Description
This Lemon Chicken & Spaetzle Soup is a comforting and flavorful dish with a bright, citrusy twist. Tender chicken, homemade spaetzle dumplings, and a variety of vegetables simmer in a light and fragrant broth, making it a satisfying and wholesome meal.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Soup:
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 3 large eggs
- 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, finely chopped
- Fresh dill, for garnish
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
For the Spaetzle:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup milk
Instructions
- Simmer Broth and Sauté Vegetables: In a large pot, bring chicken broth to a gentle simmer. In a separate pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté onion, garlic, celery, and carrots until softened. Add the sautéed vegetables to the simmering broth.
- Temper Eggs: In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs and lemon juice until frothy. Slowly whisk in 1 cup of the hot broth to temper the eggs.
- Make Spaetzle: In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, and nutmeg. In another bowl, whisk together eggs and milk. Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring until a smooth batter forms.
- Cook Spaetzle: Add the spaetzle batter to the simmering soup in small portions (using a spaetzle maker, a colander with large holes, or a spoon). Cook until the spaetzle float to the surface, about 2-3 minutes.
- Combine and Season: Gradually whisk the tempered egg mixture into the soup. Heat gently without boiling. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with fresh dill.
Notes
- Spaetzle: If you don’t have a spaetzle maker, you can use a colander with large holes or simply drop spoonfuls of batter into the soup.
- Chicken: You can use cooked chicken if you prefer, adding it to the soup at the end with the spaetzle.
- Variations:
- Add other vegetables, such as spinach, mushrooms, or peas.
- Use a different type of fresh herb for garnish, such as parsley or chives.
- For a richer flavor, use homemade chicken stock.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
