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A rustic, hearty bowl of authentic Greek lemon chicken soup, garnished with fresh herbs and a slice of lemon.

Greek Lemon Chicken Soup (Authentic Avgolemono)

This Greek Lemon Chicken Soup recipe (Avgolemono) is the ultimate comfort food. It's rich, creamy without any cream, and has a bright, zesty flavor from fresh lemons. A foolproof guide to the classic egg-lemon sauce.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean
Calories: 380
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Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
  • 8 cups chicken broth low-sodium
  • 1 cup orzo or medium-grain rice
  • 3 large eggs at room temperature
  • 0.5 cup fresh lemon juice from 2-3 lemons
  • 1 tsp salt or to taste
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper or to taste

Equipment

  • 1 Large Pot or Dutch Oven
  • 1 Whisk
  • 1 Mixing Bowl

Method
 

  1. Place chicken breasts and chicken broth in a large pot. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Remove the chicken, shred it, and set aside.
  2. Keep the broth at a simmer and add the orzo. Cook according to package directions until al dente (about 8-10 minutes). Reduce heat to low and return the shredded chicken to the pot.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs until pale and frothy, about 2 minutes. While whisking, very slowly stream in the fresh lemon juice.
  4. While constantly whisking the egg mixture, slowly ladle in about 2 cups of the warm broth from the pot, one scoop at a time. This gently raises the temperature of the eggs without scrambling them.
  5. Slowly pour the tempered egg mixture back into the pot, stirring gently. The soup will become creamy and opaque. Heat gently for 2-3 more minutes to thicken, but DO NOT BOIL. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately.

Notes

Tip 1: Do not let the soup boil after adding the egg-lemon sauce, as it will curdle.
Tip 2: Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best, brightest flavor.
Tip 3: For a shortcut, you can use 3-4 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken.