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Monday, April 14, 2008
The Matzah Ball Quest
Every year for Passover, I always fix a new matzah ball soup recipe. I don't know if it's simply become tradition, this lack of a traditional matzah ball, or if I'm just fascinated with the endless possibilities for variation in this simple, humble food, but whatever the reason, I've become the Heinz 57 of matzah balls. Equally strange, or at least out of the ordinary, my family always fixes egg drop soup as the broth base for the matzah balls - the vegetarian version of chicken soup, perhaps?
(and yes, I find it's very hard to get photos of matzah balls to look like anything other than small invading extraterrestrial creatures bobbing along in a soupy world...)
Over the course of the years, our Passover "seder" feast (with thanks to Wikipedia for augmenting the giant encyclopedia Britannica that I refuse to discard, despite the enormous amount of space its 100-odd volumes requires) witnessed carrot-stuffed matzah balls, whole wheat matzah balls, lemon-scented parsley sage matzah balls, and myriads of varieties in between. I've been remarkably fortunate with this parade of matzah balls, and every year we all vouch in genuine earnest that this is the year we have found our matzah ball recipe of all time, but conviction fades over the coming months and I always find myself drawn to yet another matzah ball experiment.
Since Passover begins this coming weekend, I figured it was only fitting that, in accord with 'tradition,' I give some new matzah balls a trial run. This year, however, the unthinkable happened - we finally found a matzah ball unlike no other. The others were all good, yes, but this one... was a matzah ball of new stature. If you've never tried matzah balls before, please try this version of the traditional, Jewish comfort food. If you're a matzah ball veteran - welcome to what is now officially my favorite matzah ball.
Saffron Matzah Balls (Inspired by / Adapted from Jeffrey Nathan's Adventures in Jewish Cooking)
6 eggs, separated
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup vegetable broth
1/8 cup cilantro
2 T salt
1/2 tsp saffron threads, crumbled
3/4 tsp black pepper
2 cups matzah meal
1 tsp baking powder
Your favorite broth-based soup: egg drop soup, chicken soup, vegetable broth, etc...
~ In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks, olive oil, broth, cilantro, salt, saffron, and pepper.
~ In another bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form.
~ In yet another bowl, whisk together the matzah meal and baking powder.
~ Pour the egg whites and the matzah meal mixture into the egg yolk mixture, and fold together gently until just combined. Let the mixture stand in the fridge for 20 minutes, or until you're ready to make the matzah balls.
~ Half an hour before you want to serve the soup, bring your broth soup to a boil, scoop rounded tablespoons of dough into your hands, roll gently into a ball, and drop into the boiling soup.
~ Reduce the soup to a simmer, and simmer gently for the half hour, then your matzah ball soup is ready! It also keeps very well and reheats nicely the next day... Mmmm, and the next day...
When I was in Uni, I would go to the Kosher cafeteria for the Matzah ball soup, it was the only place to get a decent chicken soup.
ReplyDeleteI used to LOVE matzah ball soup when I was little - luckily there ARE vegan recipes for it, out there :0)
ReplyDeleteHaha, no worries, you photographed the matzah balls beautifully!!
Matzah balls are new to me, but they do look very tasty.
ReplyDeleteHmm, I have only made matzo balls from the aptly named "matzo ball mix" and I always loved them. But this seems like a new challenge. Egg white base? cilantro?
ReplyDeleteYes please.
"extraterrestrial creatures..." LOL! That was funny -- never thought of matzo balls that way but you're right, they can look like that sometimes! But yours look great in your pictures.
ReplyDeleteWe love matzah ball soup! After such a great testemonial, I'm going to have to try your recipe.
ReplyDeletePeter, I love your chicken soup story... It's true, kosher cooking and chicken soup tend to go together! :-)
ReplyDeleteVeggieGirl, you're too kind... I would absolutely love to try a vegan matzah ball recipe - do you have a favorite you'd recommend?
CookieMouse, thank you!
Erin, Matzo Ball Mix totally rocks!
JJ, thank you so much for visiting - and for your kind words! I'm happy glad you had a laugh! :-)
StickyGooeyCreamyChewy, thank you for visiting as well - I'm flattered! I hope you enjoy the matzah balls!
The matzah ball soup sounds good though I have never had matzah balls.
ReplyDelete