Lemon Hen Orzo Soup | Cookies and Cups

This simple lemon rooster orzo soup is made in a single pot with healthful substances like tender shredded rooster, savory herbs, egg yolks, and lemon. The broth is silky and the orzo pasta makes it further satisfying! 

I really like a fast stovetop soup recipe like this Mediterranean-inspired rooster orzo soup with lemon. For one more cozy soup crammed with recent substances, give this Greek tomato feta soup a attempt.

What Makes This Lemon Hen Orzo Soup So Good

This lemon rooster orzo soup recipe places a shiny and zesty twist on traditional chicken noodle soup. It combines brined rooster, savory herbs, veggies, and orzo pasta within the creamiest broth thickened with egg and lemon. You’re going to like the flavors! Right here’s why it’s the perfect:

• Lemon and egg yolks. This rooster orzo soup mixes egg yolks and lemon juice into the broth, just like the way you’d make Greek avgolemono soup. The egg yolks enrich the broth whereas actual lemon zest and juice add tanginess. Collectively, they make a flavorful, creamy soup with out including any cream.
• Brined rooster. Soaking the rooster in salted water is an elective first step, nevertheless it seasons the rooster and provides the flavors within the soup a significant enhance.
• One pot. I prepare dinner the rooster, sauté the veggies, and put together the soup in the identical pot. It’s handy and creates layers of taste in a brief simmer time. As a bonus, clean-up is simple.

Soup Substances

I’ve included some notes on the substances you’ll want for the soup. Scroll right down to the printable recipe card for a full checklist with quantities.

• Hen – I take advantage of boneless, skinless rooster breasts as a result of they’re simple to shred, however any rooster works. Use rooster thighs, or you can also make this orzo soup with leftover cooked rooster (extra on this later).
• Aromatics – Diced carrots, celery, and yellow onion kind the flavour base of the soup. I additionally embrace freshly minced garlic to bulk up the aromatics.
• Hen Broth – This may be store-bought low-sodium rooster broth, or I’ll usually use homemade chicken stock.
• Contemporary Dill – I really like how savory recent dill performs off the lemony flavors. 
• Seasonings – Salt, pepper, and dried oregano.
• Orzo – Orzo is a short-cut pasta that appears like massive grains of rice. You may make this recipe with any pasta you like, it simply gained’t technically be orzo soup on this case. You might even use homemade egg noodles.
• Egg Yolks – Similar to making avgolemono soup, you’ll mood egg yolks and add them again into the soup to assist it thicken.
• Lemons – Juiced and zested. You’ll need to use recent lemon on this recipe! 

Why Add Lemon Juice to Hen Soup?

Including lemon juice is an easy approach to elevate rooster soup, whether or not it’s on this recipe or in any other case. The acidity brightens the flavors the identical approach lime juice does in my spicy Mexican chipotle lime chicken soup.

To brine the rooster, add your rooster breasts to a big pot of salt water and depart them to soak for quarter-hour. It’s positive to depart the rooster within the answer for longer, although in that case, you should definitely transfer it to the fridge. Afterward, pat the rooster dry earlier than you sear it.

Let’s Make Hen Orzo Soup With Lemon!

Should you’ve by no means made rooster soup with lemon earlier than, you’ll be blown away by how superb the broth seems. The lemon freshens up the flavors whereas the egg makes the broth silky (just like how egg yolks emulsify to create a creamy, flavorful sauce in carbonara recipes).

Listed here are the steps. Scroll to the recipe card after the submit for printable directions.

• Prepare dinner the substances. Begin by browning the rooster breasts in a big Dutch oven, then set them apart. In the identical pot, sauté the carrots, celery, onion, and garlic.

• Make the soup. Now, you’ll add the rooster breasts again to the pot together with the broth. Sprinkle over the dill and oregano, and season the soup to style whereas it involves a simmer. After 10 minutes, add the orzo and let that prepare dinner by means of.
• Shred the rooster. Take out the rooster breasts and shred or cube them earlier than returning the items to the soup.

• End the soup. In a separate bowl, mood the egg yolks with a little bit of scorching broth earlier than stirring them into the soup. Lastly, the lemon juice and zest get stirred in earlier than you’re able to serve. 

Can I Use a Rotisserie Hen As an alternative?

Positive! Whereas brining the rooster and cooking it within the broth makes for an particularly flavorful rooster orzo soup, if I’m pressed for time, I’ll add 3-4 cups of shredded rotisserie rooster as a substitute. On this case, add the rooster on the very finish, similtaneously the lemon juice, and let it warmth by means of.

Serving Strategies

This zesty rooster orzo soup with lemon makes a tasty mild meal or lunch. I’ll usually serve it with fluffy garlic parmesan biscuit rolls or crusty do-it-yourself French bread and dig in! As a facet, attempt air fryer asparagus or a leafy inexperienced salad. This hearty Mediterranean couscous salad is one other good choice, or you’ll be able to spherical out the meal with a grilled cheese sandwich.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

• Refrigerate. Retailer any leftover lemon rooster orzo soup in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. 
• Reheat. Heat the soup within the microwave or on the stovetop. Should you discover that the soup has thickened up, add just a little extra rooster broth when reheating.
• Freeze. You can too freeze this orzo soup hermetic for as much as 2 months. Defrost the soup within the fridge in a single day after which reheat.

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