In the realm of Jewish cuisine, matzo balls reign supreme, a culinary delight that has captivated taste buds for generations. These ethereal dumplings, crafted from a mixture of matzo meal, eggs, and schmaltz, possess a tender, fluffy texture that harmonizes perfectly with the rich, savory broth they inhabit. While every cook has their own cherished recipe, the variations presented in this article, ranging from the classic to the innovative, offer a diverse culinary journey that will satisfy even the most discerning palate.
From the traditional matzo ball soup, a comforting classic that epitomizes Jewish comfort food, to the adventurous matzo ball sliders, an ingenious fusion of flavors that marries the classic dumpling with the beloved burger, this article presents a tantalizing array of recipes that showcase the versatility of this iconic dish. Whether you seek the nostalgic warmth of Margot's Matzo Balls, the creative flair of Matzo Ball and Vegetable Soup, or the indulgent decadence of Matzo Ball Sliders, this culinary exploration promises an unforgettable taste experience that will leave you craving more. So, embark on this culinary adventure, discover the secrets of crafting the perfect matzo ball, and elevate your culinary repertoire with these exceptional recipes that celebrate the essence of this beloved Jewish delicacy.
BEST MATZAH BALLS
These can be tricky to get the right consistency. After years of experimenting with the basic recipe, I found these to come out soft but not falling apart. If you like firm/hard-middle matzah balls, either reduce the seltzer or add 1/4 cup matzah meal.
Provided by Weekend Cook
Categories Side Dish
Time 1h15m
Yield 16
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Whisk eggs and olive oil in a bowl until combined; stir both amounts of club soda and salt into egg mixture. Mix matzo meal into wet ingredients to form a workable dough; if mixture is too wet, stir in 1/4 cup more matzo meal. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Wet your hands and form matzo ball dough into walnut-size balls. Gently place matzo balls into boiling water. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer matzo balls until tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 105.8 calories, Carbohydrate 10.2 g, Cholesterol 46.5 mg, Fat 6.4 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 2.7 g, SaturatedFat 1.1 g, Sodium 98.5 mg, Sugar 0.3 g
MARGOT'S MATZO BALLS
Martha Stewart Living commissary chef Margot Olshan shares her family's recipe for this holiday favorite. Use matzo balls, which are flavored with fresh dill, to make Margot's Matzo Ball Soup.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dinner Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- In a small bowl, combine chicken fat, eggs, matzo meal, and salt. Add the water and the dill; mix until just combined. Cover with plastic wrap, and chill for 15 minutes.
- Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and drop 1-inch balls of chilled matzo mixture into water. Cover, and cook for 35 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon. The matzo balls may be prepared in advance and stored refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
MATZO BALLS
Provided by Ina Garten
Time 55m
Yield 18 to 20 matzo balls
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Whisk together the egg yolks, chicken stock, chicken fat, parsley, and salt. Stir in the matzo meal. In the bowl of an electric mixer with a whisk attachment, whip the egg whites with a pinch of salt until they are stiff. Whisk them into the matzo mixture until it is smooth. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes, or until the mixture is thick.
- Form balls the size of golf balls by shaping them with 2 spoons, rolling them with your hands, or scooping them with a small ice cream scoop. Drop them into simmering chicken stock and cook for 30 minutes, or until fully cooked and puffed, turning once. Remove and serve hot in chicken soup.
VEGAN MATZO BALL SOUP
The actress Natalie Portman was seeking a good vegan matzo ball soup, and the result is this recipe: soft matzo balls that hold together thanks to a little help from chickpeas. Matzo meal, potato starch, a little olive oil and lots of ginger, dill and cilantro lend plenty of flavor, while chickpea water (known as aquafaba) provides binding that would otherwise come from eggs. You can use the liquid from canned chickpeas, but the liquid from dry chickpeas soaked, then cooked in water works best. Ginger and nutmeg are characteristics of German-Jewish matzo balls, while the Yemenite addition of cilantro and dill adds even more brightness and flavor. Natalie is right: "It's a very sad world without good matzo balls."
Provided by Joan Nathan
Categories soups and stews, appetizer, main course, side dish
Time 4h
Yield 4 to 6 servings (about 20 matzo balls)
Number Of Ingredients 23
Steps:
- Make the matzo balls: In a medium bowl, mix the matzo meal, potato starch, parsley, cilantro, ginger, dill, nutmeg, baking soda and baking powder with 2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add the olive oil and enough chickpea liquid to make a slightly sticky mixture that's not too wet or loose, about the texture of oatmeal. (The matzo meal will absorb lots of the liquid.) Refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
- Make the broth: In a large pot, bring the broth to a boil. Add the carrots, celery, kohlrabi, leek, onion, olive oil and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer, covered, until the vegetables are crisp-tender, about 10 minutes, then remove from heat.
- When the matzo mix is cold, return the broth to a low simmer. Dip your hands in cold water and form 1 1/2-inch matzo balls, about the size of a large walnut. You should have about 20 matzo balls.
- Carefully drop the matzo balls into the broth, cover and simmer without disturbing them until tender but firm, about 20 minutes. Divide among bowls. Garnish with lots of fresh herbs, and, if you want more punch to your soup, serve with some zhug or harissa.
JOAN NATHAN'S MATZO BALL SOUP
For children (and arguably most adults), the most welcome Passover dish is chicken soup with matzo balls. My matzo balls, neither heavy as lead nor light as a feather, are al dente, infused with fresh ginger and nutmeg. I like to freeze them, and the soup, in advance.
Provided by Joan Nathan
Categories appetizer
Time 4h15m
Yield About 15 matzo balls
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine the eggs, schmaltz, stock, matzo meal, nutmeg, ginger and parsley. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Gently mix with a whisk or spoon. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 3 hours or overnight.
- To shape and cook the matzo balls, fill a wide, deep pan with lightly salted water and bring to a boil. With wet hands, take some of the mix and mold it into the size and shape of a Ping-Pong ball. Gently drop it into the boiling water, repeating until all the mix is used.
- Cover the pan, reduce heat to a lively simmer and cook matzo balls about 30 to 40 minutes for al dente, longer for light. If desired, the cooked matzo balls can be transferred to chicken or vegetable soup and served immediately. Alternatively, they may be placed on a baking sheet and frozen, then transferred to a freezer bag and kept frozen until a few hours before serving; reheat in chicken or vegetable soup or broth.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 67, UnsaturatedFat 1 gram, Carbohydrate 4 grams, Fat 5 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 2 grams, SaturatedFat 4 grams, Sodium 60 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams, TransFat 0 grams
Tips:
- Use high-quality matzo meal. Fresh matzo meal will produce lighter and fluffier matzo balls.
- Do not overmix the matzo meal and eggs. Overmixing will make the matzo balls tough.
- Let the matzo ball mixture rest for at least 30 minutes before cooking. This will allow the matzo meal to absorb the liquid and produce a more tender matzo ball.
- Bring the soup to a boil before adding the matzo balls. This will help the matzo balls to cook evenly.
- Do not overcrowd the pot when cooking the matzo balls. This will prevent them from sticking together.
- Cook the matzo balls for at least 20 minutes, or until they are cooked through. You can check if they are done by inserting a toothpick into the center of a matzo ball. If the toothpick comes out clean, the matzo ball is cooked.
- Serve the matzo balls immediately in soup or broth.
Conclusion:
Matzo balls are a delicious and versatile dish, perfect for any occasion. They are easy to make and can be customized to your taste. Whether you like them light and fluffy or dense and chewy, there is a matzo ball recipe out there for you. So next time you are looking for a comforting and satisfying meal, give matzo balls a try.
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