Greek Lemon Chicken Soup, known as Avgolemono, is one of the world's great soups. The magic happens when eggs and lemon juice are whisked together and slowly incorporated into the hot broth, creating an impossibly silky, creamy texture without any cream.
This soup is served throughout Greece as both comfort food and a celebration dish. The bright, tangy lemon cuts through the richness of the egg, creating a perfectly balanced soup that's both refreshing and satisfying.
The Avgolemono Technique
The key to perfect avgolemono:
- Temper the eggs - Add hot broth slowly to prevent curdling
- Never boil - Keep heat low after adding eggs
- Fresh lemon - Never use bottled juice
- Room temp eggs - Cold eggs curdle more easily
Traditional Variations
- Orzo - Instead of rice
- Just rice - Without chicken (vegetarian)
- Fish - Seafood version (psarosoupa)
- Meatballs - Giouvarlakia soup
Serving Suggestions
- Fresh dill garnish essential
- Crusty Greek bread
- Greek salad alongside
- Perfect for Easter
Greek Lemon Chicken Soup (Avgolemono)
Traditional Greek soup with silky egg-lemon sauce, chicken, and rice.
Nutrition per serving
285Calories
26gProtein
24gCarbs
9gFat
1gFiber
2gSugar
Ingredients
Instructions
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Poach chicken. In a large pot, combine broth, chicken, onion, garlic, and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer and cook 20 minutes until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken and shred.
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Strain and cook rice. Strain broth, discarding aromatics. Return to pot. Add rice and simmer 15-18 minutes until rice is tender.
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Make avgolemono. In a bowl, whisk eggs until frothy. Slowly whisk in lemon juice. Very slowly, one ladle at a time, whisk in about 2 cups of hot broth to temper the eggs.
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Combine. Remove pot from heat. Slowly pour egg mixture into pot while stirring constantly. The soup will turn silky and creamy.
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Finish. Return shredded chicken to pot. Season with salt and white pepper. Serve immediately garnished with fresh dill.
Recipe Notes
- Don't boil: Never boil after adding eggs or they'll curdle.
- Orzo variation: Use 1 cup orzo instead of rice.
- More lemony: Add lemon zest for extra brightness.
- Storage: Best served fresh. Reheat very gently if needed.
