When it comes to classic Jewish comfort food, few dishes are as beloved as matzo balls. These light and fluffy dumplings, traditionally served in chicken soup, have been a staple of Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine for centuries. While there are many different recipes for matzo balls, one that stands out is Margots Matzo Balls. This recipe, passed down through generations, is said to produce the most tender and flavorful matzo balls you've ever tasted. In this article, we will explore the secrets behind Margots Matzo Balls and provide a step-by-step guide to help you create this culinary masterpiece in your own kitchen.
Here are our top 10 tried and tested recipes!
BEST MATZAH BALLS
These can be tricky to get the right consistency. After years of experimenting with the basic recipe, I found these to come out soft but not falling apart. If you like firm/hard-middle matzah balls, either reduce the seltzer or add 1/4 cup matzah meal.
Provided by Weekend Cook
Categories Side Dish
Time 1h15m
Yield 16
Number Of Ingredients 7
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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 105.8 calories, Carbohydrate 10.2 g, Cholesterol 46.5 mg, Fat 6.4 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 2.7 g, SaturatedFat 1.1 g, Sodium 98.5 mg, Sugar 0.3 g
FRENCH ONION MATZO BALLS
This recipe is inspired by my favorite soup, French onion, and matzo balls, which I've been eating my whole life. I always thought the flavorless matzo balls floating in my chicken soup needed some love. It turns out they're a great blank canvas for adding whatever flavor you want. I decided to puree caramelized onions into the matzo balls, then stuff them with some pungent cheese. The result: fluffy matzo balls with a gooey surprise in the middle. So here's a friendly reminder that a matzo ball is a dumpling that doesn't require soup. Get creative and pan-sear any leftover matzo balls.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 2h30m
Yield 12 matzo balls
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onions and let sit, undisturbed, until they start to soften, about 20 minutes. Continue to cook, stirring every 5 to 10 minutes, until the onions are browned and caramelized, about 1 hour more. Increase the heat to medium; add the sherry and cook, stirring, until it evaporates, about 2 minutes. Remove to a plate, spread out the onions and let cool in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
- Transfer 1 cup of the cooled onions to a food processor and process until smooth. (Reserve any remaining onions for another use.) Scrape into a large bowl; add the eggs, seltzer, schmaltz, 1 teaspoon salt and use a fork to stir until combined. Add the matzo meal and continue to stir with the fork until completely incorporated and the mixture resembles a thick paste. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Meanwhile, wet your hands and divide the matzo ball mixture into 12 equal mounds and flatten each into a disk. Add 1 of the cheese cubes to the center of each and roll into a ball, completely enclosing the cheese.
- Add the matzo balls to the boiling water, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until almost double in size, light and fluffy, flipping halfway through, about 30 minutes total. Remove with a slotted spoon and add them to your favorite chicken soup.
MATZO BALLS
Provided by Ina Garten
Time 55m
Yield 18 to 20 matzo balls
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Whisk together the egg yolks, chicken stock, chicken fat, parsley, and salt. Stir in the matzo meal. In the bowl of an electric mixer with a whisk attachment, whip the egg whites with a pinch of salt until they are stiff. Whisk them into the matzo mixture until it is smooth. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes, or until the mixture is thick.
- Form balls the size of golf balls by shaping them with 2 spoons, rolling them with your hands, or scooping them with a small ice cream scoop. Drop them into simmering chicken stock and cook for 30 minutes, or until fully cooked and puffed, turning once. Remove and serve hot in chicken soup.
MATZO BALL SOUP FOR PASSOVER
Cooking the matzo balls in the chicken stock may make the soup a bit cloudy, but they will soak up flavor from the rich broth. If you desire a clearer soup, it's easy to strain out the cooked matzo balls and vegetables, and heat them in the remaining chicken stock. For a quicker version for your seder, use store-bought broth in place of homemade and olive oil in place of chicken fat in the matzo balls.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dinner Recipes
Time 35m
Number Of Ingredients 7
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.
MARGOT'S MATZO BALLS
Martha Stewart Living commissary chef Margot Olshan shares her family's recipe for this holiday favorite. Use matzo balls, which are flavored with fresh dill, to make Margot's Matzo Ball Soup.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dinner Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- In a small bowl, combine chicken fat, eggs, matzo meal, and salt. Add the water and the dill; mix until just combined. Cover with plastic wrap, and chill for 15 minutes.
- Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and drop 1-inch balls of chilled matzo mixture into water. Cover, and cook for 35 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon. The matzo balls may be prepared in advance and stored refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
MARVELOUS MATZOH BALLS
I've had plenty of matzoh balls in my life, but these are the best ones by far! Do not resort to a boxed mix, these are easy and far superior! Matzoh balls are traditionally made for the Jewish holiday of Passover and float (or sink) in a bowl of chicken soup. However, there is nothing more comforting when you don't feel well than a piping hot bowl of chicken soup with these gems.
Provided by Lindsay
Categories Dumplings
Time 55m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Place diced parsnip and carrot in a single layer in a microwave-safe bowl and add a small amount of water. Cover with a paper towel and microwave on high power until tender enough to mash, 5 to 10 minutes. Mash.
- Mix shortening with eggs, matzoh meal, 1/2 cup water, salt, and pepper and mashed carrot and parsnip. Add parsley. Mix together.
- Refrigerate covered for 20 minutes.
- Scoop out balls of mixture to desired size and drop into boiling water. Cook in water until light and fluffy looking, about 5 minutes. Matzoh balls are now ready to add to your favorite soup!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 185.5 calories, Carbohydrate 17.7 g, Cholesterol 93 mg, Fat 11.2 g, Fiber 1.6 g, Protein 5 g, SaturatedFat 2.9 g, Sodium 334.7 mg, Sugar 1.6 g
MATZOH BALLS
Provided by Marian Burros
Categories soups and stews, appetizer
Time 45m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Whisk the eggs in a medium bowl. Whisk in the parsley, thyme, salt, pepper and cayenne, if using. Whisk in the butter, and then the matzoh meal and baking powder. Whisk in the club soda until well combined. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 2 hours.
- Place the chicken soup in a large pot and bring to boil. Whisk the matzoh ball mixture. With moistened hands, form the matzoh mixture into 16 2-inch balls. Drop the balls into the soup, reduce heat so the soup simmers and cook for 30 minutes. With a slotted spoon, remove matzoh balls to a clean, dry towel. Ladle the soup into bowls and place 1 or 2 matzoh balls in each. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 306, UnsaturatedFat 8 grams, Carbohydrate 20 grams, Fat 19 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 14 grams, SaturatedFat 9 grams, Sodium 917 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams, TransFat 0 grams
CAROL WOLK'S MATZOH BALLS
This recipe won the grand prize at the Stage Deli's first Matzoh Bowl contest in 1988.
Provided by Molly O'Neill
Categories dinner, soups and stews, appetizer, main course, side dish
Time 1h45m
Yield 18 large matzoh balls
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Place the chicken broth in a deep pot over medium heat. Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, combine the matzoh meal and eggs. Add the salt, vodka, club soda, chicken broth and vegetable oil. Mix well. Put in the freezer for 45 minutes.
- Use two tablespoons to form matzoh balls that are about two inches in diameter. When the broth is hot but not yet boiling, use a slotted spoon to place each ball into the soup. Cover the pot and cook for 40 minutes and serve.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 103, UnsaturatedFat 4 grams, Carbohydrate 7 grams, Fat 6 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 5 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 304 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams, TransFat 0 grams
GREEN ONION-DILL MATZO BALLS
Steps:
- Melt chicken fat in small skillet over medium-low heat. Add onions and sauté 30 seconds. Set aside. Whisk eggs and all remaining ingredients in medium bowl to blend well. Stir in onion mixture. Cover; chill at least 6 hours and up to 1 day.
- Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Drop matzo ball mixture by rounded tablespoonfuls onto foil, forming 16 mounds. Using wet hands, shape into balls; drop into pot. Cover; boil matzo balls until very tender, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Transfer matzo balls to shallow dish. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill. Steam 15 minutes to rewarm.)
JOAN NATHAN'S MATZO BALLS
This is Joan Nathan's own recipe for matzo balls. It's lightly spiced for a nice (but not too different) change from the plain matzo ball. Dough requires a few hours of refrigeration.
Provided by blucoat
Categories European
Time 35m
Yield 12 matzo balls
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Mix the chicken fat or vegetable oil with the eggs, salt, nutmeg, ginger, matzo meal and parsley together in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight.
- Bring 3 quarts water to a boil in a large pot. Take the matzo mix out of the refrigerator and, after dipping your hands into a bowl of cold water, gently form balls the size of large walnuts. Add the salt to the water and drop in the balls.
- Simmer slowly, covered, for about 20 minutes, remove from water with a slotted spoon, and add to the soup.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 113.2, Fat 6.1, SaturatedFat 1.3, Cholesterol 105.8, Sodium 232.3, Carbohydrate 10, Fiber 0.3, Sugar 0.2, Protein 4.3
Tips:
- Use high-quality matzo meal: Fresh, finely ground matzo meal will yield the best results.
- Do not overmix the batter: Overmixing will make the matzo balls tough.
- Let the matzo balls rest before cooking: This will help them hold their shape.
- Cook the matzo balls in a large pot of boiling water: This will prevent them from sticking together.
- Do not crowd the pot: Cook the matzo balls in batches if necessary.
- Cook the matzo balls until they are cooked through: They should be light and fluffy on the inside.
- Serve the matzo balls immediately: They are best when served hot.
Conclusion:
Matzo balls are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. With a few simple tips, you can make perfect matzo balls every time. Whether you are making them for a traditional Jewish meal or simply as a side dish, these matzo balls are sure to be a hit. So next time you are looking for a comforting and delicious dish, give these matzo balls a try. You won't be disappointed!
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