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Bowl of Greek Chicken and Lemon Rice Soup garnished with parsley

Greek Chicken Lemon Rice Soup


  • Author: Joe Peacock
  • Total Time: 4 hrs
  • Yield: Serves 6–8 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

A comforting, creamy Greek avgolemono soup made with chicken, rice, eggs, and lemon.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.6 kg whole chicken
  • 6 black peppercorns
  • 2 onions, roughly chopped
  • 2 celery sticks, roughly chopped
  • 2 carrots, roughly chopped
  • 300 g medium or long‑grain rice
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 lemons, juiced, plus pared zest to serve (optional)
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon, plus extra pinch to serve
  • Salt, to taste

Instructions

  1. Place chicken, peppercorns, onions, celery, and carrots into a large saucepan. Cover with cold water and bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hr until chicken is tender.
  2. Remove from heat and cool completely (about 1.5 hr).
  3. Shred the chicken meat, discarding bones and veg. Strain stock and measure approximately 2.5 L; return stock to pot.
  4. Bring stock to boil, stir in rice, reduce heat, cover and cook 15 min until rice is tender. Remove from heat.
  5. In a bowl, whisk eggs, juice of 1½ lemons, cinnamon, and pepper. Temper by slowly whisking in hot stock (without rice), repeat until creamy.
  6. Pour tempered egg mixture into rice. Add shredded chicken. Simmer gently for 3–4 min, stirring constantly, then stir in remaining ½ lemon juice to taste.
  7. Serve immediately or let stand 10 min to thicken more. Garnish with extra cinnamon and lemon zest if desired.

Notes

  • Tempering the eggs slowly with hot stock prevents curdling.
  • Don’t let the soup boil after adding the egg mixture.
  • Letting stand for 10 min thickens it further.
  • Garnish with extra cinnamon and lemon zest for an authentic finish.
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 2 hrs (plus 1.5 hr cooling)
  • Category: Soup
  • Method: Simmer, tempering
  • Cuisine: Greek

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1/8 of batch)
  • Calories: 382 kcal
  • Sugar: 0–0.1 g
  • Sodium: 0.4 g
  • Fat: 15 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4 g
  • Carbohydrates: 30 g
  • Fiber: 0.7 g
  • Protein: 30 g

Keywords: avgolemono, Greek soup, chicken rice lemon soup, creamy chicken soup