small batch matzo ball soup

Small Batch Matzo Ball Soup

You can’t have Passover really without matzo ball soup.  It’s a rich, hearty soup made with chicken, lots of vegetables, and matzo balls. Matzo balls are dumplings, but made with matzo meal instead of flour.  My mom and great-grandma used to make this in enormous batches. Mom was feeding 20 or so at a time, and my great-grandma about 40-45 people (big family). That, of course is way too much for one person. So small batch matzo ball soup it is! My version makes about 5 or 6 servings.

Now, the usual way to make the soup is to boil the chicken, then add the veggies, bring to a boil, and simmer. However, if you do it that way, the chicken ends up fairly tasteless. So, I lightly cook the chicken first, then add the veggies, and finally the water. Doing it this way allows the chicken and veggies to caramelize a bit and gain added flavor.

The best way to do this, is to make the soup first. That way, if you get fat from the top, you can use that to make the matzo balls the next day. The matzo balls need to be refrigerated to firm up, so start them either in the morning or at night so they have time to chill.

Also, make sure to store the finished soup and matzo balls in different containers. Put them together and the matzo balls will absorb a lot of the liquid (leaving you with very little soup left!)

One more thing, there is (as usual) a big debate over the “proper” texture of matzo balls. Some say that they should be fluffy. Others insist they should be firm. My family comes firmly (ha ha) down on the firm side. They should have body and substance! Just say no to wimpy matzo balls!




More Passover Recipes

homemade small batch matzoHomemade Small Batch Matzo

Store-bought matzo tastes like, well “hemstitched cardboard.” Make it yourself instead and get something with actual good flavor

 

small batch charoses

Small Batch Charoses

It’s not Pesach without charoses. This mixture of apples, wine, nuts, and cinnamon is meant to remind us of the bricks our ancestors were forced to make while building Pharoah’s cities. Unlike actual mortar, this tastes good!

Cinnamon Sugar Brandy Bananascinnamon sugar bananas

End the festive meal with this easy banana dessert. They’re gently cooked in brandy and then sprinkled with cinnamon.  Ready in minutes.  Brandy is OK (check the label to make sure if you are observant).]

single serving double dark chocolate pudding recipeSingle Serving Double Dark Chocolate Pudding Recipe

One serving of rich, decadent chocolate pudding. Cook it less and you get thick, European-style hot chocolate. So, it’s really two recipes in one!