Avgolemono is traditionally a Greek Lemon Chicken soup that is served with either rice or small pasta. My mother-in-law and I stumbled upon an instant pot recipe and we loved it, but I wanted a one-pot stove top version that I could easily thrown together with leftover roasted chicken. It’s easily adjustable based on your household preferences. For example, we like brothy soups but you could omit the extra water to make it more hearty.
I call this the Rustic Avgolemono because, although inspired by the traditional dish, it does have some rustic tweaks.
Ingredients
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2-4 cups water (optional for a brothy soup)
• 1 tbsp olive oil (or neutral oil)
• 3 cloves (or more) or minced garlic
• 1-1 1/2 cups orzo pasta
• 4-6 egg yolks
• 1/4-1/2 cup lemon juice
• 3 chicken breast (cooked/shredded) or leftover roasted chicken
• 2-3 cups worth of soup starter (diced onions/celery/carrots)
Instructions
1. Start by heating a large pot over medium heat and add the olive oil. Once warm, add your diced onions, celery, and carrots. Sauté for about 5 to 7 minutes, until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute.
2. Stir in the orzo pasta and toast for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently.
3. Pour in the chicken broth and add 2 to 4 cups of water, depending on how brothy you want the soup. Bring everything to a gentle boil and stir occasionally so nothing sticks.
4. Once the orzo is almost finished cooking through, add in the cooked, shredded chicken and lower the heat to a gentle simmer.
5. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and lemon juice until smooth.
6. Temper the yolks and lemon mixture by slowly ladling in one to two cups of the hot broth into the egg mixture and whisking constantly.
7. Slowly pour the egg mixture back into the pot while stirring continuously. Keep the heat low and warm the soup for a couple of minutes until slightly thickened. Do not let it boil.
8. Taste, adjust seasoning if needed, and serve warm.
Note: If your spouse isn’t the biggest lemon fan use the smaller amount in the pot add an extra squeeze of lemon juice to your individual bowl for a brighter flavor. That way everyone’s happy.
Dining and Cooking