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Avgolemono — Greek Lemon Chicken Soup

Avgolemono — Greek Lemon Chicken Soup

A bright and silky Greek chicken and orzo soup emulsified with eggs and lemon. This comforting avgolemono recipe yields a fragrant broth with tender chicken and a glossy finish.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Greek
Calories: 230

Ingredients
  

Broth
  • 12 cups water
  • 4 chicken breast halves skinless, boneless
  • 1 onion quartered
  • 2 carrots chopped
  • 2 celery stalks chopped
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 0.25 tsp ground turmeric
  • 2 bay leaves
  • kosher salt to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste
Soup Assembly
  • 0.75 cup orzo pasta
  • 3 large eggs
  • 0.5 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 tsp kosher salt or to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper for serving
  • chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Method
 

Broth
  1. Add 12 cups water, chicken breasts, onion, carrots, celery, oregano, turmeric, and bay leaves to a large pot. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
  2. Reduce heat to low and simmer, skimming foam occasionally, until the chicken reaches 165°F, about 20–25 minutes.
  3. Transfer the chicken to a plate and strain the broth through a fine mesh sieve, discarding solids. Return the clear broth to the pot.
Soup Assembly
  1. Bring the broth to a gentle boil and add the orzo. Cook until al dente, about 8–10 minutes.
  2. Whisk the eggs and lemon juice together in a heatproof bowl until frothy.
  3. Temper the egg mixture by slowly whisking in one cup of hot broth. Then pour the mixture back into the soup, stirring constantly.
  4. Heat over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring gently. Do not let it boil to prevent curdling.
  5. Shred the reserved chicken and stir into the soup. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
  6. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with chopped parsley and extra pepper.

Notes

Allow soup to cool at room temperature no longer than 2 hours before refrigerating.
Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.
Reheat gently over low heat, whisking to restore silkiness.