In the tapestry of culinary traditions, few dishes hold a place as cherished and comforting as Jewish penicillin, a.k.a. Mother's Chicken Soup. This nourishing broth, brimming with tender chicken, wholesome vegetables, and a symphony of aromatic herbs, has long been a beacon of healing and solace in Jewish households. Its reputation as a culinary cure-all is not unfounded, as the rich broth, packed with nutrients and immune-boosting properties, is believed to possess medicinal qualities that help alleviate cold and flu symptoms, soothe sore throats, and promote overall well-being. This article presents a collection of three distinct recipes for this classic Jewish penicillin, each offering a unique flavor profile and catering to various dietary preferences. From the traditional version, brimming with the essence of roasted chicken, carrots, celery, and onions, to a lighter, yet equally flavorful rendition featuring zucchini, spinach, and dill, and a vegan alternative bursting with the goodness of vegetables and herbs, this diverse selection ensures that everyone can find solace in a steaming bowl of this comforting soup.
Let's cook with our recipes!
JEWISH CHICKEN SOUP
This is a traditional recipe good for anything that ails you. It's the absolute best when you've got the flu, and it's great the second and third day. Note, these matzoh balls are 'sinkers'. These are traditional matzoh balls, as this recipe was passed down from my great-grandmother who needed to make them as heavy as possible to feed a hungry family during lean times. Cut the matzoh meal by 1/2 cup to lighten the load.
Provided by Layla
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Chicken Soup Recipes
Time 4h15m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Place the chicken into a large pot with the breast side down. Fill with enough cold water to reach about 3 inches from the top of the pot. Add the onion, carrot, parsnip, celery and dill. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, and cook, partially covered for 2 hours. Do not let the soup boil. Skim any fat from the top of the soup, and add the garlic cloves. Partially cover, and simmer for another 2 hours for best flavor.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the matzo meal, eggs, oil, salt, and 1/4 cup of the broth from the chicken soup. Refrigerate for about 20 minutes to set up.
- Bring a separate pot of water to a rolling boil. Roll the matzo mixture into about 16 balls. Wet your hands to keep the dough from sticking to them. Drop the balls into boiling water, cover, and cook for about 35 minutes.
- While the matzo balls are cooking, strain the broth from the chicken soup. Return the broth to the pot. Remove the bones and skin from the chicken and cut into pieces. Return to the soup, or leave the soup as a broth, and reserve the chicken for other uses. Remove the matzo balls from the water, and serve in the hot chicken soup.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 525.2 calories, Carbohydrate 39.5 g, Cholesterol 212.3 mg, Fat 27.2 g, Fiber 2.7 g, Protein 32.1 g, SaturatedFat 6.4 g, Sodium 720.7 mg, Sugar 2.8 g
JEWISH PENICILLIN (AKA: CHICKEN SOUP)
Make and share this Jewish Penicillin (Aka: Chicken Soup) recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Eric N. Frankel
Categories Chicken
Time 5h15m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375º.
- Place a vertical roaster in an 8¼" x 8¼" x 2½" square glass baking dish.
- Clean the chicken "innards" and place in a 1-quart pot with 2 cups water, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce, 1 tablespoon Teriyaki Sauce, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon ground pepper. Cover and cook on lowest possible flame for 1 hour.
- Place chicken on vertical roaster.
- In the glass baking dish, pour 1 cup water and the remaining Worcestershire and Teriyaki.
- Cook until wings are VERY dark, but not burned (about 40 minutes); basting every 7 - 10 minutes.
- In an 8-quart pot, place remaining water, salt, pepper, celery, carrots, onion, garlic and shallot and set on high heat.
- When chicken is done, set aside to cool.
- When the innards are done, add the broth to the main pot. If you like innards, enjoy them; if not, discard them (or send them to me).
- When chicken is cool enough to work with, remove the skin and set aside.
- Remove all the meat from the bone, and cut into bite-sized pieces.
- Set the bones aside.
- Add chicken to the "broth", and reduce to medium-low heat.
- Wrap the skin and bones in cheesecloth, tying the cheesecloth as you would a tourniquet; basically bring all four corners together and tie.
- Place skin and bones in broth and simmer for 3 hours, keeping an eye on the level in the pot. Add water as needed.
- Remove skin and bone cheesecloth and discard (cheesecloth can be washed and reused if desired).
- If you want to use Homemade Chicken Broth in the future, save what you don't use, chill and skim. Alton Brown would be proud.
- This is not Campbell's soup, but then Mr. Campbell didn't grow up with a Jewish grandmother.
- I do hope you enjoy it. Please do me the honor of rating it.
CHICKEN SOUP (((JEWISH PENICILLIN)))
This recipe was developed by my grandmother, Anna Buhal'tsev Bell Mersky, and then slightly improved by my mother, Sandy, and it is the MOST AUTHENTIC and BEST recipe for Jewish Chicken Soup that you will ever find. Trust me, it is GREAT!!!
Provided by Alan Leonetti
Categories Clear Soup
Time 1h25m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Do not cut up the chicken.
- Place the whole chicken in a very large pot.
- Cover chicken with water.
- Place on high heat and bring to a boil.
- Cook for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat& skim the scum off the top.
- Slice carrots across into pieces 1/4" thick and place into pot.
- Slice celery the same as the carrots and place into pot.
- Quarter onion and place into pot.
- Peel& quarter the sweet potatoes and place into pot.
- Cut up parsnips and place into pot.
- Place the soup greens, which are the tops of anise, into the pot.
- Discard the actual anise root.
- Place pot back on the burner on medium-low heat and simmer.
- Slightly season with salt, pepper and garlic to taste.
- Cover and continue to simmer until vegetables are tender and the chicken is done and almost falling off the bone.
- Remove the chicken from the pot and remove all of the chicken from the carcass.
- Discard the carcass and return the chicken pieces back to the pot.
- Taste to see if it is seasoned to your liking.
- If it's not, adjust with more salt, pepper and garlic as needed.
- Separately boil the pot stickers and then add them to the soup just before serving, or else you can make matzo balls as directed on the box of matzo ball mix, and then add the matzo balls to the soup just before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 467.1, Fat 23.5, SaturatedFat 6.7, Cholesterol 115, Sodium 240.9, Carbohydrate 32, Fiber 6.8, Sugar 11.8, Protein 31.6
CHICKEN SOUP (AUNT MARY'S PENICILLIN)
Mary Stacey shared this chicken soup recipe with The Times in 1990. The then 76-year-old aunt of Curtis Sliwa, of the Guardian Angels, made it regularly in her Howard Beach home, carrying the soup to Mr. Sliwa as he patrolled the subways. Mrs. Stacey believed that the magic of chicken soup is unleashed only when the carrots and onions are mashed into the broth. Strained, it makes an excellent broth for a myriad of soups. The strained broth can be frozen in small containers for future soups or in ice-cube trays to use in sauces.
Provided by Molly O'Neill
Categories dinner, lunch, soups and stews, main course, side dish
Time 3h45m
Yield Three quarts
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a large pot, place four quarts cold water. Add the chicken, garlic, onion, carrots, celery, parsley, bay leaf, salt and peppercorns and slowly bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for three hours, using a spoon to skim the soup as thoroughly as possible. Cool. (The soup can be strained at this point, to use as chicken broth. Mrs. Stacey proceeds with the next two steps.)
- Strain the soup. Discard the onion, parsley, bay leaf and peppercorn, and save the other vegetables. Skin and debone the chicken and save the meat. Return the chicken meat, carrots, celery and garlic clove to the pot and bring back to a simmer, seasoning with additional salt or pepper to taste.
- Serve the soup in big bowls, over pastina, rice or very thin spaghettini. The soup's curative powers are released only when the vegetables are mashed together in the bowl. Use a fork for mashing. Use a big spoon for eating.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 50, UnsaturatedFat 2 grams, Carbohydrate 0 grams, Fat 3 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 4 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 77 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams, TransFat 0 grams
MOTHERS CHICKEN SOUP (JEWISH PENICILLIN)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Clean Chickens; discard neck, gizzards.
- In a 20QT. Stock Pot put in chickens (halved) and fill with water until chicken is sufficiently covered.
- Bring to a slow boil and skim fat.
- In the meantime; wash, peel and clean all other ingredients.
- TIE bunches of Parlsey, Dill and Scallions.
- Put ALL ingredients in POT and bring back to a boil, the lower heat to a steady simmer.
- Half way through simmer; add seasoning (Salt, Pepper, Oregano).
- COOK for 3-3.5 hours.
- LET COOL, remove vegetables. Discard ALL except CARROTS.
- REMOVE chicken, let cool, pull meat off bones and retain for soup when served.
- STRAIN SOUP through a fine mesh strainer.
Tips:
- Use a whole chicken: This will give your soup a richer flavor than using just chicken breasts or thighs.
- Roast the chicken before boiling it: This will add a delicious roasted flavor to your soup.
- Add plenty of vegetables: Vegetables are packed with nutrients and flavor. The more vegetables you add to your soup, the healthier and tastier it will be.
- Use a variety of herbs and spices: Herbs and spices can add a lot of flavor to your soup. Experiment with different combinations to find the ones you like best.
- Don't be afraid to adjust the recipe to your taste: This is your soup, so feel free to make it the way you like it. If you like your soup more spicy, add more pepper. If you like it more sour, add more lemon juice. The possibilities are endless.
Conclusion:
Whether you're feeling under the weather or just want a comforting and delicious meal, Jewish penicillin is the perfect soup for you. This classic soup is packed with flavor and nutrients, and it's sure to leave you feeling satisfied and nourished. So next time you're looking for a delicious and healthy soup, give Jewish penicillin a try.
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