Skip to main content

Velvety Lemon Chicken Soup

4.2

(35)

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes about 4 1/2 cups, serving 2

Ingredients

1 lemon
2 chicken breast halves with skin and bones (about 3/4 pound)
2 3/4 cups chicken broth
10 snow pea pods
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons minced fresh flat-leafed parsley leaves

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    With a vegetable peeler remove two 2-inch-long strips zest from lemon and squeeze 1 teaspoon juice into a small cup. In a small saucepan simmer chicken and zest in broth, covered, 20 minutes, or until chicken is just cooked through. Transfer chicken to a bowl and pour broth through a sieve into a 4-cup measuring cup. Chill chicken until it is cool.

    Step 2

    While chicken is cooling, trim snow peas and cut diagonally into thin slivers. In a 2-quart saucepan heat butter over moderately low heat until foam subsides and stir in flour. Cook roux, stirring constantly, 2 minutes. Add broth and cream in a stream, whisking, and simmer, whisking, 2 minutes, or until soup thickens slightly. Remove pan from heat.

    Step 3

    When chicken is cool enough to handle, discard skin and bones and cut chicken into thin strips. Add chicken and snow peas to soup and simmer, stirring occasionally, 1 minute, or until peas are crisp-tender. Stir in lemon juice, parsley, and salt and pepper to taste.

Read More
Like cottage cheese caramelize onion dip and a lentil barley salad.
Using two entire lemons—pith, skin, and all—cranks up the citrus flavor in this classic dessert.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
This chicken salad nails it—creamy, herby, and endlessly riffable.
The magic of this hibachi chicken recipe comes from a combination of miso and peanut butter and how it beautifully caramelizes when it hits the grill.
This is the type of soup that, at first glance, might seem a little…unexciting. But you’re underestimating the power of mushrooms, which do the heavy lifting.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Chicken breasts reach their full potential in this spicy, saucy stir-fry with blistered green beans.