Matzah Balls with a Twist

A tasty way to spruce up the classic matzah ball.

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matzah ball soup

Reprinted with permission from Jewish Family & Life!

Sinkers or floaters? That was the question always asked of Grandma Minnie's kneidels [matzah balls] at the first seder. Would her always delicious matzah balls sink to the bottom of her wonderfully rich chicken soup, or would they float delicately over the surface. The answer to the question was never certain; some years they sank with a slightly chewy texture and other years they floated with a melt-in-your-mouth lightness. What causes the difference? It comes from the ratio of eggs to matzah meal and the amount of air whipped into the eggs. Too much oil added to the mix will make them sink, as will removing the cover while they cook.

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For a more classic approach, try this recipe. We've also got more varieties, like healthy matzah balls with no fat or cholesterol, potato matzah balls, ones that are especially light and fluffy, and yet another approach that's sure to please your taste buds.<<< Less

Ingredients


1/2 cup pareve margarine
4 jumbo eggs
1/4 cup chicken soup
pinch salt
3 tablespoons chopped parsley
1/4 cup chopped spinach, squeezed dry
1/2 teaspoon thyme
2 teaspoons grated onion
1/2 teaspoon sage
pinch tarragon
1 cup matzah meal
pinch white pepper

Prep:

Cook:

Total:

Categories: Soup, Ashkenazi, Classics, Eastern European, Holidays, Pesach

Directions

Beat the eggs well. Add all the other ingredients EXCEPT the matzah meal. Mix well. Add the matzah meal gradually, mix well, cover, and refrigerate for an hour.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a teaspoon of salt. With well greased hands, make small balls, about an inch in diameter, and drop them into the water. Cover and simmer for an hour.

Matzah Ball Hints


* Use well oiled or wet hands to form the balls. This (usually) ensures a matzah ball with a definite shape that doesn't fall apart.

* Unless otherwise stated, cover the matzah balls as they simmer. DON'T PEEK! Somehow, peeking causes the matzah balls to fall.

* Add some of your favorite herbs or spices to any of these recipes. Some common additions are cayenne pepper, parsley, chopped chives, grated onion, grated garlic, and ground ginger. These all add a delicious flavor to your matzah balls.

Joni Schockett

Joni Schockett is a freelance food writer.