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Hearty creamy tomato soup with whole wheat orzo is flavorful, healthy, and easy to make. It’s perfect for a chilly fall or winter day!

Round white bowl containing soup, garnished with shredded cheese and parsley, on blue plaid cloth.

I think we can officially say that it is full-on SOUP SEASON. Leaves are falling and jackets are out (even hats & mittens for a football game this past weekend!). I’ve been sticking with flats and fighting my boots, but it won’t be long.

I’m a little excited for fall, because I do love it, but I’m not ready for that icky season that comes after fall. We can just pretend that isn’t coming and continue to wear light coats and maybe a hat at football games.

 

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Friday night football! #hsfootball #principal #family

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And soup. I’m okay with soup — bring that on. I’m loving this soup in particular.

Round bowl of soup, with spoon and bread, on wooden tray with blue plaid cloth.

It’s thick, comforting, flavorful, and nutritious. Tangy, bright tomatoes are smoothed out with creamy Greek yogurt and whole wheat orzo is added to the mix to keep you full and satisfied.

You’ll be fueled up for hours of raking leaves. Or sitting in football stands. Or picking out pumpkins.

You could even throw this in a thermos and enjoy it WHILE you pick out pumpkins! A fall picnic–wouldn’t that be fun? This soup would be perfect for a tailgating party, too! Or try this slow cooker tomato basil soup with tortellini, one of my favorites.

Front view of soup in bowl garnished with cheese and parsley leaves.

Not only is it delicious, but it’s easy to make. If you’ve been around my site for more than 30 seconds, you’ve probably noticed that I don’t like things that are super time consuming to make. I like to eat those things, but I don’t always have the time to make them.

Maybe in 15 years you’ll start seeing some more time consuming recipes around my site, but for now, easy and delicious is what we’re going to stick with. And this soup falls perfectly into that category.

You probably have all the ingredients you need to make this soup already in your pantry and fridge. Start by sautéing chopped onions and carrots.

Close up of sauteed carrots and onions in Dutch oven, with dried herbs.

The carrots add extra vegetables and nutrition but also balance the acidic nature of the tomatoes with natural sweetness. Stir in dried herbs and then add canned diced tomatoes.

Soup in Dutch oven before blending, with wooden spoon. Pan of orzo cooking in background.

Simmer for a bit (while you cook your orzo!) and puree using a blender or immersion blender.

Closeup of blending process with immersion blender in pan.

Right before serving, you’ll stir in some cooked whole wheat orzo and creamy Greek yogurt. The yogurt adds great protein and also gives it a fantastic thick, creamy texture and flavor. If you prefer, you could substitute cooked quinoa or brown rice for the orzo.

Collage of three pictures of soup in Dutch oven in varying stages.

It’s simple, comforting, filling and warm. Everything you want in a bowl of creamy tomato soup. All that’s left to do is dig in!

Round white bowl containing soup, garnished with shredded cheese and parsley, on blue plaid cloth.

Creamy tomato soup is delicious served with warm crusty bread like this no-knead cheesy bread or homemade corn muffins.

More delicious soup recipes:

 

Soup in round white bowl garnished with shredded cheese and parsley leaves.

Creamy Tomato Soup with Whole Wheat Orzo

Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Hearty creamy tomato soup with whole wheat orzo is flavorful, healthy, and easy to make. It’s perfect for a chilly fall or winter day!

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, minced
  • 1 medium carrot, diced small or grated
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • small pinch of red pepper flakes (more to taste)
  • 3 cans (14.5 ounces each) diced tomatoes (with juice – do not drain)
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
  • 3/4 cup uncooked whole wheat orzo
  • optional garnishes: cheddar cheese and fresh herbs (I recommend parsley or basil)

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and carrot and season with salt and pepper. Saute until softened and onions are translucent.
  2. Meanwhile, cook orzo according to directions on package.
  3. To the sauteed carrots and onions, add bay leaf, basil, and red pepper flakes. Add tomatoes, water, and brown sugar. Bring to a boil (high heat), reduce to a simmer (medium-low heat) and simmer for 15 minutes or so (no exact science here, just make sure it is heated through. – if it gets too thick, just add a little more water).
  4. When you’re ready to serve, remove from heat and use an immersion blender to puree until smooth. Stir in cooked orzo and Greek yogurt until combined.
  5. If needed, return to low heat to reheat slightly.
  6. Top with grated cheddar cheese and fresh herbs if desired.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1 of 6
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 210Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 102mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 5gSugar: 4gProtein: 10g

RachelCooks.com sometimes provides nutritional information, but these figures should be considered estimates, as they are not calculated by a registered dietitian. Please consult a medical professional for any specific nutrition, diet, or allergy advice.

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© Rachel Gurk
Cuisine: American / Category: Soups and Stews
Disclosure: I am thrilled to be in an ongoing partnership with United Dairy Industry of Michigan.  I have been compensated by UDIM for my time to develop this recipe. All opinions are as always, my own. Find out more about why Milk Means More on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest