Avgolemono - Greek Lemon and Chicken Soup

It doesn’t have to be “Greek to you” any longer. This easy classic Greek soup is rich, creamy and bright with lemon.

AVGOLEMONO – CHICKEN & LEMON GREEK SOUP

Avgolemono, pronounced “ah-vgo-le-mono”), refers to the tasty Greek sauce from which this chicken soup gets it's name. Avgolemono is a silky and lemony sauce made of eggs, lots of lemon, and warm broth.

Avoglemono sauce is used in Greek cooking as a sauce for chicken, vegetables, and even dolmades (grape leaves) and does justice to a basic chicken soup with its touch of richness and its bright lemon notes.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil 

½ to 1 cup finely chopped carrots

½ to 1 cup finely chopped celery

½ to 1 cup finely chopped green onions

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

8 cups chicken broth or stock

2 bay leaves

1 cup medium grain rice (soaked for 15 – 30 minutes in cold water and drained)

Salt and pepper

2 cooked boneless chicken breast pieces, shredded (or 6 to 8 oz store-bought rotisserie chicken)

½ cup freshly-squeezed lemon juice

2 large eggs

Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

-In a large Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil on medium-high. Add the carrots, celery and green onions, toss together to saute briefly then stir in the garlic.

-Add the chicken broth and bay leaves then raise the heat to high. Once the liquid has come to a rolling boil, add the rice, salt and pepper. Turn the heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes or until the rice is tender. Stir in the cooked chicken.

-To prepare the egg-lemon sauce, in a medium bowl, whisk together the lemon juice and eggs. While whisking add 2 ladles-full of the broth from the cooking pot (this helps temper the eggs). Once fully combined, add the lemon/egg sauce to the chicken soup and stir. Remove from the heat immediately.

Garnish with fresh parsley and lemon slices. Serve hot with your favorite bread. Serves 4 - 6

Once the chopping is done, it’s an easy task to assemble the soup.

Garnish with parsley and a slice of lemon for a rich, yet uniquely bright soup!

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