Best 6 Horseradish Matzo Ball Soup Recipes

HORSERADISH MATZO BALL SOUP

Steps:

• In a large pot, combine chicken, onions, celery, 2 carrots, 1 parsnip, garlic, 1 tablespoon salt, parsley stems (reserve leaves), dill stems (reserve leaves), thyme branches, bay leaves, peppercorns and cloves. Add enough water to cover everything by 1 inch.
• Bring liquid to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer gently for 2 hours. Skim foam and fat frequently with a slotted spoon.
• While the stock simmers, prepare the matzo ball mixture. In a large bowl, stir together the eggs, oil, 1/4 cup reserved broth, matzo meal, horseradish, allspice, ground pepper and 1 teaspoon salt. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 2 to 3 hours.
• Strain stock through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl (you should have about 2 1/2 quarts) and set aside to cool. Reserve chicken for another purpose; discard vegetables. Broth can be made up to three days ahead and refrigerated.
• Bring a large, wide pot of salted water to a boil. Using water-moistened hands, roll the matzo ball mixture into 1½-inch balls. Use a slotted spoon to lower into the boiling water; reduce heat and simmer matzo balls until very tender, about 50 minutes to 1 hour.
• Put reserved chicken broth in a pot, bring to a simmer, and season with more salt and pepper if necessary. Thinly slice the remaining carrot and parsnip. Add the vegetables to the broth and cook until just tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Spoon a few matzo balls into the bottom of each serving bowl and ladle hot broth and vegetables on top. Garnish with parsley and dill.

JEWISH CHICKEN SOUP WITH HORSERADISH DILL MATZO BALLS

Steps:

• The day before you want to serve the soup, put the whole chicken in your largest lidded pan. Add sufficient cold water to cover by at least 1cm. Bring the water to a boil over a high heat, skimming off (and discarding) any foam with a big metal spoon. While it's boiling, halve the onions through the roots (leaving the skins on - they will add colour). As soon as it starts to boil, add the onions and remaining soup ingredients plus 1 tbsp salt. Turn down the heat to a very low simmer, partially cover the pan and leave to cook gently for 1 hr 30 mins, until you see the meat on the chicken's legs start to come away from the bone. Depending on how large your pan is you may need to drain a little water off to fit the vegetables in, so it doesn't overflow.
• Use two forks to carefully remove the chicken from the pot, leaving the veg behind. Strip the meat from the bones, tearing some of the chicken into pieces to serve in the soup (save the rest to use in salads, sandwiches or pies). Return the bones and cartilage to the pot and simmer gently for a further 1 hr-1 hr 30 mins. Strain the soup into a large container or pan. If they are still in reasonable shape, lightly scrape the peel from the carrots and slice them to go in the finished soup - keep refrigerated until needed. Discard the other vegetables and the bones. Leave the soup to cool completely then refrigerate overnight.
• By morning, the fat will have risen to the surface - skim it off, pop it in a dish and refrigerate it. This is known as schmaltz, which you'll need to make the matzo balls. (You can use what's left over to make roast potatoes.) Taste the soup to see if it has enough flavour. It may need to be reduced a little by boiling it rapidly, then seasoning.
• To make the matzo balls, use a fork to beat the eggs with ½ tsp salt and a few grinds of pepper. Stir in the schmaltz, matzo meal, 2 tbsp chopped dill, horseradish and 60ml chicken soup. Fold into the egg mixture (it will be quite sloppy). Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 mins to hydrate the matzo meal and firm the mixture enough to handle. Scoop heaped tablespoons of the mixture and, with moistened hands, gently roll into balls. Put them on a plate or on a tray lined with baking parchment. You should end up with 12 matzo balls.
• Fill a wide pan with cold water and season with 1 tbsp salt. Set it over a high heat to boil, then transfer the matzo balls, one by one, gently into the water. Turn the heat down to a simmer. Cover with a lid (preferably a glass one) and leave for 30 mins. Do not be tempted to peek too soon. They are done when they have puffed up and when you cut into one, it should be light all the way through to the centre.
• If including fresh carrots in the soup, slice them into 2cm-thick discs and add them to the soup pot with the chicken pieces. Simmer for 10-15 mins to soften the carrot and heat the chicken. If using the carrot from the stock, add for the last 3 mins to heat up. When the matzo balls are ready, carefully remove them from the pot using a slotted spoon and put two (or three) in each bowl. Ladle over the hot chicken soup. Sprinkle with more chopped dill to serve.

JOAN NATHAN'S MATZO BALL SOUP

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the eggs, schmaltz, stock, matzo meal, nutmeg, ginger and parsley. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Gently mix with a whisk or spoon. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 3 hours or overnight.
• To shape and cook the matzo balls, fill a wide, deep pan with lightly salted water and bring to a boil. With wet hands, take some of the mix and mold it into the size and shape of a Ping-Pong ball. Gently drop it into the boiling water, repeating until all the mix is used.
• Cover the pan, reduce heat to a lively simmer and cook matzo balls about 30 to 40 minutes for al dente, longer for light. If desired, the cooked matzo balls can be transferred to chicken or vegetable soup and served immediately. Alternatively, they may be placed on a baking sheet and frozen, then transferred to a freezer bag and kept frozen until a few hours before serving; reheat in chicken or vegetable soup or broth.

BEST MATZAH BALLS

Steps:

• Whisk eggs and olive oil in a bowl until combined; stir both amounts of club soda and salt into egg mixture. Mix matzo meal into wet ingredients to form a workable dough; if mixture is too wet, stir in 1/4 cup more matzo meal. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Wet your hands and form matzo ball dough into walnut-size balls. Gently place matzo balls into boiling water. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer matzo balls until tender, 25 to 30 minutes.

MATZO BALL SOUP FOR PASSOVER

Steps:

• Make matzo balls: Using a small spoon, gently scrape away any fat that has solidified on surface of broth. Warm 1/4 cup fat in the microwave, reserve remainder for another use. In a large bowl, whisk together fat, 1/4 cup broth, egg yolks, salt and pepper. Whisk in seltzer, and immediately fold in matzo meal. In a separate bowl, with a mixer, whip egg whites until stiff peaks form. In batches egg whites into matzo meal until just incorporated; refrigerate 20 minutes.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Wet hands, form matzo mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls, and drop into boiling water. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook until matzo balls are puffed and tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a medium pot, bring 8 cups broth to a simmer. Season with salt. Add sliced carrots and simmer until tender, about 7 minutes. With a slotted spoon, remove matzo balls from water and divide among four bowls. Ladle broth and carrots into bowls and top with dill springs.

MATZO BALL SOUP WITH CARDAMOM, TURMERIC, AND LIME

Steps:

• Purée onion and garlic in a food processor. Transfer to a large bowl and whisk in eggs, oil, club soda, and lime zest. Stir in matzo meal, cardamom, turmeric, pepper, and 2 tsp. salt. Cover with plastic wrap and chill at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours.
• Combine broth and 1 1/2 tsp. salt in a large pot. Cover and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
• Meanwhile, set bowl of matzo ball dough next to a bowl of water and a rimmed baking sheet. Coat your hands with water and roll scant 2 Tbsp. dough into a ball; place on sheet. Repeat with remaining dough; you should have about 16 balls.
• Bring broth to a rapid simmer. Gently drop in matzo balls, one at a time, then cover with a tight-fitting lid. Return to a rapid simmer, then reduce heat, bring to a gentle simmer, and cook matzo balls, without uncovering, until the centers are cooked through, 35-45 minutes. Add carrots and cook until just tender, 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and season with salt if necessary. Divide matzo balls and broth among bowls, top with cilantro, and serve lime wedges alongside.
• Do Ahead
• Matzo balls can be cooked 2 days ahead. Transfer matzo balls and broth to separate resealable containers and chill. Gently reheat matzo balls in broth before serving.