Best Bubbies Hearty Matzo Ball Soup Recipes

BETTER THAN BUBBE'S MATZO BALL SOUP

Steps:

• In pot over high heat, combine chicken with 5 quarts water or enough to cover. Bring to a boil, skimming foam as needed; reduce heat to medium-low. Meanwhile, cut half the carrots and parsnips into 2" pieces. Halve the remaining carrots and parsnips lengthwise. Cut into 1/2" pieces; set aside. To soup add celery, onion, garlic, and reserved large carrot and parsnip pieces; simmer 1 hour. Add next 4 ingredients; simmer about 30 minutes. Strain, reserving broth and chicken.
• Discard skin from chicken. Pull meat from bones; cut or tear into bite-sized pieces. Return broth to same pot over medium heat; add remaining carrots and parsnips. Simmer until vegetables are almost tender, about 10 minutes. Add chicken; heat well, about 5 minutes. Stir in last 4 soup ingredients. Cover; set aside.
• Meanwhile, in a skillet over low heat cook reserved chicken fat, stirring occasionally, until melted and solids begin to brown, 30 minutes. Strain fat, discarding solids. Measure melted fat; add enough vegetable oil to equal 1/3 cup, if necessary.
• In small pot over medium heat, combine schmaltz, eggs, salt, pepper, and seltzer . Stir in matzo meal. Cover; refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
• Fill skillet halfway with water or chicken broth. Place over high heat; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium. With lightly moistened hands, shape tablespoonfuls of matzo mixture into balls. Gently add to simmering water or broth.
• Cover; simmer until all matzo balls are cooked through, about 20 minutes. using a slotted spoon transfer matzo balls to soup. Let stand 15 minutes to allow matzo balls absorb flavors of soup. Reheat, if necessary, and serve.

MATZO BALL SOUP

Steps:

• Place the chicken in a large pot so it fits snugly and fill the pot with enough water to cover the chicken by 1 inch. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes, using a ladle to skim the foam that rises to the surface. Add the garlic, bay leaves, peppercorns and 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon salt and continue cooking for another 30 minutes. Skim any fat that rises to the surface and reserve. You should have about 1/4 cup -- if necessary, add vegetable oil to equal 1/4 cup and set aside to cool slightly. Add the celery, carrots, onion and parsley sprigs to the pot and continue to cook until the vegetables are soft and the chicken is tender but not falling apart, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the eggs and chicken fat in a medium bowl, then stir in the seltzer, chopped dill, matzo meal and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt until combined; cover and refrigerate. Chill until the mixture is firm, at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours.
• When the chicken is cooked, carefully remove it from the broth with a slotted spoon and place on a rimmed baking sheet along with the vegetables; let cool. Return the broth to a simmer. Scoop heaping tablespoons of the matzo mixture, using your hands to gently roll them into balls (wet your hands to prevent sticking). Carefully drop the matzo balls into the simmering broth. Cover and simmer on low until the matzo balls are completely cooked through and fluffy, about 1 hour.
• While the matzo balls cook, pick the meat from the chicken and roughly chop it, discarding the skin and bones. Slice the celery and carrots into 1/4-inch-thick pieces and discard the onion and aromatics.
• When ready to serve, return the chicken, celery and carrots to the broth. Increase the heat to high to bring the soup to a simmer, then remove from the heat. Gently ladle the soup in to serving bowls, being careful not to break up the matzo balls. Top with fresh chopped dill and serve.

MATZO BALL SOUP

Steps:

• Place chicken in a large soup kettle; add the broth, 1 teaspoon kosher salt and enough water to cover the chicken. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 55-65 minutes or until meat is tender, skimming the surface as foam rises., Remove chicken and set aside until cool enough to handle. Strain broth and skim fat. Return broth to the kettle; add the carrots, celery, onion, garlic, pepper and remaining salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 15 minutes or until carrots are tender., Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk eggs and oil. Add matzo ball mix and onion; toss with a fork until combined. Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes., Remove and discard skin and bones from chicken; chop chicken and add to soup. Stir in parsley. Bring to a boil. Drop 12 rounded teaspoonfuls of matzo ball dough into boiling soup. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into a matzo ball comes out clean (do not lift cover while simmering)., With a slotted spoon, carefully remove matzo balls and place one in each soup bowl. Ladle soup over top.