Avgolemono Soup Frugal Gourmet Recipe 45

Steps:

• Place the chicken, bay leaf and broth in a large pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer 1 1/2 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through. Remove the chicken to a plate and let it cool.
• Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl. Clean out any scum in the bottom of the pot and add the broth back to the pot. Bring to a simmer, then add the orzo and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes. Check for seasoning here, as you may need to add a few teaspoons salt.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the lemon zest and juice and the flour. Whisk the eggs into the lemon mixture. Pour a little of the simmering broth slowly over the egg mixture and whisk it together. Reduce the heat under the broth to low and whisk in the egg mixture. The soup will thicken slightly and become cloudy. Make sure you don't bring the soup to a rolling boil after you add the eggs. Your eggs will scramble, which will leave you with more of an egg drop soup (which would still be fantastic, but just not the same).
• Chop up the chicken, removing the skin and bones, and add it to the soup along with the dill. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Stir the milk and cornstarch together and then beat in the egg yolks. Set aside. Bring the stock to boil in a 4-qt soup pot and add the rice. Cook, covered, until the rice is puffy and tender, about 25 minutes. (Per variation below, you may add minced garlic now, too) Remove the soup from the heat and add the milk and egg mixture, stirring carefully. Continue to cook for a moment until all thickens. Remove from the heat again and add the butter, chopped parsley, and lemon juice. You may wish to add some grated lemon peel as well. Add salt and pepper to serve. Variation: In individual serving bowls, place shredded chicken and chopped basil. Also, minced garlic may be added into the soup during the last 30 minutes of cooking.

Steps:

• 1. In a large saucepan, bring the broth to a boil.
• 2. Add the orzo, rice, or pastina and cook until tender but still al dente, about 7 minutes (20, if using rice). Season with the salt and pepper and reduce heat to low; simmer.
• 3. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and lemon juice until smooth.
• 4. Ladle about 1 cup of the hot broth into the egg-and-lemon mixture, then whisk to combine.
• 5. Add the mixture back to the simmering saucepan. Stir just until the soup becomes opaque and thickens as the eggs cook, 1 to 2 minutes. Add more salt and pepper, if desired, and serve.

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add carrots, celery, and onion; cook until veggies soften and flavors have mingled, about 3 minutes.
• Add water and bring to a boil. Cook for at least 1 hour, or longer for a more flavorful broth.
• Use a slotted spoon to transfer vegetable chunks to a food processor. Blend until smooth and return to the pot.
• Add orzo and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whip eggs in a bowl. Add lemon juice. Add a few tablespoons of hot broth to the lemon-egg mixture, whisking constantly to avoid curdling the eggs. Continue until lemon-egg mixture is hot, then add to the broth.
• Reduce heat and cook, without boiling, until soup thickens a bit, about 3 minutes. Allow soup to cool slightly before serving; it will become even thicker. Season with salt and pepper.