Fiddlers Jewish American Chicken Soup With Matzo Balls By Sy Recipes

CHICKEN SOUP WITH MATZO BALLS

Steps:

• Place the chickens, onions, carrots, celery, parsnips, parsley, thyme, dill, garlic and seasonings in a 16- to 20-quart stockpot. Add 7 quarts of water and bring to a boil. Simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour. Remove 2 of the chickens and allow to cool slightly. Remove the breast meat from both chickens and set aside. Return the remaining chicken and carcasses to the pot and continue simmering, uncovered, for 3 more hours. Strain the entire contents of the pot through a colander and chill. Remove the surface fat, then reheat the stock as follows, or pack in containers and freeze.
• To serve the soup, return the stock to the pot and reheat, adding the diced carrots, celery, dill and parsley. Shred the reserved chicken breast meat into large pieces and add to the stock. Simmer over low heat for 5 minutes to cook the vegetables and reheat the chicken. Season to taste and serve as is, or ladle each serving over 1 or 2 warm matzo balls.
• Whisk together the egg yolks, 1/2 cup 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.
• Bring a pot of chicken stock to a simmer (about 3 quarts). Form matzo 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 the simmering stock and cook for 30 minutes, or until fully cooked and puffed, turning once. Remove and serve hot in the chicken soup.

KOSHER CHICKEN SOUP WITH MATZO BALLS

Steps:

• To make the soup on the stovetop, combine chicken, onions, celery, carrots, dill, bay leaf, and 3 quarts water in a large pot. Bring the water to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, partially covered, for at least five hours. Skim the surface of the soup occasionally to remove any foam that develops.
• Remove the chicken and vegetables from the broth; discard vegetables. Strain the broth, cool, and refrigerate overnight. When chicken is cool enough to handle, remove the chicken meat from the bones, and chop or shred the meat; cover and refrigerate.
• To make the soup in a pressure cooker, add chicken, onions, celery, carrots, dill, bay leaf, and water to the pressure cooker as directed in step 1, seal the pressure cooker, and bring it up to full pressure. Reduce the heat, maintaining full pressure, and cook for 30 minutes. Allow the pressure to drop naturally. Remove chicken and vegetables from broth. Strain the broth; discard vegetables. When chicken is cool enough to handle, remove chicken meat from bones as directed in step 2.
• Combine vegetable oil, eggs, basil, parsley, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and black pepper in a bowl; mix well. Stir in the matzo meal, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate 1 hour.
• Bring at least 3 quarts of water, or as needed, and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil in a large pot. Using wet hands, gently shape the matzo mixture into balls about 2 inches across and drop them in the boiling water. Simmer for 20 minutes.
• Skim the fat off the chilled chicken broth and place broth in a pot over medium heat. Add salt to taste and the reserved cooked chicken, if desired (see Cook's Note). Transfer the cooked matzo balls to the chicken soup and heat to serve.

FIDDLER'S JEWISH-AMERICAN CHICKEN SOUP WITH MATZO BALLS BY SY

Steps:

• CHICKEN SOUP INSTRUCTIONS De-bone the chicken breasts, cut up into thin small strips, then place in the refrigerator (the chicken will be added later on).
• Heat a large"non-reactive pot" filled with cold water and bring to a boil, add the cut up chicken pieces and giblets.
• When almost boiling, remove the chicken and discard the water.
• In a clean"non-reactive pot" add 6 cups of cold water and the chicken pieces.
• Bring to a boil, lower the heat to very low (that is a few bubbles coming up at a time), cover and simmer for about 2-3 hours.
• Skim off any foam/dirt which may develop on the top, from time-to-time.
• While the soup is simmering, make the Matzo Balls as described below.
• After chicken has simmered for 2-3 hours, discard the chicken& bones and put broth through a strainer to remove any particles remaining; then back into a clean pot.
• Add the 4+ cups of heated chicken broth, onion, carrot, celery, leek, potato, parsnip, turnip, parsley, dill and cut up pieces of chicken breast meat.
• Add salt& pepper to taste and Bijol food coloring.
• Simmer low/medium heat for about 15 minutes.
• Next add the 10-12 Matzo Balls and simmer for about another 15 minutes.
• Serve in individual bowls and add to your liking farfel, soup nuts, shredded eggs, cooked egg noodles... NOTE: Do not use a frozen chicken, but a young fresh pullet if possible.
• Perhaps there is a market in your area where you can find a freshly killed kosher chicken.
• Or if you are lucky enough to raise your own Free-Range bird.
• MATZO BALLS INSTRUCTIONS (Streit's Manhattan recipe on box).
• STEP #1 MIX: Beat eggs.
• Add water (or seltzer), oil, salt and pepper.
• Mix well.
• Add matzo meal and stir thoroughly.
• Refrigerate for 1/2 to 1 hour.
• STEP #2 FORM: Partially fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil.
• Moisten palms with cold water.
• Form mixture into balls about 1" diameter; makes about 1 1/2" finished matzo balls.
• (Important to not compress the matzo balls, just form them loosely).
• Drop matzo balls into boiling water.
• STEP #3 SIMMER: When all the matzo balls are in the pot, reduce heat to low.
• Simmer covered for about 30 minutes or until done.
• Remove with a slotted spoon to a large bowl.
• COMMENTS: The old traditional Jewish Chicken Soup (which my grandmother& mother used to make) would contain the chicken feet and undeveloped eggs.
• I still recall the skin of the chicken neck being used to make a delicious stuffing and the chicken fat used to make schmaltz.
• Some people like their matzo balls very soft& fluffy and others like them hard.
• Also, small or very big matzo balls.
• Finally, you can eliminate the matzo balls and add cooked Egg Noodles instead....

MOM'S CHICKEN SOUP WITH MATZOH BALLS, CARROTS, AND DILL

Steps:

• In a bowl, mix together matzoh meal, chicken fat and seltzer. Whisk eggs in a separate bowl until frothy. Stir into matzoh meal mix with 1 teaspoon salt. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
• Bring 2 quarts of chicken soup to a simmer. Take a small spoonful of the mixture and using two small spoons, shape the mixture into small balls (about the size of a large marble) and place in simmering soup. Cook for 35 minutes.
• Meanwhile, if you're making orzo, toast it in a dry, medium skillet over medium low heat, stirring often until it turns a light golden brown. Boil the orzo until al dente, drain and reserve for soup.
• Bring remaining 2 quarts of chicken stock to a boil. Cook carrots until al dente. Lower to a simmer, add cooked matzoh balls, orzo (if using), and dill. Serve very hot.

JEWISH CHICKEN SOUP WITH MATZO BALLS

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, egg white and salt. Whisk in matzo meal, oil and 3 Tbsp cold water.
• Cover and chill the mixture at least 1 hour or overnight.
• In a large pot, bring chicken broth to a boil. Add parsnips, carrots and onions, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 5 minutes.
• Gently roll the chilled matzo dough by level teaspoonfuls into balls, dropping them into the simmering broth as you work. Cook the matzo balls, covered, for 15 minutes. Do not lift the lid; the broth must simmer rapidly to allow the matzo balls to expand properly.
• Uncover the pot, add broccoli and mushrooms and simmer until the broccoli is just tender, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Ladle into bowls, sprinkle with dill or parsley and serve.

JEWISH CHICKEN SOUP

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.

MURIEL'S CHICKEN SOUP WITH ALMOND MATZO BALLS

Steps:

• Make matzo balls:
• Beat together eggs and oil in a bowl. Add matzo meal, almonds, dill, salt, pepper, cinnamon, and 1/3 cup stock, stirring until blended. Cover surface of mixture with plastic wrap and chill at least 2 hours.
• Shape and cook matzo balls:
• Bring a 6-quart pot of salted water to a simmer.
• Roll matzo mixture into 1-inch balls (about 25) with dampened hands and transfer to an oiled plate.
• Cook matzo balls in simmering water, covered, until cooked through, about 40 minutes. To test for doneness, halve a matzo ball: It should have a moist, uniform texture (if it's not quite ready, there will be a dry, yellowish center).
• While matzo balls are cooking, bring remaining 6 cups stock to a simmer and season with salt and pepper. Transfer matzo balls with a slotted spoon to broth and simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes. Serve hot.