Want a spin on Chicken soup?  Try making avgolemono (pronouned avo-LEYM-ono), a Greek lemon chicken soup that is tempered with eggs.  Greek mothers have been making up batches of this tasty soup to cure the common cold for centuries.  Even if you’re not under the weather, why not try it for yourself?

How do you temper an egg in soup?

Tempering means slowly heating up the eggs before you add them to the soup.  But why add eggs to soup?  They’ll thicken the broth and make the soup more creamy without adding dairy.  Don’t skip the tempering, though, or you’ll end up with scrambled egg in your soup!

• Whisk the eggs with lemon juice until frothy.
• Slowly whisk in 1/2 cup of hot chicken broth.
• Turn the temperature of the soup to low.
• Pour the egg mixture into the soup in a steady stream, all while constantly whisking the soup.
• Keep the soup on low so it doesn’t boil.

Why would you want to temper soup with eggs?

• It helps thicken the soup.
• It helps make it creamy without adding milk or cream.
• It helps make the soup silky.

How to Make Greek Lemon Chicken Soup

Prep the ingredients.  Start by chopping the onion, mincing the garlic, and cubing the bread.

In a large soup pot, heat the oil over medium high heat.  Saute the onion for 4 minutes and add the garlic for a minute.

Add 4 cups of the chicken broth and the 1/2 cup of uncooked rice.  Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.  Once the rice is cooked, add the remaining 2 1/2 cups of chicken broth.

While the rice is cooking, juice the 6 large lemons with a hand reamer.  Strain out any seeds and pour it into a measuring cup.  Zest the two lemons, and add half the zest to the lemon juice.

Whisk 3 eggs in a medium bowl.  Pour in the lemon juice and lemon zest and whisk until well combined.

Add 1/2 cup of the hot chicken broth in a slow steady stream to the lemon egg mixture while constantly whisking.

Turn the stovetop temperature to low, and slowly pour the egg mixture into the soup pot while vigorously whisking.

Add the 4 cups of shredded chicken and the spices.  Let the soup cook on low until the soup thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon and the chicken is heated through.  (The starch from the rice helps stabilize the tempered egg in the soup.)

Garnish with fresh chopped dill.

Preheat the oven to 350 F.  Add the garlic powder to the melted butter and stir.  Pour over the bread cubes and toss until well coated.

Toast the bread cubes for 15 minutes on a baking tray, stirring them halfway through.

Transfer the soup to a serving bowl or individual bowls.  Garnish with lemon slices, lemon zest, and croutons.

If you love chicken soup, you have to give this recipe a try.  It’s lemony, silky and creamy–what’s not to like?  Plus, it could be a cure to the common cold.  Countless Greeks have thought so.

Pro Tips

• Don’t want to use rice?  Try orzo.
• Don’t have time for shredded chicken?  Use canned chicken.
• Don’t substitute freshly squeezed lemon juice for concentrated bottled lemon juice; the taste will be different.
• Don’t want to make croutons?  Toast ciabatta rolls under the broiler and serve them buttered.
• Don’t let your soup boil once the tempered egg has been added.

Enjoy a cozy bowl of deliciousness with these other chicken soups.

• Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup: this healthy, low carb soup is perfect for when you’re feeling sick.
• Chicken, Sausage, and Shrimp Gumbo: a hearty, flavorful soup from Louisiana that’s popular at special dinners.
• Chicken and Dumplings from Scratch: this old fashioned dinner recipe is sure to be a hit with your family.

Did you make this Greek lemon chicken soup?  We’d love to hear how you liked it in the comments section below.

Greek Lemon Chicken Soup

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• Author: Brooke
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 8 cups
• Category: Soup
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Greek

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Description

Greek lemon chicken soup is a healthy, low carb soup recipe.  This made from scratch Mediterranean dish is fantastic for soothing colds.  This creamy soup is made with rice, shredded chicken, lemon, dill, and homemade croutons.  This simple, make ahead dinner idea is comfort food at its best.

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Ingredients

For the Soup

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup yellow onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup white jasmine rice, raw
• 6 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from 6 large lemons)
• 3 large eggs
• 4 cups shredded chicken (from 2 1/2 large poached chicken breasts)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For the Croutons

• 2 cups ciabbatta bread, cubed (1 large ciabatta roll)
• 3 tablespoons salted butter
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

For the Garnish

• 6 lemon slices (from one large lemon)
• 1/3 cup fresh dill, chopped
• zest of two large lemons
• homemade croutons

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Instructions

Making the Soup

1. Heat the oil in a large soup pot set over medium high heat.  Cook the onion for 4 minutes, then add the garlic and cook until fragrant, roughly a minute.
2. Pour in 4 cups of chicken broth and 1/2 cup of rice.  Stir, cover, and bring to a boil.  Turn the heat down to medium low and simmer for 15 minutes.
3. Once the rice is cooked, scoop out 1/2 cup of hot broth for tempering the eggs.  Stir in the remaining 2 1/2 cups of chicken broth and the shredded chicken.  Cover and simmer.
4. To temper the eggs, whisk the eggs until smooth, then pour in the lemon juice and half of the lemon zest.  Keep whisking until the mixture is frothy.  Slowly pour in 1/2 cup of the hot chicken broth, constantly whisking as you pour.
5. Lower the heat for the soup, uncover, and slowly pour the egg mixture into the soup, constantly whisking as you pour.  Season the soup with salt and pepper, then let it simmer until the soup coats the back of a spoon and the shredded chicken is heated through.
6. Garnish each soup bowl with half of a lemon slice, a sprinkle of dill and lemon zest, and the homemade croutons.  Serve immediately while still warm.

Making the Croutons

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
2. Mix the cubed bread with the melted butter and garlic powder in a medium-sized bowl.
3. Spread the cubes on a small baking tray and bake for 15 minutes.  Stir and rotate the tray halfway through baking.