Harissa-Spiced Beef & Orzo Soup ala ~CHB~ & Harissa Paste ala ~DKBB~

Harissa-Spiced Beef and Orzo Soup ala ~CHB~

(original recipe from Milk Street)

 

Start to finish: 1¼ hours
Servings: 4-6
 
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 lb. boneless beef (stew meat works great), cut into ½-inch cubes
Kosher salt and fresh-ground black pepper
2 Tbsp. harissa paste*
½ to 1 tsp. ground turmeric
1 tsp. cumin
¼ tsp. cinnamon
6 oz. can tomato paste
15½ oz. can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
7 cups water
1 cup orzo pasta
14½ oz. can fire-roasted diced tomatoes (do not drain)
1 cup lightly packed fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped OR ½ cup dried parsley
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. dried mint
Any kind of dried, small hot chilis (to taste)

• In a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, heat the oil until shimmering; add the beef in an even layer and season with salt and pepper; cook without stirring until browned on the bottom, about 4 minutes; continue to cook, stirring occasionally until the beef of browned all over, about 4-6 minutes.
• Add the harissa paste* and cook, stirring until fragrant, about 30 seconds; add the tomato paste and cook, stirring until the paste begins to brown and stick to the pot, 2-3 minutes; stir in garbanzo beans, can of diced tomatoes, and 7 cups water; bring all to a simmer, uncovered, over medium-high heat; reduce to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, for 25 minutes.
• Stir in the orzo and cook uncovered, stirring often to prevent sticking, until beef is tender and orzo is plump and fully tender (not al dente), 25 to 30 minutes.
• Off heat, stir in parsley, lemon juice, mint, and dried peppers; place back on low-medium heat the simmer for another 10 to 15 minutes to allow dried chili peppers to reconstitute a bit.
• Enjoy soup with fresh baked bread or naan.

*Harissa paste can be purchased from some grocery stores, or you can use the following recipe to create your own:

Harissa Paste ala ~DKBB~

(original recipe from Minimalist Baker)

 
10 dried New Mexico chilis (or other large dried chilis with mild to medium heat)
7 dried chilis de arbol and/or pequin peppers (can use < or > 7 to achieve desired heat)
1 heaping Tbsp. cumin seeds (or if subbing ground cumin use 1 level Tbsp. and skip the toasting step)
2 tsp. coriander seeds (or if subbing ground use a little less and skip the toasting step)
1 tsp. caraway seeds
4 cloves garlic, minced
1½ tsp. smoked paprika
1 tsp. fine sea salt
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
1 Tbsp. tomato paste
¼ cup olive oil

• Add dried chilis to a mixing bowl and cover with hot water; once submerged, cover and steam for 20 minutes to rehydrate; set aside.
• In the meantime, add cumin and coriander seeds (IF using seeds) to small skillet and roast over medium heat for a few minutes, or until fragrant and starting to pop; transfer to mortar and pestle and crush into fine powder.
• Next add caraway seeds, minced garlic, smoked paprika, salt and mix; add lemon juice and vinegar and mix until you achieve a paste texture; transfer this mixture to food processor and add tomato paste; set aside.
• Once chilis are rehydrated, drain and remove the stems and seeds (might want to wear food grade gloves for that part), then add them to the food processor. At this point, all ingredients (except olive oil) should be in food processor.
• Blend for 1-2 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed, until a smooth paste is achieved; stream in olive oil while blending to create a saucier consistency, adding oil (or water) as needed until desired consistency is achieved.
• Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more lemon or vinegar for acidity, paprika for smokiness, tomato paste for depth of flavor, or salt to taste; if it’s not spicy enough, you can add cayenne pepper to taste.
• Scoop paste into container to store in the refrigerator or up to 1 month. If you want to freeze this, it can be done for up to 2 months by freezing it in an ice cube tray, then storing those harissa paste ice cubes in a freezer-safe container; add frozen cubes directly to warm foods (like soups or sauces); if adding to cold foods (like dressings or dips), allow to thaw first.

One-Pot Tomato Chickpeas and Orzo ala ~CHB~

One-Pot Tomato Chickpeas and Orzo ala ~CHB~

(original recipe from www.thekitchn.com)

 
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 small yellow onion, diced
1 shallot, diced (if desired)
¼ to ½ green pepper, diced (if desired)
Fresh mushrooms, sliced (if desired)
Broccoli florets (if desired)
½ lb. dried orzo pasta (about 1¼ cups)
2 cloves garlic, minced
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 c. vegetable broth
1 14.5 oz. can fire roasted tomatoes
1 15 oz. can chickpeas, drained and rinsed)
¼ c. finely grated cheese (Parmesan or Reggiano Parmesan)
Greek seasoning to taste

• Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium-high heat until shimmering; add the onion (and desired other veggies) and sauté until softened and fragrant (about 3 minutes).
• Add the orzo and garlic, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until fragrant (about 1 minute).
• Stir in the broth, tomatoes, and chickpeas and bring to a boil; cover, reduce to a simmer, and cook, stirring frequently so orzo doesn’t stick, until most of the liquid is absorbed and the pasta is al dente, (about 10 minutes). If the pasta is not cooked adequately at this point, add a splash of broth to the pot and continue to simmer until it is al dente.
• Stir in the cheese; add Greek seasoning to taste; cook for another minute or two.
• Serve with additional grated cheese as garnish.

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup ala ~DKBB~

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup ala ~DKBB~

(original recipe from Cook up Comfort by Eric Greenspan)

1 large can (12.5oz) chicken breast in water

2 carrots, finely chopped

1 rib celery, finely chopped

½ onion, finely chopped

½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. cracked pepper

4 cups chicken broth

1 cup orzo (wheat orzo, if you can get it)

2 large eggs

½ tsp. salt

2 Tbsp. lemon juice

• Drain canned chicken, saving the liquid; shred chicken with a fork; set aside.
• Place carrots, celery, onions, salt, and pepper in large pot; add broth and bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat and simmer, covered, until veggies are tender (about 20 minutes).
• Add orzo to pot, adjust heat and cook at a high simmer until orzo is tender (about 10 to 15 minutes).
• Whisk eggs, lemon juice, and remaining salt in small bowl until frothy; stirring constantly, gradually add ½ cup of the hot soup into the egg mixture, then slowly stir the egg mixture into the soup pot.
• Add the chicken to the pot and cook, stirring often, until heated through (about 5 minutes) – do NOT simmer.

Makes 4 decent sized servings.