Chicken with Preserved Lemon Soup

5.0 from 1 vote

Chicken with Preserved Lemon Soup is one of those quiet dishes that doesn’t shout for attention, but once you taste it, you remember it for a long time. It’s light, gentle, and deeply comforting in a way that feels almost emotional. The smell alone brings back memories for me before the soup even finishes cooking.

This is a simple Khmer home-style soup that many families know, especially those who grew up with preserved foods in the kitchen. Preserved lemon has a strong smell when you first cut into it, but once it simmers with chicken, it softens into something warm and soothing.

Whenever I make Chicken with Preserved Lemon Soup, the kitchen feels calm. There’s no rushing, no complicated steps, just the slow sound of simmering water and the quiet comfort of a familiar recipe passed down through generations.

Why You’ll Love This Soup

This soup is incredibly easy to make, even if you’ve never cooked soup before. Everything goes into one pot, and there’s very little chopping or measuring involved.

The flavor is clean and comforting. The preserved lemon adds a gentle sourness that wakes up your appetite without being sharp or overwhelming. It pairs beautifully with tender chicken and a light, clear broth.

It’s also the kind of soup that feels good to eat when you’re tired, feeling under the weather, or just craving something warm and nourishing. Simple food like this has a way of grounding you.

My Personal Experience

I remember this soup from childhood, usually made on quiet afternoons when the house felt slow and peaceful. My mother didn’t follow measurements. She cooked by smell and taste, lifting the lid to check the broth, adding a pinch of this or that.

Preserved lemon was always kept in a jar, tucked away but never forgotten. When it came out, I knew we were having something special, even though the ingredients were humble.

Now, when I make this soup in my own kitchen, I still pause when I smell the lemon simmering. It reminds me of home, of shared meals, of eating rice with soup while sitting together and talking about ordinary things.

Easy-to-Find Ingredients

This recipe uses ingredients that are easy to find in most markets, especially if you shop at Asian or Khmer grocery stores. Even preserved lemon, which sounds unusual, is often available in jars or sold whole.

You don’t need fancy spices or hard-to-find herbs. Everything works together naturally, letting the preserved lemon and chicken do most of the work.

That’s one of the things I love most about this dish. It doesn’t ask for much, just patience and care.

Ingredients List

1/2 chicken, cut into 8 pieces
1 whole preserved lemon, cut in half
2 cloves garlic
1/2 yellow onion, sliced
5 cups water
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 stalks green onion, chopped

Why These Ingredients Are Used

Chicken – Adds natural sweetness and makes the broth rich without being heavy
Preserved lemon – Gives the soup its signature aroma and gentle sour taste
Garlic – Adds warmth and depth to the broth
Yellow onion – Softens into the soup and adds mild sweetness
Fish sauce – Brings savory balance and traditional Khmer flavor
Sugar – Rounds out the sourness from the lemon
Salt and black pepper – Simple seasoning that keeps the soup clean
Green onion – Adds freshness right before serving

Cooking Equipment Needed

Soup pot – Large enough to hold the chicken and broth comfortably
Knife – For cutting chicken and vegetables
Cutting board – Keeps prep easy and safe
Ladle – For stirring and serving the soup

Cooking Instructions

Start by placing the chicken pieces into the soup pot. Add the preserved lemon, garlic, sliced onion, and water. Everything goes in together, which makes this recipe feel relaxed and forgiving.

Place the pot over medium heat and bring it to a gentle simmer. You’ll start to smell the lemon and garlic blending into the broth. Let it cook until the chicken becomes tender and easy to pierce with a fork.

Once the chicken is cooked, season the soup with fish sauce, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Taste the broth and adjust gently if needed. Finish by sprinkling chopped green onion over the top.

Step-by-Step Directions

Cut the chicken into pieces and rinse gently
Slice the onion and lightly crush the garlic
Place chicken, preserved lemon, garlic, onion, and water into a pot
Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat
Cook until chicken is tender, about 25–30 minutes
Add fish sauce, sugar, salt, and black pepper
Taste and adjust seasoning if needed
Turn off heat and top with green onion
Serve hot with rice

Tips for Best Flavor

Let the soup simmer gently, not boil hard
Do not add too much preserved lemon; one is enough
Taste slowly and adjust seasoning little by little
Use bone-in chicken for better broth flavor

Serving Suggestions

Serve hot with steamed jasmine rice
Enjoy as a light lunch or simple dinner
Pair with fresh vegetables or pickled sides
Best eaten fresh while warm

Final Thoughts

This Chicken with Preserved Lemon Soup may look simple, but it carries deep comfort and quiet tradition. It’s the kind of food that doesn’t need explaining at the table. You taste it, and you understand.

I hope this recipe finds its way into your kitchen on a calm day when you need something gentle and grounding. Sometimes, the simplest soups are the ones that stay with us the longest.

If you enjoy comforting soups like this, you might also love Banana Flowers with Coconut Chicken or Hot Sour Chicken Soup with Lotus Shoots, both recipes I often return to when I want something familiar and soothing.

For those curious about preserved lemons and their cultural use, you can explore traditional preservation methods through Asian preserved citrus guides which offer deeper insight into how these ingredients are used across generations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can I use fresh lemon instead of preserved lemon?

A: Fresh lemon will change the flavor completely. Preserved lemon is softer and less sharp.

Q: Can I store leftovers?

A: Yes, keep in the fridge for up to two days.

Q: Is this soup spicy?

A: No, it’s very mild and gentle.

Q: Can I use chicken breast only?

A: You can, but bone-in pieces give better flavor.

Chicken with Preserved Lemon Soup

Recipe by Cambodia Recipe

5.0 from 1 vote

Course: SoupCuisine: CambodianDifficulty: Easy

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Calories

220

kcal

Total time

minutes

Chicken with Preserved Lemon Soup is a simple Khmer home-style soup made with tender chicken, preserved lemon, and a light, aromatic broth. It’s easy to cook, comforting to eat, and perfect with warm rice.

Ingredients

Metric US

1/2 1/2 chicken, cut to 8 pieces
1 1 whole preserved lemon , cut in half
2 cloves 2 garlic
1/2 1/2 yellow onion, sliced
5 cups 5 water
1 tablespoon 1 fish sauce
1 teaspoon 1 sugar
1/2 teaspoon 1/2 salt
1/2 teaspoon 1/2 black pepper
2 2 stalks of green onion, chopped

Directions

Put chicken, preserved lemon, garlic, yellow onion and water in a soup pot, simmering till the meat tender.
Seasoning with fish sauce, sugar, salt and black pepper.
Top with green onion.