Greek Lemon Chicken Soup | Akis Petretzikis

chicken

🥗Healthier: turkey

💰Cheaper: chicken thighs

Turkey is leaner, while chicken thighs are more affordable than breasts.

rice

🥗Healthier: quinoa

💰Cheaper: barley

Quinoa is a protein-rich alternative, while barley is often less expensive.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Avocado oil is healthier, while vegetable oil is typically cheaper.

fresh dill

🥗Healthier: dried dill

💰Cheaper: parsley

Dried dill retains flavor, while parsley is often less costly.

Put on gloves to prepare the chicken.

Make an incision in the thighs of the chicken.

Cut the chicken in half and remove the wings.

Remove the skin from the breast and cut the meat away from the bones.

Remove the skin from the thighs and trim away any fat.

Cut the thighs in half and debone them, separating the meat from the bones.

Break the bones with the backside of a knife to release more flavor into the broth.

In a pot, add the chicken bones, 1 chicken cube, peppercorns, thyme, a bay leaf, and 2 liters of water to make broth.

Cover the pot, turn on the heat, and simmer for 1 hour.

After 1 hour, prepare the vegetables by crisscrossing and roughly chopping the leek, leaving the skin on the carrots, and chopping the onion.

Cut the chicken meat into small cubes or strips.

Pass the broth through a sieve to separate the liquid from the solids.

Return the broth to the pot and add the chopped vegetables and chicken meat.

Add rice to the pot and cover it.

Simmer and slow-cook for 20 to 25 minutes until the rice, chicken, and vegetables are cooked.

Prepare avgolemono by whisking together 3 egg yolks, the zest of 2 lemons, and the juice of 2 lemons.

Slowly add the hot stock to the egg mixture while whisking to prevent the yolks from cooking.

Turn off the heat and add the avgolemono mixture back into the pot, stirring gently.

Serve the soup, adding more salt, pepper, or seasoning to taste.

Garnish with thyme and a drizzle of extra virgin Greek olive oil.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens