Ingredients
- 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 8 cups cold water
- 1 large unpeeled yellow onion, quartered
- 2 tablespoons whole black peppercorns
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup dried orzo
- 4 large eggs
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from 1 large lemon)
- 1/2 medium lemon, thinly sliced (for serving)
- Fresh dill or oregano (for serving)
- Freshly ground black pepper (for serving)
Instructions
- Place chicken thighs, water, quartered onion, peppercorns, and salt in a large Dutch oven. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer for 45–60 minutes. Skim off any foam that forms.
- Remove the chicken and set aside to cool. Strain the broth into a large bowl, discarding solids. Skim excess fat, if needed. Reserve 2 cups of stock, and return the rest to the Dutch oven over low heat.
- Shred the cooled chicken into bite-sized pieces, discarding skin and bones.
- Bring the stock to a boil and add orzo. Cook until al dente, 7–9 minutes. Stir in shredded chicken and reduce heat to low.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs until frothy, then whisk in the lemon juice. Slowly drizzle in the reserved 2 cups of warm stock while continuously whisking to temper the eggs.
- Stir the egg-lemon mixture into the pot with the chicken and orzo. Simmer gently for 3–5 minutes until slightly thickened. Do not boil.
- Serve hot, garnished with lemon slices, fresh dill or oregano, and freshly ground black pepper.
Notes
- Tempering the eggs is crucial to prevent curdling—add hot broth slowly and whisk constantly.
- This soup does not reheat well at high temperatures. Reheat gently on low heat to avoid separating the egg-lemon mixture.
- Feel free to substitute orzo with rice or another small pasta shape if preferred.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Course, Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Greek
- Diet: Low Lactose
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 245
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 11g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 180mg
