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Nourishing Orzo Soup With The Best Garlic Chickpeas

All the nourishment, all the flavour. Just dip your spoon into the smoky, tomatoey lusciousness of this delicious orzo soup with easy-peasy crispy garlic chickpeas...

At less than £1 per portion* this is one of my go-to budget dinners. Cheap, filling, sustaining and delicious! 

If you haven't tried orzo before, it's basically pasta in the shape of large grains of rice. Give it a go!

Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Courses: , , ,
Difficulty: Beginner
Servings: 4
Description

Packed with goodness, and at less than £1 per portion* this is one of my go-to budget dinners. Cheap, filling, sustaining and delicious! 

If you haven't tried orzo before, it's basically pasta in the shape of large grains of rice. You can find orzo in most supermarkets these days. Give it a go!

For a gluten free version,just use gluten free orzo or rice, and gluten free stock.

Ingredients
    For the soup
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 onion, peeled and finely sliced
  • 1 stick celery, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
  • 1 tbsp tomato puree
  • 400 g can chopped tomatoes
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 150 g orzo pasta
  • 700 ml vegetable stock
  • 2 tbsp pesto
  • large glug olive oil
  • salt and lots of freshly ground black pepper
    • For the crispy chickpeas
  • 400 g can chickpeas, drained
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp olive oil
Method
  1. 1
    Pre-heat the oven to 180˚C, gas mark 6.
  2. 2
    Pat the chickpeas with some kitchen towel to remove any moisture. Lay out on a baking tray. Mix together the seasoning, garlic and olive oil in a small bowl and pour onto the chickpeas. Toss with your hands or mix with a spoon, so the chickpeas are well covered. Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes until crispy. Set aside.
  3. 3
    Gently sauté the onion, celery and garlic in a large saucepan until soft. Stir in the other ingredients except the pesto.
  4. 4
    Bring to the boil and cook for 8-10 minutes or until the pasta is cooked through.
  5. 5
    Taste for seasoning, adding more salt and/or pepper as required.
  6. 6
    Serve in warmed bowls with a swirl of pesto, a glug of olive oil and a few crispy chickpeas.
  7. 7
    Enjoy with chunks of crusty seeded sourdough!
Keywords: Orzo, Soup, Mains, Comfort Food, Saturday Lunch, Under 20 minutes
Read it online: https://katepercy.com/recipe/nourishing-orzo-soup-with-easy-crispy-garlic-chickpeas/