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This is the easiest recipe for Matzo ball soup that you will ever find. Even a beginner can make this Jewish matzo ball soup, and it tastes amazing! Soft delicious Matzo balls in a tasty chicken stock – so warm and comforting!
Matzo ball soup is a classic Jewish recipe that’s been around for thousands of years. Matzo balls are ball-shaped dumplings that are served in a chicken soup. Matzo ball ingredients are matzo meal, eggs, oil and water.
Matzo ball soup is a historic Jewish comfort food and it is always a part of traditional Jewish holiday menus. Matzo ball soup is a staple recipe for the Jewish holiday of Passover that celebrates the Exodus of the Jewish people from Egyptian slavery. Matzah is an unleavened bread that is a symbol of freedom for Jews as it was the first food eaten by the newly freed people. During Passover, leavened breads are forbidden and only Matzah is allowed, so it’s a perfect time to make a Matzo ball soup! But of course, you don’t have to wait until Passover to make this delicious soup – Matzo ball soup can be enjoyed year around!
If you searched for Matzo ball soup recipes online, I’m sure you found that most of them are really complicated and impractical for today’s busy cook. Well, look no further – this is the easiest Matzo ball recipe you will ever find! It uses store-bought chicken broth so you don’t need to make it from scratch. No simmering the chicken for hours, straining the stock and removing chicken bones :) You just concentrate on the star of the recipe – the Matzo balls!
How To Make The Matzo Ball Soup Step By Step:
These easy instructions take the mystery out of the matzo ball soup making process :)
Step 1: Make the Matzo balls
Mix the Matzo ball dough ingredients, shape into balls and cook them in boiling water
Step 2: Flavor the chicken stock
While the Matzo balls are cooking, flavor the chicken stock by simmering it with carrots, onion and celery.
Step 3: Add the Matzo balls to the soup
Put the cooked Matzo balls into the chicken stock and finish cooking them there so they soak up the chicken soup flavor.
That’s all there is to it :) You might be thinking – why not cook the Matzo balls directly in the chicken stock to save a step? The reason why we cook Matzo balls in water first, as opposed to cooking them right away in the chicken stock, is to avoid making the soup cloudy.
Enjoy this delicious Matzo ball soup – it’s a true comfort food!
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Easy Matzo Ball Soup Recipe
This easy Matzo ball soup recipe is made in under an hour from start to finish! Delicious Matzo balls in comforting chicken broth - so yummy!
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Jewish
Ingredients
Garnish
- 1/4 bunch fresh dill or parsley chopped
Instructions
Mix the Matzo meal with eggs and oil, then refrigerate it for 15 minutes.
Bring a large pot of water with 1 tbsp of salt to a boil.
Using wet hands, roll the Matzo mixture into 1-inch balls (to not over-mix, or it will make the Matzo balls tough).
Carefully drop the Matzo balls in the water using a slotted spoon.
Reduce the heat to simmer and cook the Matzo balls for 30 minutes.
While the Matzo balls are cooking, add chicken stock, onion, carrots and celery to a separate pot. Bring to boil, then reduce the heat to Low and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove the onion with a slotted spoon and discard. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Carefully take out the Matzo balls with a slotted spoon and transfer them into the chicken stock. Simmer for another 10 minutes.
To serve, laddle the soup into bowls and garnish with fresh chopped dill or parsley.
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FAQs
Turns out, baking powder is key to creating the fluffiest, lightest “floater” matzo balls. Using carbonated water or seltzer in combination with whipped egg whites will help get you fluffy floaters.
What causes matzo balls to fall apart? ›
After all, letting your dough rest in the fridge gives the matzo time to absorb the liquid in the recipe and bind together. Without this crucial step, your matzo balls will certainly fall apart before you even serve them.
Do you freeze matzo balls cooked or uncooked? ›
You can freeze matzo balls either uncooked or cooked and they will retain their flavor and texture very well.
What makes matzo balls hard? ›
The manner of rolling the matzo ball mixture influences the consistency. I've found the matzo balls are denser when, after being rolled into balls, they are chilled again for a few minutes. Lastly, the matzo meal itself can make a difference.
Should matzo balls float or sink? ›
Whether you prefer a light and fluffy matzo ball or a chewier and denser one, there is a recipe out there for you to try. One thing is for sure though, every matzo ball floats right out of the pot, then sinks. Even the dense and chewy version sunk after soaking in broth overnight.
What is the best oil to use for matzo balls? ›
We give you the choice: Using schmaltz (rendered chicken fat) produces the most flavorful matzo balls, while vegetable or canola oil offer convenience. Optional seltzer helps to aerate the matzo balls so that they're light and tender, while optional baking powder allows you to make insanely light and fluffy ones.
Can matzo ball mix go bad? ›
A: Is your mix still in the box. Expiration date on bottom of box. If less than 9 months on your shelf, should be ok.
How long to refrigerate matzo balls before cooking? ›
Store the mixture, covered, in the refrigerator for a minimum of 2 hours, or overnight.
How far in advance can matzo balls be made? ›
You can definitely make matzo balls ahead of time! You can make the batter and shape your balls and let them sit overnight to cook off the next day. Or you can cook them fully, then cover them with cooking water and store in the fridge.
Can you overcook matzo balls? ›
Note that they'll “look done” after about 10 minutes, however it really does take around 45 minutes to cook all the way to the center of the ball. If you cut one open and the center looks yellow and grainy, like the batter, it's not done yet. You can't overcook a matzo ball. It's not possible.
Add to that the benefits of vitamins A, C, and D in the broth, the anti-inflammatory properties of the soup vegetables, and a boost of energy from the carbohydrates in the matzo balls, and you've got a recipe for feeling better!
Do matzo balls sink when done? ›
The answer to the question was never certain; some years they sank with a slightly chewy texture and other years they floated with a melt-in-your-mouth lightness. What causes the difference? It comes from the ratio of eggs to matzah meal and the amount of air whipped into the eggs.
How long can matzo balls stay in soup? ›
How long can matzo balls sit in the soup? While matzo balls can cook in the soup, they tend to cloud the chicken broth. Try not to let the matzo balls sit in the soup longer than an hour or they may begin to absorb too much of the soup and fall apart. If separated from the soup, cooked matzo balls last about 5 days.
Why does matzo hurt my stomach? ›
So, as you digest this fiber-less treat, it makes its way into the stomach and intestines, slowly creating hard, dry, slow stool. It's reasonable for that to lead to constipation and discomfort, especially if you're eating large quantities of matzo each day, Zolotnitsky explains.
How do you fix dense matzo balls? ›
I tasted one part-way through cooking and it was still hard as a rock. I let it simmer into oblivion. I ended up boiling them for about 40 minutes and at that point they were finally light and fluffy. I have seen some recipes that incorporate a small quantity of mashed potato into the matzoh ball for added fluffiness.
What happens if you overcook matzo balls? ›
You can't overcook a matzo ball. It's not possible. So if you need to leave it in longer, that's OK.
How to tell if matzo balls are done? ›
Carefully lower matzo balls into boiling water with a slotted spoon, adjusting heat as needed to maintain a low simmer. Cover pot and simmer over low heat, checking occasionally to make sure water isn't boiling too rapidly, until balls are very puffed and light in color, 30–40 minutes.
