Join KindChef Marj Klein to make a Cherry Tomato Orzo with Basil and White Beans for Har Shalom’s Sunday KindSoup. All are welcome – whether Har Shalom congregants or not!
After completing your soup, freeze and label it for donation, then drop off at one of our participating food assistance providers, with a person or family that is in your heart, or anyplace that you prefer, when convenient. Finally, report on where you shared your KindSoup and spread the word: Post a picture or two of you and your soups on social media with #DoKindWorks and tag us @DoKindWorks.
Cherry Tomato Orzo with Basil and White Beans
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 3 large shallots, chopped (about 1 cup)
- 1 head garlic – grated
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper, to taste
- 4 pounds cherry tomatoes
- 3 cups tightly packed fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped, plus 1 sprig
- 2 pounds orzo *I cook separately to prevent it from absorbing all the liquid
- 4-6 cans (or 1-½ lbs dry – precooked) cannellini (or other white) beans
- 10-12 cups low-sodium vegetable broth (more as needed)
- 2 cups grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
- 1 lemon, juiced (more to taste)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil over medium heat. Add shallots and salt. Cook, stirring often, until shallot is translucent and fragrant, 4-5 mins. Add garlic and crushed red pepper. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 min.
- Add tomatoes, basil sprig, and 3 cups water. Cover pot. Increase heat to medium-high and cook, covered, until tomatoes are very soft and easily burst when pressed with a wooden spoon, about 10 mins.
- Press tomatoes against side of pot with a wooden spoon until all tomatoes are broken down. Adjust heat to maintain a gentle boil.
- Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid has thickened, slightly deepened in color, and reduced by about half to a tomato soup-like texture, 10-12 mins.
- Stir in orzo*, broth and some salt and bring to a boil. Lower heat to simmer. Cook, stirring every min or two, making sure to scrape the bottom of the pot to prevent sticking, until orzo begins to soften. Add beans and stir.
- Remove from heat and discard basil sprig. Stir in orzo* if cooked separately, Parmesan, lemon juice, and chopped basil until silky and evenly combined.
- Season to taste with salt as needed. Garnish with more Parmesan.
Health and Safety Information
In order to protect the the quality of our KindSoup program, we ask that volunteers conscientiously observe the following guidelines:
- Start with clean hands and wash again frequently as needed throughout the cooking process.
- Start with clean kitchen surfaces and utensils (antibacterial wipes do a great job).
- Keep longer hair tied back.
- Follow other common sense procedures, such as never returning a tasting spoon to the pot!
Thank you for maintaining a high cleanliness standard for our KindSoup donations!
How to Donate Your KindSoup
Seal containers with a tight lid and freeze. Label each container with: date prepared, your first name and last initial, “Cherry Tomato Orzo with Basil and White Beans” and any relevant food allergy info. When convenient, drop containers of frozen soup off at one of the following participating food assistance providers, with a person or family that is in your heart, or a place that you prefer.
- 5171 Manning Place NW (in the Palisades neighborhood in DC).
- Rainbow Community Development Center 12120 Tech Road, Silver Spring (this takes you to the rear parking lot and loading dock – there is usually a large RAINBOW truck parked here): Drop-off Monday-Friday 9am-2pm. NOTE: If you go during Rainbow’s food distributions on Tuesdays/Thursdays from 9am-noon, you may see a long line of cars – you can drive past the cars to drop off your KindSoup. If you go at other times and the garage or back door is not open, call or text Anna on her personal cell at 301-852-4184 (if she doesn’t answer, leave a message and she should get back within a few minutes, or try calling the Rainbow Pantry cellphone: 240-639-2293).
- So What Else 4924 Wyaconda Road, Rockville, 240-705-4345. (Look for the Dogtopia. Drive straight past Doptopia to get to our parking lot. The entrance will be on the right hand side as you pull into the parking lot. After you park, walk up to the glass door at the bottom of the black ramp, ring the doorbell, let the team know you’ve arrived to drop off KindSoups): Drop-off Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm and Saturdays 7am-12pm.
- Upcounty Consolidation Hub 12900 Middlebrook Rd., Germantown (supporting 1,000 families with food and other supports). Drop off Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Fridays 8 am-4:30 pm.
- Embry Rucker Shelter 11975 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston, 703-437-1975. Leave donations on the table around the back. Drop off anytime!
Here are some options for donating outside the DC area:
- NYC Community Fridges located throughout New York City.
- Bread and Roses 58 Newbury St., Lawrence, Mass., 978-681-8768. Drop off Mondays-Thursdays, 10 am-4 pm.
- The Bristol Lodge 27 Lexington St., Waltham, Mass., 781-893-0108. Drop off Mondays-Fridays, 9am-6pm.
- Community Refrigerators located in Los Angeles
See you in the KindSoup kitchen!
Learn more about this KindWorks program
