Classic Chicken Soup with Matzo Balls

The original cure for whatever ails you—even if all you need is a little comforting!

205

8 servings

chicken soup matzo balls healthy recipe diet spry

Use a kosher chicken, if desired. For a clear broth, do not stir or agitate the soup while it’s simmering. For added flavor in the matzo balls, you can substitute chicken fat from the soup for the vegetable oil.

Ingredients

Soup:
1 (4- to 5-pound) chicken, giblets removed
2 stalks celery with leaves, halved
1 medium onion, quartered
3 medium carrots, peeled and halved
1 parsnip, peeled and halved
4 sprigs flat-leaf parsley
4 sprigs fresh dill
1 tablespoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Matzo Ball:
2 eggs
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unflavored seltzer or club soda
1/2 cup unsalted matzo meal

Prep Time - 25
Cook Time - 180

Instructions

To prepare the soup, place chicken in an 8-quart stock pot. Add cold water to cover chicken completely. Add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 2 hours.
Remove chicken and vegetables and strain broth. (Save chicken for another use.) Refrigerate broth several hours or overnight.
To prepare the matzo balls, beat eggs with a whisk until lemon-colored. Add oil, salt and seltzer; beat well. Mix in matzo meal; do not overmix. Let stand a few minutes.
Fill stockpot halfway with water; bring to a boil. Wet hands and form matzo mixture into 8 balls. Reduce heat to low and drop balls into water. Cover pot and simmer 45 to 60 minutes. Matzo balls are done when white and fluffy in the center. If yellow, cook 10 more minutes.
To serve, scrape off the layer of fat from the top of broth; reheat. Add cooked matzo balls. Serves 8.

Recipe by Margo Rudman Gold.

Nutritional Info (per serving)