Yiayias Greek Chicken Recipes

YIAYIA'S GARLIC CHICKEN

Steps:

• Cut slits in chicken (2 or 3 per piece), place in casserole dish.
• Combine oil, garlic, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Pour over chicken, making sure most of the garlic pieces stay on the chicken. Poke some down in the slits too.
• Sprinkle with oregano.
• Cover with foil tightly.
• Bake 375 30-45 minutes, until chicken is done.
• Serve with rice, spoon oil and lemon from pan over the rice.

YIA YIA CHICKEN AVGOLEMONO SOUP

Steps:

• In a large stock pot, bring 10 cups water, celery, carrots, onions, chicken, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper to a boil. Lower the heat to medium-high and simmer until the vegetables are soft and the chicken is cooked, 45 minutes to an hour. Strain the vegetables and chicken, making sure to reserve all liquids.
• Put back all the original liquids into the stock pot, plus 3 more cups water and the rice. Bring to a boil, and then lower the heat to medium.
• Meanwhile, remove the meat from the chicken, shred and put to the side. Put the vegetables in a blender and puree, and put to the side. Put the egg whites in the blender and beat on high for 2 minutes. Add the yolks, lemon juice and cornstarch.
• When the rice is almost completely cooked, add the veggie puree, shredded chicken and the remaining salt and pepper. Take off the heat. Temper the egg mixture by adding about 1 cup hot soup to the blender while blending on low, making sure not to scramble the eggs! Slowly add the egg mixture to the pot, stirring constantly. Taste for salt and pepper.

YIAYIA'S EASY GREEK CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Cook and stir chicken in 3 Tbsp. dressing in large skillet on medium heat 8 to 10 min. or until done.
• Toss salad greens with remaining ingredients in large bowl. Add remaining dressing; mix lightly.
• Place salad on platter; top with chicken.

YIA-YIA'S AVGOLEMONO

Steps:

• Bring the chicken broth to a boil.
• Add the orzo noodles to the broth and cook, covered, on a very low boil, until the noodles are al dente- it should take 8-12 minutes, roughly.
• While the orzo is cooking, separate the whites from yolks, and put the whites in a very large mixing bowl.
• Beat the whites until they're as fluffy as you can get them.
• Add almost all of the juice from the lemon (keep a little left over in a small bowl- people will use this later for adjusting the taste of their own soup).
• Beat the egg-lemon mixture again, get it very fluffy.
• Add the yolks, and beat.
• When the orzo noodles are done, remove the pot from the heat.
• Add one ladleful of broth (avoid the noodles) to the egg-lemon mixture, and beat until fluffy.
• Continue, one ladle at a time, until you can't get any broth out of the pot.
• Pour the contents of the bowl back into the pot, and cook it slightly below a boil for just a few minutes.
• DO NOT allow it to boil- the eggs will cook too much and you will get a grainy white residue in your soup.
• Serve immediately with thick bread and offer the extra lemon juice to anyone who would like their soup to be more citrusy.

YIA YIA'S AVGOLEMONO

Steps:

• Place the chicken, salt, onion, carrots, celery, and water into a stock pot. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until the chicken is tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Skim away any scum that forms as the chicken simmers.
• Strain and reserve the broth in a clean pot. Pick the meat from the chicken, discarding the bones, skin, and vegetables. Cut the meat into small pieces, and set aside. Bring the broth to a boil over medium heat and stir in the orzo pasta. Let simmer 20 minutes.
• While the orzo is cooking, beat the egg whites to stiff peaks, then whisk in the egg yolks until completely incorporated. Measure out 2 cups of the simmering broth, and combine it with the lemon juice. Slowly pour the lemon mixture into the eggs while whisking continuously until incorporated.
• When the orzo is nearly done, return the chicken meat to the soup, and cook until reheated. Stir in the egg mixture, stirring gently until incorporated into the soup. Serve immediately.