Avgolemono (Greek Lemon Chicken Soup)
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The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
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573 | Calories |
29g | Fat |
15g | Carbs |
59g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 6 to 8 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 573 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 29g | 37% |
Saturated Fat 8g | 41% |
Cholesterol 244mg | 81% |
Sodium 749mg | 33% |
Total Carbohydrate 15g | 6% |
Dietary Fiber 2g | 6% |
Total Sugars 2g | |
Protein 59g | |
Vitamin C 6mg | 32% |
Calcium 73mg | 6% |
Iron 4mg | 20% |
Potassium 611mg | 13% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
Avgolemono chicken soup is perhaps the most iconic of all Greek soups. It is on the menu at nearly every Greek restaurant or diner, and you’ll find it as the first course at most Greek holiday celebrations. The inclusion of egg might seem unusual, but in this soup, egg acts as a thickener to this chicken soup with orzo, the egg acts as a thickener. Chicken tastes great with lemon, and the soup's taste is seriously brightened with the addition of lemon zest and juice. The taste is silky and creamy (and lemony), without the use of cream.
This avgolemono soup is also used as a sauce, too. It's often served as an accompaniment for grape leaves stuffed with rice and meat, or alongside roasted chicken.
Click Play to See This Avgolemono (Greek Lemon Chicken Soup) Recipe Come Together
Ingredients
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1 (3 1/2-pound) whole chicken, cut into 6 parts, 2 each of whole legs, wings, and breasts, excess fat trimmed, and breast skin removed
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12 cups water
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2 large carrots, cut in half
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2 stalks celery, cut in half
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1 large onion, peeled and cut in half
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2 bay leaves
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5 whole black peppercorns
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2 teaspoons salt, plus more for seasoning, to taste
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1/2 cup dry orzo, or rice
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3 large eggs, room temperature
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1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
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6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, from 2 lemons, strained of pulp
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Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
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Fresh dill sprigs, for garnish
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
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Add the chicken, water, carrots, celery stalks, onion, bay leaves, black peppercorns, and salt to a large stockpot. Bring to a rapid boil, lower the heat to medium-low and simmer, partially covered, for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
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Remove the chicken and vegetables to a bowl and carefully strain the broth through a fine sieve into a separate large bowl. Return the strained broth to the stockpot and bring to a boil.
The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
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Add the orzo and cook, uncovered, for approximately 10 to 12 minutes until tender.
The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
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While the pasta is cooking, prepare the egg-lemon mixture in a separate bowl. Using a whisk, beat the eggs until nice and frothy.
The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
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Add the lemon zest and the lemon juice in a steady stream while continuing to whisk.
The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
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When the pasta has finished cooking, turn off the heat. Ladle about 2 cups of broth into a bowl or large measuring cup.
The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
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Slowly add the hot broth to the egg-lemon mixture while continuing to whisk. This will temper the eggs and prevent them from curdling once they are added to the hot broth.
The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
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Stir the egg-lemon mixture into the pot and heat over very low heat for approximately 5 to 10 minutes until heated through. Be careful not to boil the soup once the eggs have been added. Adjust your seasoning for salt and pepper.
The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
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Traditionally, this soup is served without the chicken meat or vegetables. You can add them back or serve on the side as you prefer. Garnish with dill and additional salt and pepper, if desired.
The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
Variation
This recipe can be made vegetarian if you use vegetable broth instead of chicken stock or broth. It won't have quite the same flavor, but it will work. Alternatively, you can use water.
Tip
If you like your soup very thick, you can add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch dissolved in a bit of warm water to the broth before adding the egg-lemon mixture.
How to Store and Freeze Avgolemono
This avgolemono soup can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for two to three days. Carefully reheat on medium-low, ensuring it doesn't come to a full boil. You can also freeze this soup for up to six months. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat gently, adding a bit of water if needed until completely hot.
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