Finely chop your onion, celery, carrots, and garlic cloves. I find that prepping them ahead of time makes it easier when it comes to making this soup. If you are short on time, consider purchasing a pre-made Mirepoix kit, like the kind from Trader Joe’s that includes diced onion, celery and carrots.
Finely Shred the Kale
For a more appealing texture, remove the kale stems, then stack the leaves and roll tightly. Starting from one end, thinly slice the kale to create thin ribbons. You can then finely chop these more, depending on the texture that you want.
Caramelize the Vegetables
Cook the vegetables over medium-low heat until soft and slightly browned. This may take up to 20 minutes, just make sure to stir often so it doesn’t burn. This is where much of the flavor for the soup comes, so don’t rush it.
Add in the fire-roasted tomatoes
Next, add in a can of fire-roasted tomatoes. You should be able to find these in the same aisle as regular canned tomatoes. Fire-roasted tomatoes give more depth and flavor to this soup than regular tomatoes, but you can use regular if that’s all you can find. For low-sodium diets, make sure to select no-salt-added tomatoes. Add in the broth and pasta.
Stir in the kale
Once the pasta is tender, add in the fresh kale and stir until just wilted. This usually takes just a few minutes. Stir in lemon juice before serving, then ladle into bowls, then top with freshly ground black pepper, if desired, before serving.
For an added umami boost, I like to sprinkle on either regular or dairy-free parmesan cheese.
Storage Notes
Store any leftovers in an airtight container and then place in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
To freeze this soup, place in freezer-safe containers or bags.
If using a bag, remove as much of the air as possible; I usually like to lay the bags flat for easier storage. Let cool completely, then place in the freezer for 2-3 months. To reheat, warm on the stovetop or in the microwave. As the orzo pasta will absorb more broth as it cools, you may need to add in the additional broth while reheating.
Jeannie notes.. Above is curated for evaluation and recommendation from delishknowledge.com
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