Name: Greek lemon Chicken Soup recipe (Kotosoupa Avgolemono)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Total time: 1 h 40 min
Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients: 1 chicken (1-1.2 kg/ 35-40 ounces); 1 red onion, peeled; 5 cups (1.2 L) of water; 150-200g short-grain rice, like Arborio (6-7 ounces); 2 large eggs; juice of 1 lemon; 2 carrots (optional); salt and freshly ground pepper

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Greek lemon chicken soup – A traditional wintery recipe

Hearty, simple and extra comforting, this Greek lemon chicken soup is with no doubt the perfect dish for a cold winter’s day! ‘Kotosoupa Avgolemono’ is a classic Greek soup made basically with chicken, which is boiled until tender, rice and finished off with a delicious egg-lemon sauce, which is added in the chicken broth.

So read along to discover my tips and tricks to make it to perfection as well as my variations and of course my delicious recipe!

What is Kotosoupa Avgolemono?

This is the authentic recipe for Greek lemon chicken soup, a trademark dish that has nourished generations. It mixes eggs with lemon and the delicious, fragrant chicken stock resulting in a deliciously tangy, thick and hearty soup. And best of all its topped off with some shredded chicken for that extra bit of comfort!

What is Avgolemono?

The secret ingredient for this heartwarming Greek lemon chicken soup (Kotosoupa Avgolemono) is the Avgolemono.

Avgolemono is an egg-lemon sauce, that is often added in Greek recipes and especially soups and acts as a thickening agent, giving the soup a unique creamy texture and tangy lemony flavor. This Greek lemon chicken soup recipe includes the traditional and fool proof recipe for preparing an egg-lemon sauce!

Although the basic chicken avgolemono soup recipe is relatively simple, my experience has shown that it can be really tricky to get right.

If you have ever tried making ‘Kotosoupa Avgolemono’ or any other Greek recipe that includes Avgolemono before, you must know that a few things can go wrong. That’s why I’ve put together my tips and tricks in the section below!

How to avoid the most common Chicken Egg-Lemon soup mistakes

The most common mistake is that the Avgolemono curdles and gets lumpy. Here are some tips to help you achieve the desired creamy texture for your Greek lemon chicken soup:

The eggs should be at room temperature, so that they are not shocked and curdle from the hot broth
The soup should be warm but not boiling hot. When you are done cooking your soup remove the pan from the stove and let it cool for 5-10 minutes or add 1/2 a cup of cold water to halt the boiling process
You need to add enough broth so that the egg mixture is at the same temperature as the broth of the dish you are preparing
The egg whites are more likely to curdle, as they tend to thicken up more quickly than the egg yolks when warmed so be sure to whisk vigorously and add the broth slowly. For more extensive tips and tricks take a look at my how to make the perfect Avgolemono article.

Should you pre-soak the rice?

Yes you want to pre-soak the rice. It helps the rice cook more quickly and uniformly. Why? Because soaking your rice in water allows the grain to absorb water ahead of cooking. It also hydrates the rice seeds and makes them swell. As the rice is hydrated before cooking it, it results in a fluffier rice!

To prepare the rice, rinse it a couple of times first to remove any excess starch. Then pour it in a bowl and add enough water to cover it and let it stand for around 30 minutes or until the grain of rice breaks easily when pressed.

Key Preparation Steps

Preparing your Greek chicken egg lemon soup is very simple. You’ll need to

Prepare your chicken
Prepare the egg-lemon (avgolemono) rice soup
Assemble and serve!

Prepare the chicken

Start by placing the chicken in a deep pot. Using your hands, press the chicken down to the bottom of the pan, then add the whole onion, carrot, and water. After everything has been added, season with some salt. Cover with a lid and bring to a boil over high heat.

When the chicken begins to boil, reduce the heat and simmer for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. When the chicken is done, the flesh can be removed from the bones with ease. Some white foam may appear on the water while the chicken boils; remove it using a slotted spoon.

Remove the chicken from the broth, then strain your broth in a large bowl. You should have about 1 litre of stock remaining. If your stock is a bit less than that, add some water to it.

Prepare the egg lemon (avgolemono) rice soup

To make the egg-lemon rice soup, start by boiling your rice in the chicken stock. After the rice is done soaking, use a separate saucepan and add all of the hot broth and the strained rice, season with salt and pepper, and simmer until cooked.

When done cooking, your rice should have plenty of liquids left and resemble a soup. Set it aside to cool down until its lukewarm.

While the rice is cooking, prepare your chicken. Remove and discard the skin from the chicken meat. Shred the flesh into bite-size pieces and set aside. The chicken will be added to the soup in the end, when serving the dish.

Now its time to prepare your egg-lemon sauce! Crack the eggs into a mixing bowl and whisk until frothy; add the lemon juice and continue to whisk. Add a ladle of lukewarm soup to the mixture and whisk quickly.

Repeat with another ladle of hot soup, stirring after each addition, until the eggs have been fully warmed up and gently cooked.

Finally pour the egg mixture back into the rice soup saucepan, stirring it frequently to prevent it from curdling. Cover and set aside for 3-4 minutes.

Now its time to assemble and serve your chicken avgolemono soup! Ladle the soup into bowls, then top with your shredded chicken and a sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper or paprika.

Variations

You could add some of your favorite Greek herbs to add to the flavor of the soup but do it sparingly as you don’t want to overpower the taste of the lemon. You could also add a little wilted spinach or rocket (arugula) if you like some more vegetables in it.

Making ahead of time and storing

To save avgolemono soup for later, allow it to cool to room temperature before refrigerating it. Transfer to airtight containers and chill for up to three days.

Because its a cream-free soup, you may also freeze your avgolemono soup. This is particularly handy if you make a large batch! Just make sure you leave enough room in the freezer-safe containers for the soup to expand.

To use it, thaw in the fridge overnight then reheat on the stove over medium heat. If the soup needs more moisture, you can add a little bit of water or some chicken broth and heat thoroughly, stirring as you go to stop it from separating.

Serving suggestions

The simplest way to serve the soup is with some fresh, crusty, Greek village bread, sourdough bread, bread machine sourdough bread or my easy and crusty bread made with self raising flour. I also love pairing it with a deliciously fresh Greek salad.

Love soups?

If you love a hearty soup as much as I do then these recipes below are perfect for a cold winter’s day!