A matzo ball soup recipe for Hanukkah

Your Hanukkah celebration likely includes crispy fried latkes, brisket and rugelach. But with eight nights of celebration, you’ll likely need a lot more food than that. Make up a batch of homemade matzo ball soup and you’ll have a warm and hearty dish worthy of celebrating!

Matzo ball soup is not only a staple of Passover feasts, but it is also a popular dish for Hanukkah. Matzo balls are Jewish dumplings made of matzo meal and usually served in a soup. As with any dish, there are many variations to both the recipe and the technique. In this matzo ball soup recipe, the matzo balls cook up light and fluffy in a rich chicken stock with carrots, celery and a hint of dill.

Matzo ball soup

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup chicken stock (recipe below)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup matzo meal
• 8 cups chicken stock (recipe below)
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 3 celery stalks, sliced
• 2 teaspoons chopped dill

Chicken stock:

• 1 cooked chicken carcass and skin
• 3 celery stalks
• 2 carrots
• 1 parsnip
• 1 yellow onion
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 12 cups water

Directions:

For chicken stock:

1. Roughly chop celery, carrots, parsnip and onion.
2. In a large pot, combine chicken carcass, vegetables, salt, pepper and water. (Water should cover contents of pot.)
3. Bring to a boil; then reduce to a simmer.
4. Simmer over very low heat for about four hours, stirring occasionally.
5. Strain solids and let stock sit for about 30 minutes; then skim fat off top.

For matzo ball soup:

1. Beat eggs, oil, 1/4 cup broth and salt together.
2. Add matzo meal and stir to combine well. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
3. In a large pot, combine chicken stock, carrots, celery and dill. Bring to a boil.
4. Meanwhile, with wet hands, form matzo mixture into 12 balls, using about two tablespoons per matzo ball.
5. When chicken stock comes to a boil, drop matzo balls into pot and reduce to a very low simmer. Cover and cook for 25 minutes.
6. Serve immediately.

More Hanukkah recipes

Hanukkah recipes that will delight: Let the celebration begin!
Apple cider latke recipe
Hanukkah rugelach recipes