Description
Greek Lemon Chicken and Rice Soup, also known as Avgolemono, is a delightful dish that combines tender chicken, fluffy rice, and a zesty lemon flavor. This comforting soup is not only delicious but also nourishing.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 chicken breasts (about 1 lb or 450 g), boneless and skinless
- 1 cup jasmine rice (about 200 g)
- 6 cups chicken broth (about 1.5 liters)
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 4 lemons)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped (or 2 tablespoons dried dill)
- Black pepper, to taste
- Salt, to taste
- Olive oil, for cooking
Instructions
- Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chicken breasts, season with salt and black pepper, and cook for about 5-7 minutes on each side until golden brown and fully cooked. Remove and shred the chicken.
- In the same pot, add more olive oil if needed, then add the diced onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for about 5-7 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
- Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Stir in the jasmine rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for about 15 minutes until the rice is tender.
- Add the shredded chicken back into the pot and stir gently to combine all ingredients.
- Pour in the fresh lemon juice and sprinkle in the chopped dill. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and black pepper as needed. Serve hot.
Notes
- For a deeper flavor, consider using homemade chicken broth.
- For a vegetarian version, replace chicken with hearty vegetables and use vegetable broth.
- For a spicy twist, add red pepper flakes or diced jalapeños when sautéing the vegetables.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: Greek Lemon Chicken and Rice Soup, Avgolemono, chicken soup, lemon soup, comfort food