Description
A comforting and delicious soup with bright lemon flavor and creamy texture, featuring tender orzo pasta and juicy chicken.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced (rotisserie chicken works well)
- 1/2 cup dry orzo pasta
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- Juice of 2 large lemons (about 1/3 cup or 80 ml)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill (optional but recommended)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (optional)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil and butter in a large soup pot over medium heat.
- Add chopped onion and cook until translucent and soft, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Pour in 6 cups of chicken broth and bring to a gentle boil.
- Stir in shredded chicken and simmer for about 10 minutes to heat through and marry flavors.
- Add 1/2 cup dry orzo to the simmering soup and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- While orzo cooks, whisk together eggs, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a medium bowl until smooth.
- Temper the egg-lemon mixture by slowly ladling about 1 cup of hot soup broth into the bowl while whisking constantly.
- Slowly pour the tempered egg mixture back into the soup pot, stirring gently but continuously.
- Keep soup on low heat and stir frequently for 3-5 minutes until thickened and silky. Do not boil after adding egg mixture.
- Stir in chopped fresh dill and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Turn off heat and serve warm, optionally garnished with a drizzle of olive oil or lemon slices.
Notes
Use fresh ingredients for the best flavor. Adjust the thickness of the soup by adding more or less chicken broth. For a creamier texture, stir in a bit of heavy cream before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 30mg