Avgolemoni Soup:
This is a traditional comfort soup and given a lot to small children. It is always served after midnight mass at Easter to mark the end of lent.
This dish can be served as a starter or main course.
Ingredients:
1 whole chicken or juice of whole chicken, chicken stock cubes can be used instead but it will not taste so nice. For vegetarian dishes vegetable stock can be substituted.
1 coffee cup of basmati rice (other rice can be used but this is the most aromatic and works very well in this soup)
3 eggs
Juice of 1 or 2 fresh lemons
Tsp of cornflour or flour
Method:
1)The traditional way of cooking this is to usethe juice of one boiled chicken. We normally boil the chicken leave it to one side then eat it as an accompaniment to the soup. If there is a lot of juice in the pan, reduce this a little before going on to the next step. You need about 1 litre of juice, if you have too much, keep some to one side for adding later in place of cold water, step 7 and 8.
2)You can make this soup as a vegetarian dish by just using a vegetable stock cube as the base but that is not the traditional dish.
3)When the chicken is cooked, remove from the pan and stand to one side to serve as an accompaniment to the soup with a little fresh lemon juice squeezed on top.
4)Add the rice to the stock and bring to the boil, simmer till softened.
5)Meanwhile squeeze juice of 1 or 2 lemons (again this is to taste so you will add only a little lemon juice at first and then taste it)
6)Beat the eggs
7)Pour some of the stock into a bowl and add a little cold water, add the beaten egg and lemon juice to taste (be careful not to add too much lemon, its better to taste the soup at the end and add more if required)
8)Go back to the stock and when the rice has softened add a little cold water then combine with the egg and lemon into the saucepan.
9)Heat a little and take off the heat, if you heat it too much the egg will curdle.
Serve immediately with the boiled chicken and fresh bread.