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America's Test Kitchen Matzo Ball Soup

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A perfect matzo ball is substantial enough to hold its shape but not so dense that it sinks to the bottom of the soup. To achieve this delicate balance, we combine matzo meal, eggs, and water and then let the mixture sit in the refrigerator for 1 hour to allow the matzo meal to fully absorb the liquid before forming the balls. Cooking matzo balls in boiling salted water—separately from the soup—keeps the soup itself from getting cloudy. To build a flavorful soup, we add subtly sweet parsnips to the classic combination of chicken broth, celery, onion, and carrot and then fortify it with two whole chicken legs for depth. (We later remove the legs and, if desired, shred them and add the meat back to the soup.)

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America's Test Kitchen Matzo Ball Soup 1 Picture

Ingredients

  • 6 6
  • to 1 or schmaltz, is available in the refrigerator or freezer section of most supermarkets. Note that the matzo batter needs to be refrigerated for at least 1 hour before shaping.
  • Ingredients
  • Matzo Balls
  • 1/4 1/4 1/4 cup chicken fat (schmaltz) or vegetable oil
  • 1 1 1 onion, chopped fine
  • 4 4 4 large eggs
  • 1 1 1 teaspoon minced fresh dill
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 1 1 cup (4 ounces) matzo meal
  • Soup
  • 1 1 1 tablespoon chicken fat (schmaltz) or vegetable oil
  • 1 1 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 2 1/2-inch carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
  • 2 2 2 celery ribs, chopped
  • 1 1 1/2-inch parsnip, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
  • Salt and pepper
  • 8 8 8 cups chicken broth
  • 1 1/2 1 1/2 1/2 pounds chicken leg quarters, trimmed
  • 1 1 1 teaspoon minced fresh dill

Details

Adapted from cookscountry.com

Preparation

Step 1



1. FOR THE MATZO BALLS: Heat chicken fat in Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and cook until light golden brown and softened, about 5 minutes. Transfer onion to large bowl and let cool for 10 minutes. (Do not clean pot.)

2. Whisk eggs, 5 tablespoons water, dill, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper into cooled onion mixture. Fold in matzo meal until well combined. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 2 hours. (Batter will thicken as it sits.)

3. Bring 4 quarts water and 2 tablespoons salt to boil in now-empty Dutch oven. Divide batter into 12 portions (about 1 heaping tablespoon each) and place on greased plate. Roll portions into smooth balls between your wet hands and return to plate. Transfer matzo balls to boiling water, cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender and cooked through, about 30 minutes.

4. Using slotted spoon, transfer matzo balls to colander and drain briefly. Transfer balls to clean plate and let cool to firm up, about 10 minutes. Discard cooking water. (Do not clean pot.)

5. FOR THE SOUP: Meanwhile, heat chicken fat in large saucepan over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion, carrots, celery, parsnip, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, covered, until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add broth, chicken, and dill and bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook until chicken is tender, 35 to 45 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer chicken to plate. (Chicken can be used for soup or reserved for another use. If adding to soup, shred with 2 forks into bite-size pieces; discard skin and bones.) Season soup with salt and pepper to taste.

6. Transfer soup to now-empty Dutch oven and bring to simmer over medium heat. Carefully transfer matzo balls to hot soup (along with shredded chicken, if using). Cover and cook until matzo balls are heated through, about 5 minutes. Serve.

TO MAKE AHEAD: Soup and matzo balls can be fully cooked, cooled, and refrigerated separately in covered containers for up to 2 days. To serve, return soup to simmer over medium heat, add matzo balls, and cook until heated through, about 7 minutes.

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