Description
Greek Lemon Chicken Soup is a comforting and nourishing dish combining tender chicken, bright lemon, and a silky egg-lemon sauce called avgolemono. Perfect for cozy dinners, this soup uses simple, fresh ingredients to create a healthy, light meal packed with protein and vibrant flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Broth and Chicken
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 to 1.5 pounds chicken breasts or thighs
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Grains
- 1/2 cup rice or orzo
Egg-Lemon Sauce (Avgolemono)
- 2 large eggs
- Juice and zest of 2 fresh lemons
Finishing Touches
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the Broth and Cook the Chicken: Bring the chicken broth to a gentle simmer in a large pot. Season with salt and pepper. Add the chicken breasts or thighs and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until the chicken is tender and fully cooked.
- Cook the Rice or Orzo: Remove the chicken from the broth and set aside to cool slightly. Add rice or orzo to the simmering broth and cook until tender, about 15 minutes or as directed on the package.
- Shred the Chicken: Using two forks, shred the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- Make the Egg-Lemon Sauce (Avgolemono): In a separate bowl, whisk eggs with freshly squeezed lemon juice and lemon zest. Gradually add a ladle of hot broth into the egg mixture while whisking continuously to temper the eggs and prevent curdling.
- Combine and Finish the Soup: Slowly pour the tempered egg-lemon mixture back into the pot with the remaining broth and rice, stirring constantly to create a creamy texture. Return the shredded chicken to the pot, stir in olive oil and fresh herbs, and warm through for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- Temper eggs carefully by slowly adding hot broth to avoid scrambling.
- Use fresh lemons for the best flavor.
- Do not overcook rice or orzo; it should remain tender but firm.
- Simmer soup gently to keep broth clear and avoid cloudiness.
- Add herbs like dill and parsley at the end to retain their brightness and aroma.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 110mg