Greek Tomato Soup with Orzo (Domatosoupa Me Kritharaki) for Secret Recipe Club

by Dorothy Reinhold on September 21, 2014


Print This Post Print This Post Greek Tomato Soup with Orzo | ShockinglyDelicious.com

Late September provides an abundance of last-of-the-season heirloom tomatoes, so get them while you can, or hold your peace for another year.

These beauties truthfully need little other than salt, accompanying bread and a glass of wine to appreciate their goodness, but should you want to savor their flavor further, may I recommend a simple Greek soup?

We adored this, and couldn’t wait for dinner to eat it, so gobbled it up for lunch. Suit yourself! Just make it.

Greek Tomato Soup with Orzo | ShockinglyDelicious.com

Greek Tomato Soup with Orzo (Domatosoupa Me Kritharaki)

Rating: 51

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Yield: 4 servings

Summer’s magnificent heirloom tomatoes add supreme flavor to a simple Greek tomato soup tamed by plain Greek yogurt.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1/2 cup chopped celery
  • 1 tablespoon Gourmet Garden Chunky Garlic Paste (or 4 large garlic cloves, pressed or crushed)
  • 2 3/4-3 pounds fresh organic heirloom tomatoes, seeded and diced (or 3 15-ounce cans diced tomatoes in juice)
  • 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves on the stem
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Gourmet Garden Chile Pepper Paste (or large pinch red pepper flakes)
  • 1-2 teaspoons lemon juice (start with 1)
  • For serving
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 cup cooked Orzo pasta (yes, cooked, not dry)
  • Grated Parmesan cheese for serving (or Greek Kefalotyri)

Directions

  1. In a large soup pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and celery and cook, stirring often, about 7-8 minutes, until the vegetables begin to color slightly. Add garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes, stirring often.
  2. Add tomatoes, broth, honey, bay leaves, basil and pepper paste. Stir and bring to a simmer, cover, and simmer on lowest heat for 30 minutes, stirring once at the halfway point.
  3. Remove bay leaves and basil stems/leaves, and then stick an immersion blender into the pot to puree the soup. (If you don’t have an immersion blender, you may use a stand blender, but do it in 3 batches or you will risk scalding yourself. Hot liquids in the blender expand and can blow the top off if you overfill. Word to the wise.)
  4. Stir in the Greek yogurt, and then stir in the cooked orzo. (If you are making the soup ahead of time and storing it in the refrigerator for a day or two, store the soup and orzo separately, or the orzo will soak up too much soup and get mushy.)
  5. Portion into bowls. Pass the grated cheese at the table for each person.
  6. Serves 4.

Notes

Recipe source: Adapted from Tara’s Multicultural Table, and she adapted it from Lemon and Olives.

https://www.shockinglydelicious.com/greek-tomato-soup-with-orzo/

I found this recipe on the blog Tara’s Multicultural Table, which was my assignment this past month for Secret Recipe Club. I was to quietly explore her blog and Secret Recipe Club button on Shockingly Deliciouscook from it. Tough job, I know, but someone has to do it!

Tara is a late-20s stay-at-home mom with a young son and another bun in the oven. You’ll find Japanese, German, Italian, Greek, Dutch, Vietnamese, Syrian, Spanish, South African, Ethiopian, Korean (do I really need to list all the countries in the world?) recipes from this world traveler who was born in Japan. Her recipe index is organized by continent (Australia and Oceania, anyone?), and in case you didn’t get the drift, her logo is splashed with world flags.

All aboard for this culinary adventure!

I was sorely tempted by Irish Potato Cakes, Syrian Sugar Cookies (Ka’ak b’Sukar), Spinach, Mint and Pine Nut Savory Pastry, Spanakopita Puffs, and look at those gorgeous cinnamon wreaths. No really, go take a look. I plan to use that technique sometime this fall for a bread.

But with heirloom tomatoes so precious and fleeting, her Greek Tomato Soup with Orzo (Domatosoupa Me Kritharaki) won out. So glad it did! I made just a couple of tweaks to it, to suit myself.

Greek Tomato Soup with Orzo | ShockinglyDelicious.comThanks, Tara, for a delicious month!

Meanwhile, browse the photo array below to see what else the Secret Recipe Club cooked up this month! 


{ 40 comments… read them below or add one }

Karen @ Karen's Kitchen Stories September 23, 2014 at 11:10 pm

Yum Dorothy! This looks so good, and I’m glad to see so many options for ingredients!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold September 24, 2014 at 10:37 am

Thanks Karen!

Reply

nicole @ I am a Honey Bee September 23, 2014 at 7:40 pm

Oh this looks so comforting! Perfect way to use up the end of season tomatoes. I love greek food too. Reminds me of my trip there a few years ago. I would love to go back one day, but until then I’ll have to make some soup! Great pick!!!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold September 24, 2014 at 10:37 am

Nicole,
Oh how I would love to visit Greece! Until then, this soup.

Reply

Stephanie September 23, 2014 at 6:57 pm

What a wonderful blog recommendation and recipe. Love a tomato soup in the winter! Great SRC post

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Dorothy Reinhold September 24, 2014 at 10:38 am

Stephanie,
Thank you!

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Karen September 23, 2014 at 10:55 am

ALL my favourite ingredients in a bowl, what a great SRC pick!

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Dorothy Reinhold September 23, 2014 at 2:47 pm

Karen,
Thank you!

Reply

The Wimpy Vegetarian September 22, 2014 at 8:50 pm

Every afternoon I go to my tiny garden and harvest fresh tomatoes. I’ve got a whole basket of them I need to use. I’m making tomato jam, but now I’m also making this soup. I love how it sounds!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold September 23, 2014 at 2:48 pm

Wimpy/Susan,
Now you have ME wanting to make tomato jam!

Reply

avril September 22, 2014 at 7:44 pm

What a delicious looking soup Dorothy! I have to make this recipe ASAP 🙂

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Dorothy Reinhold September 22, 2014 at 8:25 pm

Oh good, Avril! Let me know how you like it!

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Melissa September 22, 2014 at 6:33 pm

I love tomato soup. This one sounds delicious! Great pick this month 🙂

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold September 22, 2014 at 7:20 pm

Thanks Melissa!

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Emily @ Life on Food September 22, 2014 at 5:56 pm

I am a huge tomato soup fan. This looks so good and perfect timing with the weather getting a bit chilly. Happy Reveal Day!!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold September 22, 2014 at 7:27 pm

Emily,
It was 90+ degrees here last week, but suddenly, on the first day of Fall, it is soup weather!

Reply

Lynn @ Turnips 2 Tangerines September 22, 2014 at 12:34 pm

I have been craving Tomato Soup with a Grilled Cheese Sandwich for days!! Delicious!

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Dorothy Reinhold September 22, 2014 at 1:38 pm

Lynn,
Gotcha covered!

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Amy @ Fearless Homemaker September 22, 2014 at 11:23 am

Ooh, I love tomato soup and I love orzo (I usually use it in pasta salads) so I bet I’d love the two things combined. Sounds and looks so fantastic- great choice for SRC!

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Dorothy Reinhold September 22, 2014 at 11:23 am

Thanks Amy! You will love this one!

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Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel September 22, 2014 at 10:09 am

Sounds awesome… fresh tomatoes make EVERYTHING amazing!!

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Dorothy Reinhold September 22, 2014 at 11:24 am

Jess you are RIGHT!

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Sally Newton September 22, 2014 at 6:18 am

Domatosoupa Me Kritharaki, Domatosoupa Me Kritharaki, Domatosoupa Me Kritharaki – yes, let’s say it three times fast… 🙂

Perfect recipe for cooler evenings…. I can eat that while I shed tears for the end of summer…

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold September 22, 2014 at 7:34 am

Sally,
I am right there with you crying. I love summer!

Reply

Tara September 22, 2014 at 5:31 am

So glad you enjoyed it! This is a new favorite of ours.

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold September 22, 2014 at 7:34 am

Tara,
Oh yes, we sure did!

Reply

Rebekah @ Making Miracles September 22, 2014 at 5:18 am

Mmm… definitely saving this one to try – PERFECT for the upcoming cooler fall weather!!

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Dorothy Reinhold September 22, 2014 at 7:34 am

Rebekah,
You MUST make it!

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Kim (Feed Me, Seymour) September 22, 2014 at 4:47 am

I adore soup with orzo. It’s so hearty but also light. This looks amazing!

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Dorothy Reinhold September 22, 2014 at 7:35 am

Kim,
You’re right…somehow orzo doesn’t seem like a heavy pasta.

Reply

Wendy, A Day in the Life on the Farm September 22, 2014 at 3:58 am

Tomato season is so short. I wonder how this soup would be if you froze it to have in the winter when you are jonesing for some fresh tomatoes?

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Dorothy Reinhold September 22, 2014 at 7:35 am

Wendy,
I say try it!

Reply

April September 21, 2014 at 10:38 pm

I love tomato soup, as long as it’s homemade, I cant stand that canned stuff. Yours looks like it turned out really tasty, and I’m intrigued by the addition of honey. Happy Reveal Day!

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Dorothy Reinhold September 22, 2014 at 7:36 am

April,
The honey adds just a tiny touch of sweet.

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Lauren Everson September 21, 2014 at 10:35 pm

I’m not much of a soup person but this does sound good! I like that it has orzo.

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Dorothy Reinhold September 22, 2014 at 7:36 am

Lauren,
The orzo is a light addition, so doesn’t weigh you down.

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold September 24, 2014 at 10:40 am

Fruiticana,
Funny! Thanks!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold September 24, 2014 at 10:38 am

Desserts/Betsy,
Yep, get your rump in gear, girl!

Reply

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