Asian Inspired Matzo Ball Soup Food

SCALLION AND GINGER MATZO BALL SOUP

Steps:

• For the soup: Season the chicken all over with the salt. Tie up the ginger in a piece of cheesecloth (or put in a tea bag or tea ball). Put the chicken and ginger in a large pot with the soy sauce, scallions, carrots and 8 cups water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a simmer and simmer about 1 hour, skimming the foam off of the top when needed.
• For the matzo balls: In a large bowl, combine the matzo meal and 1 teaspoon salt. Stir in the oil, egg yolks, scallions and 1/4 cup of the soup. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until fluffy but not stiff. Fold the whites into the yolk mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let cool slightly, 10 to 15 minutes. When cool enough to handle, use a fork or your hands to pull the meat from the bones; reserve the meat. Return the soup to a very low simmer while you make the matzo balls.
• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Roll tablespoon-size balls of the matzo mixture. Boil in the salted water until fluffy, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Return the meat to the soup and simmer until warmed through. When ready to serve, stir the black vinegar into the soup. Serve the matzo balls in the soup with a drizzle of sesame oil and a plop of sambal oelek.

MATZO BALL SOUP

Steps:

• Make the broth: Put the chicken, celery, carrots, onion, tomatoes, parsley, dill, coriander seeds, peppercorns, cloves and 2 teaspoons salt in a large pot. Add enough cold water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat; reduce the heat to maintain a low simmer and cook, skimming off the foam occasionally, 3 hours. Strain, discarding the solids. Let cool until the fat rises to the surface. (The broth can be made up to 3 days ahead; cover and refrigerate.) Skim off the fat, reserving 2 tablespoons fat for the matzo balls.
• Make the matzo balls: Whisk the eggs and reserved chicken-broth fat in a bowl. Stir in the shallot, garlic, lemon zest, ginger, dill, parsley, matzo meal, 1/4 cup of the prepared broth and 1 3/4 teaspoons salt. Cover and chill at least 2 hours or overnight. Roll heaping teaspoonfuls of dough into balls with damp hands. Cover and chill until ready to cook, up to 8 hours.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the matzo balls and reduce the heat to maintain a low simmer; cover and cook until the balls are tender, 35 minutes. Meanwhile, warm the prepared broth. Drain the matzo balls and serve in the warm broth. Top with dill.

ASIAN INSPIRED MATZO BALL SOUP

Steps:

• In a large stock pot filled with water, add the chicken and the rest of the stock ingredients up to the salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat, cover and simmer for 45 minutes. Remove from heat. Strain the broth, reserving the chicken meat (cutting into chunks or shredding) and the vegetables, but discarding any bones and chicken skin.
• In a bowl, combine the eggs with the seltzer and the oil. In another bowl, stir together the matzo meal with the baking powder and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir to combine thoroughly. Refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 30 minutes. Using wet hands, form the matzo ball mixture into 1-inch balls and add to a boiling pot of water. Lower to a simmer and cover for about 20 minutes. The matzo balls should be light and fluffy.
• Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste. Using a slotted spoon, transfer matzo balls to individual bowls and ladle the chicken soup over the matzo balls when ready to serve.

MATZO BALL SOUP

Steps:

• Make the stock.
• In a large pot, bring 2 quarts chicken stock to a simmer. Add the chicken and return just to a simmer. Cover the chicken with a small heatproof plate to keep it submerged (add more stock if needed). Cover the pot and reduce the heat; gently simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove the chicken and let cool slightly, then roughly cut up the meat and set aside; discard the skin and bones. Strain the stock into another large pot.
• Skim the fat off the surface of the stock using a spoon.
• Make the batter.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk the matzo meal, granulated garlic, baking powder, baking soda, 2 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper. In a medium bowl, whisk the 2 whole eggs with the 3 yolks, schmaltz and minced onion. In a separate clean bowl, beat the 3 egg whites with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form. Stir the schmaltz mixture into the dry ingredients, then stir in one-third of the beaten egg whites until incorporated. Gently fold in the remaining egg whites until no streaks remain.
• Form the matzo balls.
• Line a baking sheet with plastic wrap. In a small bowl, combine the vegetable oil with 1 tablespoon water. Using the oil-and-water mixture to keep your hands moist, roll scoops of batter (about 2 tablespoons each) into balls, handling them as gently as possible (makes 8 to 12). Arrange on the baking sheet and refrigerate 20 minutes so the outsides dry slightly.
• Make the soup.
• Tie the dill and parsley sprigs together with kitchen string. Return the chicken stock to a simmer. Add the carrot, celery, diced onion, rutabaga and herb bundle; season with salt and pepper. Return to a simmer and add the matzo balls. Cover and cook over moderate heat, turning the matzo balls a few times, until they are plump and cooked through, about 25 minutes. Stir the chicken into the soup and cook until just warmed through. Remove the herb bundle and season the soup with salt and pepper.

MATZO BALL SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan combine the stock, carrots, celery, onion and parsley. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the matzo meal, 1/4 cup stock, 4 egg yolks, chicken fat or vegetable oil and salt and pepper. In another bowl, beat the egg whites until frothy but not stiff. Fold the egg whites into the matzo meal mixture. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Shape the matzo mixture in to 2 inch balls while occasionally dipping your hands in cold water. Carefully add the balls to the simmering soup as you form them. Cover the soup and cook for 30 minutes. Serve hot.

MATZO BALL SOUP

Steps:

• Place the chicken in a large pot so it fits snugly and fill the pot with enough water to cover the chicken by 1 inch. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes, using a ladle to skim the foam that rises to the surface. Add the garlic, bay leaves, peppercorns and 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon salt and continue cooking for another 30 minutes. Skim any fat that rises to the surface and reserve. You should have about 1/4 cup -- if necessary, add vegetable oil to equal 1/4 cup and set aside to cool slightly. Add the celery, carrots, onion and parsley sprigs to the pot and continue to cook until the vegetables are soft and the chicken is tender but not falling apart, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the eggs and chicken fat in a medium bowl, then stir in the seltzer, chopped dill, matzo meal and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt until combined; cover and refrigerate. Chill until the mixture is firm, at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours.
• When the chicken is cooked, carefully remove it from the broth with a slotted spoon and place on a rimmed baking sheet along with the vegetables; let cool. Return the broth to a simmer. Scoop heaping tablespoons of the matzo mixture, using your hands to gently roll them into balls (wet your hands to prevent sticking). Carefully drop the matzo balls into the simmering broth. Cover and simmer on low until the matzo balls are completely cooked through and fluffy, about 1 hour.
• While the matzo balls cook, pick the meat from the chicken and roughly chop it, discarding the skin and bones. Slice the celery and carrots into 1/4-inch-thick pieces and discard the onion and aromatics.
• When ready to serve, return the chicken, celery and carrots to the broth. Increase the heat to high to bring the soup to a simmer, then remove from the heat. Gently ladle the soup in to serving bowls, being careful not to break up the matzo balls. Top with fresh chopped dill and serve.