Horseradish Matzo Ball Soup Recipes

HORSERADISH MATZO BALL SOUP

Steps:

• In a large pot, combine chicken, onions, celery, 2 carrots, 1 parsnip, garlic, 1 tablespoon salt, parsley stems (reserve leaves), dill stems (reserve leaves), thyme branches, bay leaves, peppercorns and cloves. Add enough water to cover everything by 1 inch.
• Bring liquid to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer gently for 2 hours. Skim foam and fat frequently with a slotted spoon.
• While the stock simmers, prepare the matzo ball mixture. In a large bowl, stir together the eggs, oil, 1/4 cup reserved broth, matzo meal, horseradish, allspice, ground pepper and 1 teaspoon salt. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 2 to 3 hours.
• Strain stock through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl (you should have about 2 1/2 quarts) and set aside to cool. Reserve chicken for another purpose; discard vegetables. Broth can be made up to three days ahead and refrigerated.
• Bring a large, wide pot of salted water to a boil. Using water-moistened hands, roll the matzo ball mixture into 1½-inch balls. Use a slotted spoon to lower into the boiling water; reduce heat and simmer matzo balls until very tender, about 50 minutes to 1 hour.
• Put reserved chicken broth in a pot, bring to a simmer, and season with more salt and pepper if necessary. Thinly slice the remaining carrot and parsnip. Add the vegetables to the broth and cook until just tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Spoon a few matzo balls into the bottom of each serving bowl and ladle hot broth and vegetables on top. Garnish with parsley and dill.

JOAN NATHAN'S MATZO BALL SOUP

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.

MATZOH BALL SOUP

Steps:

• Trim off neck flap all the way up to the top of the wishbone. Trim fat and skin from around the back cavity of the chicken. Reserve both for schmaltz and grebenes. Cut chicken into quarters. Place meat in large pot with onions, and cover with about 4 quarts water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat , and simmer 2 hours.
• Add carrots and celery to the soup; simmer an additional hour. Season to taste with salt.
• Remove chicken pieces, and set aside. You may reserve them for another use, or shred the meat for the soup. Keep the chicken covered, and at room temperature before shredding.
• Dice reserved skin and fat into 1 inch pieces. Cook in a heavy bottomed skillet over medium heat, turning occasionally. Make sure the pan never gets so hot as to cause the rendered fat to smoke. When the grebenes are crisp and brown, remove them to a cutting board and drain schmaltz into a small nonplastic bowl to cool slightly. When cool enough to handle, mince the grebenes finely.
• To make the matzoh balls, blend fat or oil and eggs together. Mix matzoh meal and salt together. Combine the two mixtures, and mix well. Add 4 1/2 tablespoons soup stock or water; mix until uniform. Stir in minced grebenes. Cover bowl, and place in refrigerator for 20 minutes.
• Bring soup to a boil. Reduce flame, and drop balls approximately 1 inch in diameter into the slightly boiling water. Add dill. Cover pot, and cook 30 to 40 minutes. DO NOT REMOVE THE COVER FROM THE POT WHLE COOKING!