Culinary SOS: Avgolemono soup

Dear SOS,

I’d love to learn how they make the avgolemono soup at Taverna Tony in Malibu. It’s scrumptious. Thanks for any help you might be able to provide!

Megan Huard

Woodland Hills

Dear Megan: Taverna Tony was happy to share its recipe, which we’ve adapted below.

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Avgolemono soup

Total time: 45 minutes

Servings: 6 to 8

Note: Adapted from Taverna Tony in Malibu

2 1/2 quarts chicken broth, divided

1 small chicken breast

1 cup rice

3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch

1/4 cup cold water

3 egg yolks

Juice of 1 lemon, more to taste

Salt

1. In a medium saucepan, bring 3 cups chicken broth to a boil. Add the chicken breast, cover the pan and simmer gently until the chicken is cooked through, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the breast from the broth to cool. When cool enough to handle, shred the chicken into strips.

2. Bring the broth back to a simmer, and stir in the rice. Cover the pan and simmer, gently, until the rice is cooked through, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. The rice may not have absorbed all of the liquid; this is fine, as the rice (and any remaining liquid) will be combined with the final soup.

3. In a large saucepan, bring the remaining chicken broth to a boil over high heat. While the broth is heating, whisk together the cornstarch and water in a small bowl until fully combined to form a slurry.

4. Off heat, whisk the slurry into the hot broth to thicken, and reduce the heat to a gentle simmer.

5. Temper the egg yolks with the hot broth (whisk a little hot broth in with the egg yolks in a small bowl — this will prevent the eggs from scrambling — then whisk the warmed egg yolks into the hot broth). Whisk in the lemon juice, then taste the broth and season as desired with salt (seasoning will vary depending on the brand of chicken broth used).

6. Stir in the shredded chicken and rice, then serve. This makes about 2 quarts soup.

Each of 8 servings: 165 calories; 9 grams protein; 25 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams fiber; 3 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 88 mg. cholesterol; 0 sugar; 504 mg. sodium.

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