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A bowl of creamy yellow lemon chicken soup garnished with fresh dill and black pepper

Authentic Greek Avgolemono (Lemon Chicken Soup)

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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 345 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 whole chicken (approx. 3.5 lbs) , cut into pieces
  • 10 cups wate r
  • 1 large yellow onion, peeled and halved
  • 2 large carrots , peeled and cut into large chunks
  • 2 celery stalks , cut into large chunks
  • 1 cup Arborio or short-grain white rice
  • 3 large eggs , at room temperature
  • 2/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped (for garnish)

Instructions
 

  • Place the chicken pieces, onion, carrots, celery, and salt in a large stockpot and add 10 cups of water.
  • Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 45-50 minutes until the chicken is tender and fully cooked. Periodically skim any foam from the surface.
  • Remove the chicken and vegetables from the pot. Strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve and return exactly 8 cups of the clear broth to the pot.
  • Shred the chicken meat, discarding all skin and bones, and set aside.
  • Bring the strained broth back to a gentle boil, add the rice, and simmer for 15-18 minutes until the rice is tender.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs vigorously for 2 minutes until they are frothy and have significantly increased in volume.
  • Slowly whisk the lemon juice into the beaten eggs until well combined.
  • To temper the eggs, slowly ladle 2 cups of the hot broth from the pot into the egg-lemon mixture in a thin stream, whisking constantly to prevent curdling.
  • Remove the stockpot from the heat and slowly pour the tempered egg mixture back into the soup, stirring continuously to create a silky, thickened texture.
  • Add the shredded chicken back to the pot, season with black pepper, and serve immediately garnished with fresh dill. Note: Do not allow the soup to boil after adding the eggs, as it will separate.