Fluffy Matzo Balls Recipes

FLUFFY MATZO BALLS

Steps:

• Beat the egg whites to soft peaks. Set aside.
• Beat the egg yolks. Add chicken fat, salt and pepper, and beat well. Set aside.
• Fold matzo meal into egg whites gently, preserving as much air as possible. Fold egg yolk mixture into batter, still preserving as much air as possible. Refrigerate batter 30-60 minutes.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a generous amount of salt (more than you would use for pasta). Using wet hands, divide batter into 12 portions and form each into a rough ball. Drop into pot.
• When all 12 balls are in the pot, and the water has returned to the boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes, turning matzo balls over in the water once. Turn off heat and allow to remain in the hot water for 60 minutes more. Serve in hot soup (or refrigerate up to 2 days, reheating in the soup before serving).

FRENCH ONION MATZO BALLS

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

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.

FLUFFY MATZAH BALLS

Steps:

• 1. Mix the eggs well with a fork. Add the chicken fat or oil, soda water or chicken broth, matzah meal, and salt and pepper and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for several hours.
• 2. Dip your hands in cold water and make about 12 balls slightly smaller than Ping-Pong balls.
• 3. Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Add salt and place the matzah balls in the water. Cover and simmer about 30 minutes until soft.
• Tip: I often make chicken soup and matzah balls ahead. After cooking the matzah balls I just place them in the warm soup, which I then freeze. The liquid keeps them fluffy. I defrost the soup, reheat, and serve. If you like them more al dente, use large eggs and cook a shorter time.

MATZO BALL SOUP FOR PASSOVER

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.

BEST MATZAH BALLS

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.