Healing Greek Lemon Chicken Soup (Avgolemono) Recipe
This Healing Greek Lemon Chicken Soup, also known as Avgolemono, is a comforting and nutritious traditional recipe combining tender chicken, fragrant lemon, and creamy egg to create a luscious, soothing broth. Perfect for wellness and comfort, this soup balances rich flavors with simple, wholesome ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 carrots, diced (optional)
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup white rice or orzo pasta
- 2 large eggs
- 1 egg yolk
- Juice of 2–3 lemons (about ½ cup)
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh dill or parsley, for garnish
Optional Add-ins
- Spinach or kale
- 1 tsp turmeric
- Quinoa instead of rice
Instructions
- Cook aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add finely diced onion and sauté for about 5 minutes until the onion becomes translucent. Then, stir in minced garlic and diced carrots if using, and cook for an additional 2 minutes until fragrant and slightly softened.
- Prepare broth & rice: Pour in the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, stir in the white rice or orzo pasta. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the rice or orzo is tender and fully cooked.
- Whisk eggs & lemon: In a separate bowl, vigorously whisk together the 2 large eggs, the egg yolk, and the freshly squeezed lemon juice until the mixture becomes frothy and uniform in texture.
- Temper eggs: Slowly ladle about one cup of the hot soup broth into the egg-lemon mixture, whisking constantly to gradually raise the temperature and prevent the eggs from curdling.
- Combine & finish: Gradually pour the tempered egg-lemon mixture back into the pot with the remaining soup, stirring continuously. Add the shredded cooked chicken, and cook on low heat, making sure the soup does not boil, until it becomes creamy and heated through, about 3-5 minutes.
- Season & serve: Taste the soup and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper as needed. Ladle soup into bowls, garnish with freshly chopped dill or parsley, and serve hot for maximum comfort and wellness.
Notes
- Do not allow the soup to boil after adding the egg-lemon mixture to prevent curdling.
- You can substitute orzo with quinoa for a different texture and added protein.
- Add greens like spinach or kale towards the end of cooking for extra nutrients.
- Turmeric can be added for its anti-inflammatory benefits and vibrant color.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days and can be gently reheated.
Keywords: Avgolemono, Greek lemon chicken soup, healing soup, comfort food, lemon soup, chicken broth soup, traditional Greek recipe, healthy soup
