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Giouvarlakia (Meatball Avgolemono Soup)

This soup is a favorite of young and old. My husband Jim is no exception. I still remember the expression of true excitement when I first prepared this soup for the first time.
Ingredients

Meatballs

  • 1 large onion
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • ¼ cup uncooked rice
  • 1 carrot
  • ¼ —½ cup olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to tase
  • ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • ¼ cup fresh dill
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • ½ lb. ground pork
  • ¼ cup rice

Avgolemono

  • 2 eggs
  • 3 lemons, juiced
  • 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
Directions
  • Prepare meatballs; puree onion and garlic, add to the beef and pork. Mix well.
  • Mince the carrot and parsley, add to the meat mixture.
  • Next add the ¼ cup of rice, salt, pepper, olive oil and dill. Mix well.
  • Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
  • Roll into meatballs, small like walnuts and refrigerate.
  • Bring 4 cups water to a boil. Add 1 -2 cups chicken broth.
  • Gently drop meatballs into the broth.
  • The broth should just cover the meatballs.
  • Pour a tablespoon of olive oil into the broth.
  • Add ¼ cup of uncooked rice to the mixture.
  • Simmer for 20 minutes with the lid on.
  • While the soup is cooking, prepare the avgolemono.
  • Squeeze juice from the 3 lemons
  • Beat 2 eggs until frothy, add the lemon juice and cornstarch; continue mixing.
  • When the 20 minutes is up, remove 2 ladles of the hot broth, one at a time into the egg mixture. Then add back into the soup.
  • Turn off heat and let sit until thicken slightly about 5-10 minutes.
  • Garnish with fresh parsley and fresh black pepper.

Categories

GreekMeatSoupEntreeSpicy