ENJOY THIS SIMPLE SOUP ALL WEEK LONG. IT’S EVEN BETTER THE NEXT DAY!

I was recently asked what my favorite comfort food was and it didn’t take me long to decide on soup. I have no real favorite, although I’m fond of Cream of Wild Mushroom  and Lazy Pea Soup with Mint & Crème Fraîche; any bowl of delicious soup will do the trick. This lemony chicken soup is my take on the soups I enjoyed so much in Greece & Albania.

I have this habit of ordering soup at restaurants, especially when I’m traveling abroad. My fiancé teases me about it, mostly when it’s unpractical like in 32C/90F heat. The truth is I love learning about different cultures, regions, countries & their traditions by tasting their soups. I think you can learn a lot about a cook by what kind of soup they are proud to make. It often doesn’t change much over the years and usually tells some sort of story.

One memory in particular stands out for me. Rez & I were vacationing in Albania, where my fiancé spent his childhood. We were at the start of a road trip down south and were staying the night in this remote village in the mountains, called Kaninë. The village had only one small restaurant/bar which we were escorted to by our sweet host Jimmy. This restaurant had no name, no menu and one of the best soups I’ve tasted in my life (also with no name).

Everything served in the restaurant was grown, raised and harvested on their property (rakia and wine included). You quite literally could taste Albania in a bowl! There is nothing more authentic than that. Some people collect magnets or shot glasses from their travels, I happen to collect memories & stories of the soups I’ve tasted.

Speedy Greek Style Chicken & Lemon Soup

Its easy make something wonderful when you have deep pockets and access to the latest & greatest ingredients of the moment. What really makes an outstanding cook is someone who creates something extraordinary with limited resources and whatever ingredients they have. The best cooks can make something out of nothing. I’ve learned that outstanding food doesn’t have to be expensive.

LEMONS ARE REALLY THE FEATURE INGREDIENT IN THIS DISH

This Speedy Greek Style Chicken & Lemon Soup is a constant when I’m starting to feel sick. It’s quick, easy and you can make a big batch so you don’t starve when your cold/flu hits full force. I think it’s really important to use fresh herbs in this recipe because dill and parsley are both delicate herbs and their dried counterparts don’t have much taste. Lemon is a stand out in this soup for sure and I like to add a little extra lemon zest or minced preserved lemon to really amp up the flavor.

Enjoy this Speedy Greek Style Chicken & Lemon Soup recipe whenever you feel like it, not just while you’re sick!

T’bëftë mirë! Albanian

Speedy Greek Style Chicken & Lemon Soup

 

Print

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

50 mins

Total time

1 hour

 

This delicious soup will nurse you back to good health when you're sick!

Author: Peony

Recipe type: Soup

Cuisine: Med

Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 8 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
• 1 heaping cup shredded rotisserie chicken
• ⅓ cup uncooked long grain basmati rice
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup celery, diced
• 1 cup carrot, diced
• 1 cup onion, diced
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice and add more to taste
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1tsp freshly ground pepper
• ½ cup fresh dill
• ½ cup flat leaf Italian parsley
• serve with lemon wedges and fresh herbs

Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until translucent, about 6 minutes.
2. Add the carrot + celery and cook for 3 minutes.
3. Add the bay leaves + chicken stock + rice, switch to high heat and bring to a boil.
4. Reduce the heat and simmer until the rice is almost cooked through, about 20 minutes.
5. Add the chicken and reduce the broth to a low simmer.
6. In a medium sized bowl, beat the lemon juice, eggs, and pepper together.
7. Ladle 2 cups of hot broth into a measuring cup with a pourable spout. While whisking, slowly pour the 2 cups of broth into the egg mixture.
8. Pour the egg mixture back into the pot with 1 tablespoon of salt. Stir well to blend. Add fresh dill and parsley and give a quick stir.
9. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with fresh herbs and/or lemon wedge.

Notes

Don't forget to remove the bay leafs before serving!
I really like a ton of lemon in my soup so I add more lemon juice. I sometimes add ½ cup instead of ¼ cup. Taste as you go so you don't add too much!
Sometimes I add 1 tsp of lemon zest of preserved lemon rinds to amp up the lemon flavor.

3.3.3077

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Take and instant vacation with Moroccan inspired Chicken with Preserved Lemon.

I’ve always been a fan of lemon everything. Whether its tablespoon of lemon zest or a squeeze of lemon juice, I think it elevates a dish from good to great. I recently came across preserved lemons at my local Italian grocery store and thought I would give them a try. My mind was BLOWN! The lemony flavor is so intense, it smacks you in the face. Relax! I mean it in the very best way. I was pleasantly surprised by how the preserving process mellowed out the sourness & tartness of the lemon. It’s brought such a unique flavor to the table and I’m absolutely addicted. This is definitely my favorite ingredient of the moment and these gems are breathing new life into some of my favorite recipes!

PRESERVED LEMON CAN BE ADDED TO SOUPS, SALADS AND SAUCES FOR AN INTENSE LEMON FLAVOR

STUDIES SHOW TURMERIC & CUMIN HAVE SERIOUSLY GOOD BENEFITS FOR YOUR BODY AND BRAIN.

Preserved lemons or Lemon Pickle depending on who you’re speaking to is a staple in Moroccan cuisine. They can be chopped, sliced or minced and can be rinsed to wash off some of the salt. Preserved lemons can be enjoyed in soups, salad dressings and sauces  to name a few and this ingredient has instantly become a clutch ingredient! My latest & greatest discovery is that these babies are a freaking STAR in my Caesar/Bloody Mary, but thats a whole other post!

THESE SPICES ARE POWERFUL ANTI INFLAMMATORIES AND ANTIOXIDANTS

Preserved lemons are found in speciality grocery stores but can be a bit costly. My 12 oz jar was $7.99 USD but a little does go a very long way. Luckily for my wallets sake, they are super easy & inexpensive to make. They do preserve for about a month so it does require some planning. If you’re unsure if this is your thing, I would splurge on a small jar to see if you’re a fan of the taste.

LET THE CHICKEN MARINADE FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS IN THE FRIDGE IF YOU HAVE THE TIME

SWITCH THINGS UP! TRY THIS FLAVOR OF MOROCCO!

Besseha Arabic-Moroccan

Chicken with Preserved Lemon

 

Print

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

40 mins

Total time

45 mins

 

Author: www.daringgourmet.com

Recipe type: Main

Cuisine: Moroccan

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed and finely minced
• 2 teaspoons fresh minced ginger
• ¾ teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut in half lengthwise to make 4 fillets (you can use 4 chicken breasts if you prefer a larger serving, you can also use bone-in chicken pieces if you prefer)
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• ¾ cup chicken broth
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1 preserved lemon, pulp discarded, peels thoroughly rinsed and finely chopped
• ½ cup pitted or whole Kalamata olives, rinsed
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. To make the marinade, combine the olive oil, garlic, ginger, cumin, turmeric, salt and pepper. Place the chicken in a zip-lock bag and pour the marinade over. Swish around to ensure the chicken is thoroughly coated. Let marinate for at least 4 hours or overnight for maximum flavor.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet or Dutch oven over medium high heat. Cook the onions until soft and translucent, 5-7 minutes. Add the chicken and cook just until it turns white, about 2 minutes on each side. Add the broth and any remaining marinade from the zip-lock bag. Bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, turning the chicken over once after 10 minutes.
3. Add the preserved lemon, parsley, cilantro and olives, stir to incorporate into the sauce, cover and simmer for another 15 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice and add salt to taste. Serve immediately with a leafy green salad, couscous or bread.

3.2.1311

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