GREEK LEMON AND CHICKEN SOUP (AVGOLEMONO)

Greek Lemon and Chicken Soup (Avgolemono) image

A copycat recipe of my favorite Greek restaurant. Creamy (but dairy-free) chicken and lemon soup. Delicious on its own or served with a Greek salad and bread or pita.

Provided by yoyomofo

Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Chicken Soup Recipes

Time 45m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
½ medium carrot, diced
½ medium red onion, diced
½ stalk celery, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 (32 ounce) cartons chicken broth
1 teaspoon dried parsley
½ teaspoon dried oregano
1 ½ cups shredded cooked chicken
1 cup orzo pasta
4 large eggs, at room temperature
2 medium lemons, zested and juiced, divided
½ teaspoon chicken bouillon powder, or more to taste
3 dashes hot pepper sauce
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Steps:

Heat oil in a large soup pot over medium-low heat. Add carrot, onion, and celery. Cook, stirring continuously, until vegetables start to soften and turn translucent, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add chicken broth, parsley, and oregano. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Add chicken and orzo. Reduce heat to a simmer.
Meanwhile, whisk eggs in a heat-safe bowl or glass measuring cup. Add the lemon juice and whisk until well combined.
Slowly add a ladle of hot broth to the egg mixture, whisking quickly to avoid scrambling the eggs. Repeat with a few more ladles until the egg mixture is hot and steaming. Slowly pour the egg mixture into the saucepan and whisk until incorporated.
Add 1/2 of the lemon zest to the soup; reserve remaining zest for another use. Taste soup; if too lemony, add chicken bouillon. Add hot pepper sauce, salt, and pepper. Cook until orzo is tender yet firm to the bite, about 5 more minutes. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 232.7 calories, Carbohydrate 23.9 g, Cholesterol 118.3 mg, Fat 8.8 g, Fiber 2.3 g, Protein 15.4 g, SaturatedFat 1.9 g, Sodium 1164.1 mg, Sugar 2.9 g