Description
This recipe creates light and airy matzo balls, designed to be simple, family-friendly, and perfect for weeknight meals or holiday gatherings, promising a tender, melt-in-your-mouth experience.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (120g) Matzo Meal
- 4 Large Eggs
- 0.25 cup (60ml) Seltzer or Club Soda, (or plain water if seltzer isn’t on hand)
- 0.25 cup (60ml) Neutral Oil or Schmaltz, (olive oil works great for a dairy-free option)
- 8–10 cups (2–2.5 liters) Chicken Broth or Water, (for simmering)
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 2 tablespoons Fresh Dill or Parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Mix Gently: In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs, oil/schmaltz, seltzer, salt, and pepper until combined. Gently fold in matzo meal until just moistened; it should look shaggy. (If it appears too dry, add 1-2 teaspoons more seltzer.)
- Chill Dough: Cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This chilling firms the mixture, ensuring light, airy results. (Can be prepped the night before for easy family dinners.)
- Form Matzo Balls: Lightly dampen your hands with water. Gently roll the chilled mixture into small, golf-ball sized rounds. Resist pressing too firmly; a light hand ensures a truly fluffy matzo ball.
- Simmer & Swell: Bring a 5-quart pot of salted broth to a rolling boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Carefully drop matzo balls in. Cover and simmer 20-30 minutes until they double in size.
- Serve & Garnish: Ladle the cooked matzo balls directly into bowls of hot soup. Garnish with fresh dill or parsley for a vibrant, fresh finish if desired.
Notes
Avoid overmixing, ensure chilling for at least 30 minutes, and simmer gently to prevent dense matzo balls. For vegetarian, use vegetable broth. For gluten-free, use certified gluten-free matzo meal. Uncooked matzo balls can be frozen and simmered from frozen (add 5-10 minutes to cook time).
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Soup Component
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Jewish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 matzo balls
- Calories: 330 calories
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 144 mg
Keywords: fluffy matzo ball recipe, light, airy, family-friendly, Passover, comfort food, Jewish cuisine, easy, make-ahead, soup accompaniment