Alphabet Soup

A comfort food classic, alphabet soup can be made with any kind of tiny pasta: ditalini, orzo, or mini-shells. But if you can find alphabet pasta it's a real treat! Serve with a sandwich on the side for a hearty, wordy lunch.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion, finely diced
  • 2 stalks celery, sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 1 large carrot, diced
  • 2 medium yellow potatoes, diced
  • 6 cups broth
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried tarragon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup dried alphabet pasta
  • 16 ounces tomato sauce
  • 1 cup frozen peas

Instructions

  1. In a soup pot, sauté onion and celery in the olive oil with a pinch of salt until the vegetables are softened. Add garlic and cook until fragrant.
  2. Add carrots, potatoes, spices, broth, and salt. Cover and bring to a boil. Then, lower to a simmer.
  3. Add pasta and cook until pasta and all vegetables are soft (about 10 minutes).
  4. Add tomato sauce and frozen peas and heat through. Remove from heat.
  5. Allow to cool for 10 minutes. Taste for salt and seasoning, then serve.