Creamy Tomato Orzo Soup
This Creamy Tomato Orzo Soup is easy to make and loaded with flavor. It’s the perfect meal on a cold winter day!
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It’s funny how the memories we make as kids end up shaping our entire lives. I’m certain that growing up in a southern kitchen watching my Mom cook and bake is a major reason why I love the kitchen. (And in turn, my love of the kitchen is what led me to writing a food blog.) My memories of eating peaches in the backyard with my grandpa in upstate South Carolina established a life-long love for peaches. We can occasionally find South Carolina peaches up here in upstate New York, and you better believe I jump at those! Similarly, memories of summer camp and family vacations in the North Carolina mountains still stick with me.
In fact, those memories of the North Carolina mountains do more than just stick with me. I’ve told Laura many times that whenever it comes time to leave upstate New York, we’ll be moving to the mountains of western North Carolina. Boone, Blowing Rock, Brevard, Asheville. That area really is a special place, and I hope we get the chance to move there one day!
Growing up in Charleston, we had a wonderful neighbor who lived across the street. He always kept Clearly Canadian stocked in his fridge because he knew I loved it, and it was a special treat for me to go over and visit! He was an elderly gentleman, and he treated me and my sister like his own grandkids. As he got older, he decided to trade the hustle and bustle (and humidity!) of downtown Charleston for the peaceful woods of the North Carolina mountains.
I remember my Mom and I took a road trip to visit him one summer. Maybe we were dropping my sister off at camp? I don’t really remember why my sister wasn’t there, but I do remember hanging out with our former neighbor eating Creamy Tomato Orzo Soup. Seriously! I can’t remember what I wore yesterday, but I remember eating tomato soup with our neighbor when I was 8 or 9 years old? Crazy!
Creamy Tomato Orzo Soup
Creamy Tomato Orzo SoupHe made a batch of Creamy Tomato Orzo Soup for us from scratch, and I remember being amazed that you could make soup from scratch. My Mom loved to cook and bake, but soup wasn’t really her thing. So I just thought soup came from a can. Nope! He shared his recipe for that Creamy Tomato Orzo Soup with my Mom, and then I happened to stumble across that very recipe when I was visiting her recently. It’s funny the memories that came back when I saw that piece of paper!
And now this Creamy Tomato Orzo Soup is a staple in our household. It’s super easy to make, and it’s loaded with flavor! This is the kind of soup that’s perfect for cold winter days. You can have a pot simmering away on the stovetop in no time at all, and this soup is sure to warm you up. I like the addition of orzo pasta here as it helps bulk up the soup. The cooked orzo turns this soup into a meal, although if you’re serving this soup as a side dish, then you could omit the orzo.
I hope this Creamy Tomato Orzo Soup becomes a favorite in your house! If you make a batch of this soup, swing back by and leave a comment. Or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog). Enjoy, friends!
Looking for more tasty soup ideas? Check out these favorites:
French Onion Soup
Lasagna Soup
Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Wild Mushroom Bean and Barley Soup
Hearty Beef and Vegetable Stew
Creamy Tomato Orzo Soup
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion chopped
- 1 tsp garlic minced
- ½ Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 2 28-oz. cans crushed tomatoes (preferably San Marzano variety), undrained
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken stock see note
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1½ cups orzo pasta cooked
- 1 6-oz. container plain Greek yogurt
- {for topping} feta cheese
- {for topping} fresh basil chopped
Instructions
- Using a Dutch oven or large saucepan, add olive oil and place over medium heat. Once hot, add onion and saute, stirring occasionally, for 4-5 minutes.
- Add garlic, brown sugar, salt, pepper, basil and oregano; stir and continue cooking for 2-3 more minutes.
- Add tomatoes, chicken stock and Parmesan cheese. Bring to a simmer and cook uncovered for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Meanwhile, cook the orzo pasta according to package instructions; set cooked pasta aside.
- Using an immersion blender, blend the soup until smooth. Stir in cooked orzo pasta and Greek yogurt.
- Before serving, garnish with feta cheese and fresh basil.
Such a great story. I love how food brings back such great memories. I could see myself eating this soup. I love eating soup at this time of year. Sounds like a great soup. Happy New Year to you and your family!!
The memories associated with food are what makes each and every recipe special! Of course, a good bowl of soup is hard to beat, and this tomato orzo soup is a new staple in our house. Thanks so much, Dawn! And Happy New Year to you, too, my friend!
Tomato soup has always been one of my favorites! Memories are funny in that we sometimes remember such strange little details, and I think that we really do attach the food we eat to memories. Italian food is my absolute favorite not only because it’s delicious, but because I grew up with my grandma constantly making homemade tomato sauce and garlicky Italian food.
I absolutely agree that we attach memories to food. In fact, I heard somewhere that our memories are stronger when our taste buds are involved. Some kinda crazy thing about the human brain. I believe it, though! Italian food is one of our favorites here, too, Nicole! I could eat Italian every night and not get tired of it. Happy New Year to you and the family! 🙂
David, such a delicious soup and so easy to make! The orzo in it makes it a great meal. And the feta and basil topping must give it amazing flavor.
Lovely read about childhood memories and your very kind neighbor. For some reason my childhood memories are stronger than all the years in between. Here’s to making our children’s childhood memories something to cherish! Happy New Year to you and your family!
That’s the thing about this soup, Kelly…it really is a piece of cake to make! (Sorry for the food reference there. Haha.) This soup is a new staple in our winter recipe lineup. So easy and so tasty!
You make a good point about childhood memories. That means our children will be remembering some of these events. We might not remember them…but they will! 🙂 Happy New Year to you and your family as well, my friend!
Happy New Year David! This is such a delicious soup and I loved the story that went with it. Definitely putting this on my list of “must makes”. You know how much a fan of a good soup I am. Plus it’s below zero here weather wise now so this is ideal! Looking forward to all the delicious recipes you’re bringing us this year. 🙂
I love a good soup, too, Neil! There’s just something so perfect about curling up on the couch with a bowl of soup during these colder months of the year. We’ve been lucky with the weather so far in that we haven’t had too much snow…but I hear that it’s coming soon. Umph. Happy New Year to you, my friend!
Hi David! This sounds delicious! There’s nothing like a steaming bowl of tomato soup on a cold day. Although a gooey grilled cheese sandwich on the side wouldn’t hurt 🙂 I too grew up eating canned soups and never knew for years how much better soups are when they are homemade. To me soup is a versatile comfort food.
I am right there with you 100% percent, Dorothy! A cold day just required a good bowl of soup. And this tomato orzo soup is so darned easy to make! This beats the heck out of the canned version, and it most definitely goes well with grilled cheese sandwiches! In fact, I might need to make another batch of this one for the weekend. Yum!!
Tomato soup with a Greek twist, I like that and can see why memories of this soup has stayed with you over the years. Wishing you and your family all the best in this new year, Happy Cooking.
Yes! I did put a little Greek spin on this one with the feta…and it’s so tasty, Karen. 🙂 It’s funny how food inspires memories, and I love ‘reliving’ those memories by making the recipe again. Happy New Year to you and your family, too!
I love when foods are connected to people and memories! And I see why this soup stuck – it looks absolutely delicious! Putting this on our January menu!
This soup totally stuck in my memory, and it’s fun to go back and ‘relive’ those memories whenever I make this soup. It’s so darned easy to make, and it’s packed with flavor. This one is definitely a staple for the cold weather months around here. Thanks so much, Marissa!!
Happy New Year, David! It is funny how we can remember some things so vividly. Food, smells, and and fun times all seem to stand out. This soup sounds delicious!
Hey there, Kathy! Happy New Year right back at ya, my friend. 🙂 Food and memory are definitely connected somehow. I feel like I read a study about that somewhere. Maybe if I had been eating something while I read that study, then I’d remember it better. Haha! This soup is indeed tasty…it’s one of our favorite meals lately!
David, what a fantastic food memory. I love tomato soup, so I’ll be making this soon. Now about living in Ashville, I understand the Vanderbilts have a place there in the mountains that you might be able to buy one day. I think it’s called the Biltmore…
Hah! You’re right on 2 of those 3 points, Ron. The Vanderbilts do have a place in Ashville. It is indeed called the Biltmore. But as far as me buying it? Haha. They do an amazing job at the Biltmore every Christmas season though. That place is amazing! Thanks so much, my friend!
What an awesome memory, David, and a great-looking soup!
Thanks so much, Jeff! I hear this soup goes well with Parmesan Cheese Rolls. Just sayin’. 🙂
I love everything about this soup! At first I thought you might blend the orzo into the soup. It must add a lovely texture. And feta cheese? It’s also on my tomato soup that just posted today! Such a perfect combination!
Feta cheese pairs so well with tomato soup! In fact, it’s one of my favorite soup garnishes in general. This soup has been a huge favorite around here lately. It’s easy, and it’s packed with flavor. What else do you need!? Thanks, Mimi!
So delicious! All I’ll need is a grilled cheese!
Heck yeah! I feel like tomato soup and grilled cheese are required to go together. 🙂 Thanks, Karly!!
made this new years day for my wife and I. loved it on the rainy day in the NC Mountains, Will make this again!
Hey Hugh! So glad you enjoyed this recipe…it’s one of our favorites, too. And I love that you are reporting in from the NC Mountains. We will be moving there one day – hopefully sooner than later! In the meantime, enjoy the soup! 🙂