KOSHER CHICKEN SOUP WITH MATZO BALLS

Kosher Chicken Soup with Matzo Balls image

Delicious herbs fill the matzo balls with great flavor, and the long-simmered soup is so good. If you make it in a pressure cooker, the chicken soup can be ready in 45 minutes.

Provided by Tamar Genger

Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Chicken Soup Recipes

Time 14h

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 16

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Ingredients

1 (2 1/2 to 3 pound) whole chicken, cut up
2 small yellow onions, diced
2 stalks celery, cut into chunks
3 carrots, cut into chunks
1 bunch fresh dill
1 bay leaf
3 quarts water
⅓ cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 ½ teaspoons salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup matzo meal
3 quarts water, or as needed
1 teaspoon salt

Steps:

To make the soup on the stovetop, combine chicken, onions, celery, carrots, dill, bay leaf, and 3 quarts water in a large pot. Bring the water to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, partially covered, for at least five hours. Skim the surface of the soup occasionally to remove any foam that develops.
Remove the chicken and vegetables from the broth; discard vegetables. Strain the broth, cool, and refrigerate overnight. When chicken is cool enough to handle, remove the chicken meat from the bones, and chop or shred the meat; cover and refrigerate.
To make the soup in a pressure cooker, add chicken, onions, celery, carrots, dill, bay leaf, and water to the pressure cooker as directed in step 1, seal the pressure cooker, and bring it up to full pressure. Reduce the heat, maintaining full pressure, and cook for 30 minutes. Allow the pressure to drop naturally. Remove chicken and vegetables from broth. Strain the broth; discard vegetables. When chicken is cool enough to handle, remove chicken meat from bones as directed in step 2.
Combine vegetable oil, eggs, basil, parsley, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and black pepper in a bowl; mix well. Stir in the matzo meal, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate 1 hour.
Bring at least 3 quarts of water, or as needed, and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil in a large pot. Using wet hands, gently shape the matzo mixture into balls about 2 inches across and drop them in the boiling water. Simmer for 20 minutes.
Skim the fat off the chilled chicken broth and place broth in a pot over medium heat. Add salt to taste and the reserved cooked chicken, if desired (see Cook's Note). Transfer the cooked matzo balls to the chicken soup and heat to serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 510.7 calories, Carbohydrate 18.2 g, Cholesterol 147.9 mg, Fat 40.7 g, Fiber 1.7 g, Protein 18.6 g, SaturatedFat 10.1 g, Sodium 860.1 mg, Sugar 2.4 g