Fresh Tomato Soup With Orzo

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup sliced sweet onion
• 1 celery rib
• sliced
• 1 garlic clove
• crushed
• 8 fresh sage leaves
• 3 -4 lbs rpe tomatoes
• peeled
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup cooked orzo pasta
• 1 tablespoon salt (to taste)
• black pepper

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a large heavy saucepan; stir int he onions, celery, garlic and sage leaves; saute, stirring, ove low heat until the onions are coated with oil.
2. Cover and sweat the vegetables over low heat until very soft; 25 minutes.
3. Meanwhile place the peeled tomatoes into a sieve set over a bowl.
4. Break tomatoes with hands and squeeze out the juices and seeds.
5. Rinse any seeds off the tomato flesh; coarsely chop the tomatoes.
6. Press on the pulp left in the sieve to extract as much liquid as possible.
7. Discard seeds.
8. Add the strained juices and the tomato pulp to the onions.
9. Add the chicken broth and heat to simmering.
10. Just before serving, stir in the orzo; season to taste with salt and pepper.