Description
Avgolemono Soup is a traditional Greek lemon chicken and rice soup that combines a tangy lemon-egg sauce with hearty chicken and rice in a comforting broth. This recipe delivers a creamy and bright soup perfect for a cozy meal any time of the year.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Soup Base
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 celery rib, chopped
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Avgolemono Mixture
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 1 to 2 lemons)
- 1/4 cup cooked white rice
Final Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup cooked white rice
- 2 cups shredded chicken
- chopped fresh dill for garnish
Instructions
- Heat aromatics: Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and chopped celery and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until they are softened and fragrant.
- Simmer broth: Pour in the low-sodium chicken broth, season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Prepare avgolemono sauce: In a blender, combine the 2 large eggs, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and ¼ cup of cooked rice. Blend until smooth, approximately 20 seconds. While blending, slowly stream in 2 ladlefuls of the hot broth from the saucepan to temper the eggs and prevent curdling.
- Combine and thicken: Stir the tempered lemon-egg mixture into the simmering broth along with the remaining 1 ½ cups cooked rice and shredded chicken. Cook gently for 5 to 10 minutes until the soup slightly thickens, being careful not to boil the soup to avoid curdling.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from heat and garnish with chopped fresh dill. Serve warm for a comforting meal.
Notes
- Temper the eggs slowly with hot broth to prevent curdling and ensure a smooth, creamy texture.
- Use cooked white rice leftover from previous meals or freshly prepared rice for best results.
- For extra flavor, you can use homemade chicken broth or add more herbs like parsley or oregano.
- If you prefer a thicker soup, add a bit more rice or reduce the broth slightly.
- Fresh lemon juice is important for the bright citrus flavor; bottled lemon juice may alter the taste.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 1 ½ cups)
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 470 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
