Matzo Ball Soup

S1 E12 | Andrew Schulz + Yannis Pappas | New York Hook Ups | Something’s Burning

In this blast from the past, Andrew Schulz, Yannis Pappas, and I talk New York, Hannah Gadsby, and relationships while whipping up a comforting bowl of Matzo Ball Soup.

The Chicken Stock

Ingredients

  • 5-lb. chicken, cut into 8 pieces
  • 1 pound chicken wings, necks and/or backs
  • 2 large yellow onions, unpeeled, halved
  • 6 celery stalks, 1" pieces
  • 4 carrots
  • 1 parsnip and 1 shallot
  • 1 head of garlic, halved crosswise
  • 6 sprigs flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 tablespoon black peppercorns

Steps

  1. Bring chicken, vegetables, and 12-qt. of cold water to a boil in a large pot. [cite: 464]
  2. Reduce to medium-low and simmer until breasts are cooked through (about 20 minutes). [cite: 464]
  3. Transfer breasts to a plate to cool; return bones to the pot. [cite: 464]
  4. Continue simmering, skimming the surface occasionally, until broth is reduced by one-third (about 4 hours). [cite: 465]
  5. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve and discard solids. Reserve chicken meat for assembly. [cite: 466, 467]

The Matzo Balls & Assembly

Ingredients

  • 4 beaten eggs [cite: 464]
  • 1 cup matzo meal [cite: 464]
  • 1/4 cup schmaltz (chicken fat), melted [cite: 464]
  • 1/4 cup club soda [cite: 464]
  • 1 tsp kosher salt [cite: 464]
  • 2 small carrots, sliced [cite: 464]
  • Fresh dill and black pepper for garnish [cite: 464]

Steps

  1. Whisk eggs and schmaltz; add matzo meal and salt until uniform. [cite: 468]
  2. Stir in club soda, cover, and refrigerate for 2 hours to set. [cite: 468]
  3. Using wet hands, form mixture into walnut-sized balls. [cite: 468]
  4. Drop balls into boiling salted water; cover and cook until tender and doubled in size. [cite: 468]
  5. Warm the reserved chicken and sliced carrots in the broth. [cite: 468]
  6. Ladle soup into bowls, add matzo balls, and top with fresh dill. [cite: 468]

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