The Soup Kitchen: Tuscan Sausage Orzo Soup

 I have been wondering about cooking with orzo and finally found a whole wheat orzo so decided to try a couple recipes. The first being this Tuscan soup. This soup has veggies, sausage, kale (leafy greens) and the orzo. It is very good. 

The ingredients:

2 TBSP olive oil

1/2 lb. Italian sausage cooked and drained

1/2 C diced shallots

3 cloves garlic

2 stalks celery chopped

1 C whole wheat orzo pasta

6 C chicken broth

30 oz diced tomatoes

1 TBSP dried Italian seasoning

1 TBSP dried oregano

1/2 tsp ground fennel

1 tsp salt

black pepper to taste 

1 parmesan rind

1 bunch kale leaves (can use frozen chopped kale)

Note: I did not have Italian seasoning or fennel so substituted with Tutto Porchetta which has fennel in it. 

The recipe:

In a skillet brown the sausage in olive oil with the shallot, (can use onion if not shallot).

Once browned add to a slow cooker. 

To the slow cooker add the rest of the ingredients, except the kale. 

Cook on Hi for 3 hours or Low for 6-8. 

Add kale the last 30 min to an hour. 

Notes: you can add white beans or switch the kale out for spinach.