Greek Lemon Rice Soup Recipe (Avgolemono) | Foodal (2024)

Did you know that this lemony Greek soup is all the rage in light-yet-comforting recipes right now?

At least, judging from the countless recipes that are out there. And the yummy taste, in my opinion.

Personally, I don’t remember seeing this recipe in past years, even when I was in Greece. Of course, I was in Greece back in my early twenties, at a time when I hated soup. So maybe this doesn’t come as much of a surprise?

At that time, I was much more concerned with finding cheap wine and moussaka, or gyros on warm pita bread with tons of tzatziki sauce that cost less than ten dollars each, so I could afford to continue traveling while I studied abroad.

Let’s just say, I really wish I had sought out soup at that time. It sure would have helped me to stay on budget, because it’s usually pretty darn cheap.

I love pulling out this Greek recipe because I usually have all the ingredients I need right in my pantry and fridge. My guess is you do, too.

When it comes to this traditional Greek recipe, there are many variations out there. There are recipes that use fluffy rice, while others use orzo. Some use roasted chicken, and others vary in the amount of egg yolks you use.

In every case, the basic idea is this: a grain is cooked in hot broth, and then a creamy egg mixture is slowly added. This mixture also includes lemon in some form, either rinds or juice or both, so you get a burst of tangy citrus to balance out the creamy richness.

So that’s broth, grain, cream, egg, and lemon… I don’t know about you, but I always have those items on hand in my kitchen. I also just so happen to have 30 minutes to make soup on a nightly basis.

It’s so funny to me that it took me until I was 30 years old to start enjoying this kind of food. It makes me kind of sad as well, because I think I missed out on a lot of flavor and a lot of cheap meals that I could have made at home, or enjoyed affordably on the road.

This is one of those recipes that is so bright and light, yet totally comforting at the same time. The creaminess from the egg and cream mixture really packs in a satisfying dose of richness, while the lemon rind and fresh juice keep the dish from leaning too far on the heavy side.

Instead, it’s like a bright zing at the beginning and end of every bite, with some creamy goodness in the middle. Perfectly balanced.

It’s truly a unique soup that you will find is ideal for enjoying throughout the cooler months, but it’s one that you can also bust out in the middle of the summer for something comforting and different.

Note that you can make this recipe vegetarian by using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth as listed on the ingredients list below for the recipe. I highly recommend topping it all off with a pinch of fresh lemon zest, and a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley to add some color.

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Cooking By the Numbers…

Step 1 – Prep Lemon, Separate Eggs, And Measure Remaining Ingredients

Cut 8 thin slices of lemon peel. I used 1 1/2 lemons for this.

Separate the four eggs, reserving the egg yolks and discarding the whites, or saving them for another use like making meringues.

Juice enough lemon juice until you have 3 tablespoons total. I used the 1 1/2 lemons that I I used for the lemon peel slices for this. If you have any left over, see our article on how to properly store citrus for tips.

Measure out all of the remaining ingredients as listed.

Step 2 – Cook Rice

Place a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the broth and bring it to a boil. Stir in the rice, and keep cooking until it is soft. This will take about 20 minutes.

Does cooking rice seem scary? It’s not! We have an easy-to-follow tutorial on how to cook stovetop rice.

Stir in the lemon peel.

Step 3 – Finish Soup

In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and cream.

Once the rice is cooked, lower the heat to a simmer. Slowly stir in the egg and cream mixture. Turn off the heat.

Stir in the lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as desired. Freshly cracked will always be our preference!