Youvarlakia Avgolemono (Greek Meatball Soup with Egg and Lemon)
Tender Greek meatballs with rice and herbs, simmered in stock and finished with a silky egg and lemon sauce.
Made with Homemade chicken stock. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time55 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.70 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Mix the mince, rice, onion, half the parsley and dill, olive oil, half the salt and the pepper with your hands. Roll into 16 walnut sized balls.
- 2
Bring your ready made homemade chicken stock (see the base recipe) to a gentle simmer in a wide pan. Drop in the meatballs, cover and cook for 30 minutes, until the rice is tender and the meatballs are cooked through.
30 min - 3
For the egg lemon sauce, whisk the eggs, lemon juice and cornflour in a bowl until frothy.
- 4
Whisk in 2 ladles of hot, not boiling, stock a spoonful at a time, to warm the eggs without scrambling them.
- 5
Take the pan off the heat. Slowly pour the egg mixture into the soup, shaking the pan gently. Return to the lowest heat for 2 minutes without boiling, until slightly thickened.
2 min - 6
Stir in the remaining herbs, season, and serve at once with crusty bread.
Tips
- Never let the soup boil after the egg and lemon go in. It will curdle.
- Whisk in the hot stock slowly. This tempering is the key step.
- Use short grain rice, which swells and holds the meatballs together.
- Serve with gluten free bread if needed.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten at once. Leftovers keep in the fridge for 1 day and the sauce may thicken. Reheat very gently, never above a simmer, until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
What does avgolemono mean?
Avgolemono is Greek for egg lemon. It is a sauce or soup base made by whisking egg and lemon juice into hot stock until silky.
Can I use lamb or pork mince?
Yes. Pork or lamb mince both work and are traditional. Choose a mince with a little fat for the tenderest meatballs.
Is it gluten free and dairy free?
Yes. It uses cornflour, rice and no dairy. It contains egg, so it is not egg free.
More made with homemade chicken stock
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.