Matzah Salad Recipes

MATZAH

Steps:

• Move an oven rack near the top of oven and preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C). Preheat a heavy baking sheet in the oven.
• Dust a clean work surface and a rolling pin with 1 teaspoon flour, or as needed. Place 1 cup of flour into a mixing bowl; set a timer for about 16 minutes (18 minutes maximum). Start the timer; pour the water, about 1 tablespoon at a time, into the flour. Stir the water and flour together with a fork until the dough forms a rough ball, remove the dough to the prepared work surface, knead rapidly and firmly until smooth, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
• Divide the dough into four equal pieces; cut each piece in half again to get 8 pieces total. Swiftly roll each piece into a ball. Roll each piece of dough out into a 5-inch pancake, dusting the top and rolling pin with flour as needed. Gradually roll the pancakes out to a size of about 8 inches, increasing the size of each by about 1 inch, then letting the dough rest for a few seconds before rolling again to the finished size. Roll from the center out. The bread rounds should be very thin. Using a fork, quickly pierce each bread about 25 times, all over, to prevent rising. The holes should go completely through the bread. Flip the bread over, and pierce each piece another 25 times with the fork.
• With at least 5 minutes left on the timer, remove the hot baking sheet from the preheated oven, and place the rounds onto the baking sheet. Place the baking sheet onto the rack near the top of the oven, and bake for 2 minutes; turn the breads over and bake an additional 2 minutes, until the matzot are lightly browned and crisp.
• Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Lightly anoint each matzah with olive oil, using a brush, and sprinkle generously with salt.

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.

MATZO BALL SOUP AND CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• For the soup: Cut whole chicken into quarters or breasts into 2 pieces. Place the chicken into a stockpot and fill the stockpot with water to cover chicken. Bring the stockpot to a boil. Skim the top of the water. Add the vegetables and seasonings. Turn heat down and let simmer for approximately 1 1/2 hours or until tender.
• For the Matzo Balls: Separate the yolks from the whites and mix the yolks with chicken fat (or oil). Mix matzo meal, salt and soup stock together. Beat egg whites to soft peaks. Mix together the yolk mixture and the matzo meal. Fold the egg whites into the matzo mixture and refrigerate for 40 minutes. Remove from refrigerator and make heaping tablespoon size balls. Boil in salt water for about 40 minutes.
• Strain the soup, reserving the chicken (for the chicken salad) and the carrots. Place the matzo balls into the strained soup. Serve the matzo ball soup with the carrots.
• For the chicken salad: Mix chicken, eggs and mayonnaise together. The amount of mayonnaise may vary depending on the amount of chicken. Season with garlic powder and salt and pepper, to taste. The garlic powder is the trick to making it taste so good. Top with toasted slivered almonds (optional).