minute natural pressure release before carefully venting.
- Chicken Transformation: Extract chicken breasts and delicately shred the meat into tender, elegant morsels using two forks.
- Pasta Symphony: Activate sauté mode and fold orzo pasta into the aromatic broth. Stir intermittently, guiding the pasta to absorb the rich liquid until it reaches perfect al dente consistency.
- Reunion of Flavors: Reunite shredded chicken with the soup, creating a harmonious marriage of textures and tastes.
- Finishing Touch: Elevate the soup with fresh lemon juice and chopped parsley. Adjust seasoning to achieve a balanced flavor profile.
- Presentation: Ladle the soup into warm bowls, optional garnish of parsley or Parmesan cheese for an extra layer of indulgence.
Notes
- Optimize Vegetable Sautéing: Dice vegetables uniformly to ensure even cooking and caramelization, enhancing the soup’s base flavor profile.
- Master Chicken Cooking Technique: Avoid overcooking chicken breasts by precisely timing the pressure cooking to maintain tender, juicy meat that shreds easily.
- Control Orzo Texture Perfectly: Stir orzo frequently during cooking to prevent sticking and achieve ideal al dente consistency without becoming mushy.
- Customize Flavor Flexibility: Adjust spice levels by modifying red pepper flakes and experiment with herb combinations like rosemary or sage for personalized taste variations.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg