Garden Kale goes into summer soup pot — Kale, Chicken & Orzo Soup

Our row of garden-fresh kale was calling to me. Barry had a container of already sautéed onions and peppers in the fridge, and there was cooked chicken available as well . . . so I turned it all into . . .

Kale, Chicken & Orzo Soup

Olive oil

½ of an onion, sliced or diced

½ of a pepper (red or green), sliced or diced – optional

¾ to 1 cup cooked chicken, diced

3 large handfuls of chopped kale that has been cleaned with stem removed

1 quart chicken broth

A couple of sprigs of fresh thyme

1 to 2 teaspoons all-purpose seasoning (without salt)

Kosher salt and coarse pepper to taste

About ½ cup orzo pasta

1. Heat a little oil and sauté onions and peppers. Add cooked chicken and brown slightly.
   
2. Add kale.
   
3. Add broth and thyme. (I bundled the thyme in string and tied it to the pot handle for easy removal.)
   
4. Season to taste and cook, with lid on, until kale has wilted and is tender, about 30 to 45 minutes; add orzo about the last 12 minutes so that it has time to thoroughly cook.

Recipe without photos . . . 

Kale, Chicken & Orzo Soup

Olive oil

½ of an onion, sliced or diced

½ of a pepper (red or green), sliced or diced – optional

¾ to 1 cup cooked chicken, diced

3 large handfuls of chopped kale that has been cleaned with stem removed

1 quart chicken broth

A couple of sprigs of fresh thyme

1 to 2 teaspoons all-purpose seasoning (without salt)

Kosher salt and coarse pepper to taste

About ½ cup orzo pasta

1. Heat a little oil and sauté onions and peppers. Add cooked chicken and brown slightly.
2. Add kale.
3. Add broth and thyme. (I bundled the thyme in string and tied it to the pot handle for easy removal.)
4. Season to taste and cook, with lid on, until kale has wilted and is tender, about 30 to 45 minutes; add orzo about the last 12 minutes so that it has time to thoroughly cook.