Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup with Parmesan Cheese

Serves 6 in about 48 minutes. A pressure cooker recipe built around stalks celery and baby spinach leaves.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
• 1-2 stalks celery, chopped (about ½ cup)
• 2 carrots, chopped (about 1 cup)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 chicken thighs or breasts, skinless/boneless (cut in larger than bite sized pieces)
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary (about 1½ tsp chopped leaves)
• ½ teaspoon kosher saalt (or ¼ tsp table salt) or to taste
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• 5 cups chicken broth, low sodium
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• ½ cup orzo pasta, uncooked
• ¼ cup lemon juice, fresh
• 2-3 cups baby spinach leaves
• Grated parmesan cheese
• Lemon wedges
• Fresh parsley

Method

1. Have all of your ingredients prepped before starting to cook the soup. Veggies chopped, etc.
2. Turn pot on to the sauté setting. When the pot is hot add the olive oil. Then add the onions and cook, while stirring now and then, until turning translucent.
3. Tip in the celery, carrots, and garlic and cook, while stirring the whole time, for about 20 seconds.
4. Tip in the chicken, rosemary, salt & pepper. Stir.
5. Tip in the broth, lemon zest, and orzo pasta. Stir.
6. Set the lid on and set the steam release knob to the Sealing position.
7. Press the Pressure Cook or Manual button or dial, then the +/- button or dial to select 3 minutes.
8. When the cook time is finished, do a *Controlled Quick Release of the steam/pressure. *A controlled quick release means you release the steam in short bursts, then longer bursts, until you can be sure none of the sauce spews out of the vent with the steam from the intense pressure.
9. When the pin in the lid drops down, open it and add half of the lemon juice and the spinach leaves. Taste and adjust salt, if needed, and add the remaining lemon juice if you want. I tell people to use half in case they think it's too lemony. Or you may like more!
10. Plate hot with some bread, lemon wedges, parmesan, or whatever you like.

More instant pot ideas are in the instant pot collection.