Italian Orzo Spinach Soup

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small white onion, peeled and diced
• 1 cup diced carrots
• 1 cup diced celery
• 6 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 6 to 8 cups chicken or vegetable stock
• 1 (14-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
• 1 cup (about 8 ounces) uncooked orzo pasta
• 2 large handfuls fresh baby spinach or kale
• fine sea salt and freshly-cracked black pepper
• optional toppings: freshly-grated Parmesan cheese and/or chopped fresh basil