Spring Chicken Soup With Matzoh Balls Recipe Epicuriouscom

MOM'S CHICKEN SOUP WITH MATZOH BALLS, CARROTS, AND DILL

Steps:

• In a bowl, mix together matzoh meal, chicken fat and seltzer. Whisk eggs in a separate bowl until frothy. Stir into matzoh meal mix with 1 teaspoon salt. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
• Bring 2 quarts of chicken soup to a simmer. Take a small spoonful of the mixture and using two small spoons, shape the mixture into small balls (about the size of a large marble) and place in simmering soup. Cook for 35 minutes.
• Meanwhile, if you're making orzo, toast it in a dry, medium skillet over medium low heat, stirring often until it turns a light golden brown. Boil the orzo until al dente, drain and reserve for soup.
• Bring remaining 2 quarts of chicken stock to a boil. Cook carrots until al dente. Lower to a simmer, add cooked matzoh balls, orzo (if using), and dill. Serve very hot.

GREEN CHICKEN SOUP WITH DILL MATZO BALLS

Steps:

• For the soup:
• Place chicken, celery, carrots, onions, fennel, garlic, bay leaf, and parsley and dill with stems in a large pot. Add cold water to cover by 1". Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low. Gently simmer, partially covered, skimming off any foam that accumulates, until chicken is very tender and falling off the bone, about 1 1/2-2 hours.
• While the soup is simmering, make the matzo balls: Using a fork, mix together the eggs, oil, matzo meal, seltzer water, dill, and 2 tsp. salt in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and keep water at a simmer.
• Moisten your hands with water. Scoop out a rounded tablespoonful of chilled matzo ball batter and very gently pat into a 1" ball (avoid squeezing too hard or rolling too much). Drop into simmering water and repeat with remaining batter. Cover pot and gently simmer until matzo balls are tender and puffed, 40-45 minutes. Drain matzo balls and return to the pot; cover and keep in a warm place.
• Remove chicken and vegetables from the chicken broth with a slotted spoon and transfer to a cutting board; let rest until cool enough to handle. Meanwhile, strain broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl, discarding solids. Return the strained broth to the pot. Using your fingers, remove chicken meat from bones and shred into bite-sized pieces. Slice vegetables into bite-size pieces. Place chicken and vegetables in broth, cover pot, and set aside in a warm place until ready to serve.
• To serve, add kale to broth and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until kale softens, 3-5 minutes. Season soup generously with salt and pepper.
• Divide matzo balls among bowls and ladle soup on top. Garnish with chopped parsley and dill before serving.
• Do Ahead
• Matzo balls can be cooled to room temperature, then stored, covered, in the fridge up to 1 day. Soup can be made until just before adding kale, cooled to room temperature, then stored in a covered container in the fridge up to 1 day. Reheat, then add kale and simmer for a few minutes before serving.

LEMON-SCENTED CHICKEN SOUP WITH PARSLEY-SAGE MATZO BALLS

Steps:

• Place chicken in large bowl. Add boiling water to cover. Let stand 2 minutes; drain well. Using small knife, scrape skin to remove any surface fat. Rinse with cold water; drain again. Bring 5 quarts water to boil in heavy large pot. Add chicken. Return to boil, skimming impurities . Cook until broth is clear, skimming as needed and stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Add onions, yam, carrots, parsnips, and celery. Partially cover and reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until chicken and vegetables are tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Add dill and parsley to soup; simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand 1 hour. Strain into clean pot. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Chill uncovered until cold, then cover and chill.) Add matzo balls to soup and rewarm over medium heat. Season to taste with lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Ladle into bowls. Add 1 lemon slice and matzo balls to each.

CHICKEN SOUP WITH ASPARAGUS AND SHIITAKES, SERVED WITH ROASTED FENNEL MATZO BALLS

Steps:

• Prepare the matzo balls: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Cut off the fennel stalks and reserve for another use (excellent for fish broths and stews). If there are some attractive feathery fronds, set aside about 2 tablespoons of them to garnish the soup. Quarter the bulbs and trim away the stems, the bottom hard core, and any tough parts. Choose a shallow baking pan just large enough to fit the fennel in one layer and put in 1 tablespoon of the oil. Add the fennel and toss until well coated. Roast the fennel until pale gold, about 20 minutes, then turn the fennel over and roast for 10 minutes longer. Stir in the broth, garlic, salt and pepper to taste, and 1/2 teaspoon of the thyme. Cover the pan with foil and cook for 35 to 45 minutes longer, or until the fennel is very soft. Remove the foil, stir, and roast for a few more minutes to evaporate most of the liquid. Transfer the fennel and garlic to a food processor and chop coarsely. Add the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of thyme, salt (it will need about 1 teaspoon), pepper to taste, and the fennel seeds, if using. With the machine on, add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil through the feed tube.
• Scrape the mixture into a large bowl. You need 1 cup of puree, so nosh on any extra. Whisk in the eggs, one at a time. Add the matzo meal and stir well. If you can form a lump into a very soft walnut-size ball (the batter will become firmer when you chill it), don't add any more matzo meal. If necessary, add just enough matzo meal to enable you to do so. Refrigerate for at least 2 or up to 4 hours so the matzo meal can drink in the liquid and seasoning.
• When ready to cook, bring 4 quarts water and 1 tablespoon of salt to a rapid boil in a large, wide, lidded pot. Dipping your hands into cold water if needed, roll the batter into walnut-size balls. When all the balls are rolled and the water is boiling furiously, turn the heat down to a gentle boil. Carefully slide in the balls one at a time and cover the pot tightly.
• Turn the heat down to a simmer, and cook over low heat for 30 minutes, without removing the cover. (They will cook by direct heat as well as by steam, which makes them puff and swell, and lifting the lid will allow some of that steam to escape.) Take out a dumpling and cut it in half. It should be light, fluffy and completely cooked through. If it isn't, continue cooking a few more minutes. Remove the balls gently with a skimmer or large slotted spoon-they are too fragile to pour into a colander.
• When the matzo balls are almost ready, start the soup: Bring the broth to a simmer in a large pot. Add the matzo balls, the mushrooms, and asparagus and simmer for about 5 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer the matzo balls to shallow soup bowls and ladle the hot soup and the vegetables over them. Garnish with the reserved chopped fennel fronds.

MURIEL'S CHICKEN SOUP WITH ALMOND MATZO BALLS

Steps:

• Make matzo balls:
• Beat together eggs and oil in a bowl. Add matzo meal, almonds, dill, salt, pepper, cinnamon, and 1/3 cup stock, stirring until blended. Cover surface of mixture with plastic wrap and chill at least 2 hours.
• Shape and cook matzo balls:
• Bring a 6-quart pot of salted water to a simmer.
• Roll matzo mixture into 1-inch balls (about 25) with dampened hands and transfer to an oiled plate.
• Cook matzo balls in simmering water, covered, until cooked through, about 40 minutes. To test for doneness, halve a matzo ball: It should have a moist, uniform texture (if it's not quite ready, there will be a dry, yellowish center).
• While matzo balls are cooking, bring remaining 6 cups stock to a simmer and season with salt and pepper. Transfer matzo balls with a slotted spoon to broth and simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes. Serve hot.

CHICKEN SOUP WITH WILD MUSHROOMS AND HERBED MATZO BALLS

Steps:

• For Soup:
• Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add chicken and onions and cook until brown, stirring frequently, about 15 minutes. Add 12 cups water, celery, parsley and bay leaves. Bring to boil, skimming surface. Reduce heat and simmer gently until reduced to 8 cups, about 5 hours. Strain into bowl. Cover and refrigerate until fat solidifies on top. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead.)
• Remove fat form soup and reserve fat for matzo balls.
• For Matzo Balls:
• Place shiitake mushrooms in small bowl. Pour 2 cups hot water over. Let soak until softened, about 30 minutes.
• Melt 1/3 cup chicken fat and cool. Combine melted chicken fat, 1/4 cup shiitake soaking liquid (reserve remainder), eggs, 2 tablespoons chives, 1 1/2 tablespoons tarragon, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in medium bowl and beat to blend. Mix in matzo meal. Cover and refrigerate 3 hours. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover mushrooms in soaking liquid and refrigerate.)
• Measure 3 1/2 quarts water into large pot. Salt generously and bring to boil. With dampened hands, form cold matzo meal mixture into 1-inch balls and add to boiling water. Cover and boil until matzo balls are cooked through and tender, about 40 minutes. (To test for doneness, remove 1 matzo ball and cut open.) Transfer matzo balls to plate, using slotted spoon. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover tightly and refrigerate.)
• Drain mushrooms, reserving liquid. Thinly slice mushrooms, discarding stems. Combine remaining mushroom soaking liquid, mushrooms, chicken soup and 1 teaspoon fresh tarragon in heavy large saucepan and bring to simmer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add matzo balls and simmer until heated through. ladle soup into bowls. Garnish with chives and serve.

CHICKEN SOUP

Steps:

• Make broth and cook chicken Place chicken in a large stockpot (it should be just large enough to hold chicken with 3 inches of room on top). Add vegetables, herbs, peppercorns, salt, and enough water or stock to just cover chicken. Bring to a boil, skimming foam from surface as necessary, then reduce heat and simmer until chicken is just cooked through (the juices should run clear when pierced and an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part should register 160°F for breasts and 165°F for legs and thighs), 7 to 10 minutes for breasts and 10 to 15 minutes for legs and thighs. Use tongs to remove each part as soon as it is finished cooking. (The meat will be added back to the soup later, so it is important not to overcook.) When cool enough to handle, pull off and discard the skin, then separate the meat from the bones and tear into bite-size pieces (or dice for a more elegant presentation). You should have about 3 cups chicken (reserve 2 cups for soup and the rest for another use).
• Fortify broth Cover chicken and refrigerate until needed. Return the bones to the pot and simmer broth for another hour.
• Strain broth and add garnish vegetables Strain broth through a fine sieve, discarding solids. You should have about 6 cups of broth (add more water if necessary). Skim off fat, then add broth to clean pot. Add carrots, celery, and parsnip, and return to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the vegetables are tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Add reserved 2 cups chicken and cook just to heat through. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve immediately. The chicken and broth can be made up to 3 days ahead. Refrigerate separately in covered containers, then proceed to finish the soup. If making ahead (or if you desire a lighter broth), refrigerate the broth at least overnight to allow the fat to accumulate at the top, then lift off with a spoon before proceeding.
• CHICKEN SOUP WITH SPRING VEGETABLES
• Follow the recipe above to cook the chicken and make the broth. Replace garnish vegetables (celery, carrot, and parsnip) with 3 ounces green beans, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (3/4 cup), and 3 ounces shelled (or frozen) peas (1/2 cup). Simmer soup until beans and peas are crisp-tender and bright green, about 5 minutes, then add 1 cup watercress (tough stems removed) and simmer just to wilt slightly, about 30 seconds. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately. Serves 6 to 8.
• MATZO BALL SOUP
• Make broth and cook chicken as directed above, reserving meat for another use. Strain broth and pour 1/4 cup into a medium bowl (reserve the rest for serving); whisk in 2 large egg yolks (reserve whites), 2 tablespoons melted chicken fat (also called schmaltz; available from a butcher), 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt, and a generous pinch of freshly ground pepper (or more as desired). Stir in 1/2 cup matzo meal and 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley. Beat reserved egg whites on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, then stir into matzo mixture until smooth. Cover and refrigerate mixture until slightly thickened, about 30 minutes.
• Bring 4 cups water and 2 cups reserved chicken broth to a boil in a large pot; add 1 tablespoon coarse salt. Using 2 tablespoons at a time, roll matzo mixture into balls, then drop into pot with a spoon. Reduce heat, cover, and gently simmer until matzo balls are cooked through, about 15 minutes (do not overcook; they should be only slightly firm). Transfer 2 matzo balls to each of four serving bowls. Meanwhile, bring remaining 4 cups broth to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add 1 carrot, peeled and sliced into coins, and reduce heat to a simmer; cook until the carrot is tender, about 5 minutes. Ladle broth and carrot into bowls and garnish with coarsely chopped fresh dill or parsley, if desired. Serves 6 to 8.

CHICKEN SOUP WITH MATZOH BALLS

Steps:

• 1. Beat together the eggs and 1/2 cup of the stock. (If you would prefer very light matzoh balls, separate the eggs and beat the yolks with the stock. Beat the whites until almost stiff and fold them in after adding the matzoh meal.)
• 2. Stir in the onion, fat, salt, and pepper. Add the matzoh meal; the dough should be quite moist, barely stiff enough to make into balls. If it is too moist, add a little more meal.
• 3. Cover the mixture and refrigerate for an hour or overnight. When you're ready to cook, place a large pot of salted water to boil. (You can also cook the matzoh balls directly in your stock, but use the larger quantity of stock; the balls absorb a lot of liquid.) Using wet hands, shape the mixture into small balls, about 1 inch in diameter. Meanwhile, cook the carrots in the 5 1/2 cups stock.
• 4. Turn the heat under the boiling water to medium-low and cook the balls until expanded and set, about 30 minutes. Set them in soup bowls and ladle the stock and carrots over them, then garnish with lots of parsley.