I made this the day you posted it and all I can say is, where has this soup been all my life?? So good and so cozy. ~Tabitha
The headliners of matzo ball soup are the matzo balls
Without them, you just have chicken soup. They remind me that, with a little ingenuity, you can make the most delicious things from the humblest ingredients. Traditional matzo balls are made with not much more than cracker meal and eggs. But in the hands of a skilled cook they turn into tasty buoyant little dumplings.
what you’ll need to make matzo ball soup
MATZO BALLS
I’m foregoing the prepackaged mixes and making mine from scratch with matzo crackers.
- eggs
- vegetable oil
- finely ground matzo
- I grind my own from matzo crackers in my food processor
- salt
- seltzer water, or broth
- fresh dill
SOUP
- butter
- onion
- carrots
- celery
- I use the inner stalks and chop the leaves, too
- chicken stock
- cooked chicken
- I used the breast meat from a rotisserie chicken
- bay leaves
- salt and fresh pepper
- fresh parsley
Matzo is a simple flat cracker made from flour and water. It’s basically an unleavened bread traditionally eaten during Passover to commemorate the ancient Jews’ hasty exodus from Egypt. It’s easily ground up in a food processor and it yields better, fresher results than packaged mixes. Like graham cracker crumbs made fresh from the crackers…why on earth pay somebody else to smash up crackers for you?
One beaten egg, a tiny bit of oil, and a little broth or water makes these basic dumplings. Lots of fresh dill makes them more colorful and interesting.
In the venerable old delis here in Los Angeles they make their matzo balls huge. They give you one ginormous ball that fills your entire bowl, and it can be a little overwhelming. You have to attack it with a knife and fork. I like mine more on the delicate side, both in size and in texture.
And don’t forget that matzo balls expand as they simmer, so you’ll always end up with bigger dumplings after they’re cooked.
A great comforting soup can get you through a LOT. Here are a few of my favorites on the blog when you feel the need:
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Matzo Ball Soup
Ingredients
matzo balls
- 2 large eggs
- 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup finely ground matzo
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp seltzer water, or broth
- 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh dill
soup
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 5 stalks celery, sliced (I use the inner stalks and chop the leaves, too)
- 8 cups chicken stock
- 3 cups cooked chicken meat, I used the breast meat from a rotisserie chicken
- 2 bay leaves
- salt and fresh pepper to taste
- large handful fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- First make the matzo balls. Beat the eggs and add in the oil.
- Mix in the matzoh and salt.
- Add the water and dill and mix thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
- Using a scoop or small spoon, make rounded balls out of the dough and set on a tray. I used a 1 1/4 inch scoop and got 21 balls.
- Bring lots of salted water to a boil and drop the matzoh balls in. Cover, lower the heat slightly, and let them simmer for about 15 minutes. Gently remove them to a plate.
- To make the soup, melt the butter in a soup pot and saute the onion and carrot for about 10 minutes.
- Add the celery and cook for another few minutes.
- Add in the stock, chicken meat, bay leaves and salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook gently for about 15 minutes. Don’t cook so long that the carrots become soft and mushy.
- Just before serving, put the matzo balls into the soup and heat them through.
- Finish with a large handful of chopped fresh parsley and garnish with some dill leaves.
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sue: the traditional way to cook the matzo balls is to use schmaltz ( rendered chicken fat) instead of oil. It makes the flavor of the matzo balls soo intense
ABSOLUTELY!
Schmaltz ‘makes’ the matzo balls. You can buy a package of chicken fat at the grocery store or butcher shop.
Also, if you like fluffy matzo balls (that float) substitute seltzer for the water ingredient. If you like dense matzo balls (that sink) use the water.
Sorry, I didn’t mean to write ‘substitute’; I meant ‘use’.
Seltzer = fluffy matzoh balls & Water/Broth = dense matzoh balls.
Gut yontif, everyone!
Lovely soup! So colorful it must be healthy! The dill is a nice touch.
I have never had matzo-ball soup. It looks delicious and the dill must add a brightness to the bland crackers. Great looking bowl of soup!
What a beautiful bowl of soup! so healthy and delicious – love the matzo balls – Mary x
There is something beautiful about a simple chicken soup, especially as we head into fall after a long hot summer!
How did you make those crackers?!! Do share. They look amazing. I love when people make things from scratch like this…graham crackers, wheat thins…..
Oh gosh, that would be beyond my patience…they are just the regular matzo that come in a box. I think most grocery stores carry them in one section or another. Would be fun to try to make them, though!
That is a beautiful soup and great information. I’ve never even tried Matzo Balls or Matzo Ball Soup – yes I live under a rock. Just one question – where’s the bacon???
I had my fill of bacon yesterday, I’m officially moving on…
bwahahaha, I burst out laughing at this, Tricia. I’ve never tried matzo balls either, so apparently, we share a rock. I’ll share some bacon, too.
I made this the day you posted it and all I can say is, where has this soup been all my life? So good and so cozy.
You’re one up on me, I don’t think I’ve ever made dumplings.
My sister serves matzo soup (non-homemade) on a semi-regular basis, but I have never tried it and had no idea what was in it. This sounds much much better than regular dumplings that don’t appeal to me at all!
I agree, regular dumplings are kind of gross and glutenous. These are much better.
I honestly had no idea how to make Matzo balls…I admit it. I had no idea that you just food process up the crackers! My husband would love it if I’d make this. He loves his matzo ball soup! Hope you had an easy fast yesterday if you were fasting!
Thanks Averie—I think it’s a great kid friendly soup, too.