The Comfort of Matzo Ball Soup

Growing up, I remember always going out to eat at Jerry’s Famous Deli.  Every time my family and I went out to eat there, I ordered the same thing without hesitation.  It was either their potato pancakes with applesauce and sour cream, or half of a pastrami sandwich piled high on sourdough with a bowl of matzo ball soup. 

And that matzo ball soup? It was amazing.  Truly the star on the menu.  I believe most guests opted for the soup.  I noticed quite a lot of people sitting with a nice hot bowl in front of them.  

All of the Jerry’s locations have gone out of business now, but I still have so many childhood memories of sitting in those deep red booths with friends and family.  They’d always serve you a variety of their freshly made pickles alongside some crunchy breadsticks.  So, that was always something nice to nosh on before you’re order came.  

One of the restaurants I went to was attached to a bowling alley, so a lot of our weekends were spent bowling first and then eating really good food afterward.  I celebrated a few birthdays there, soccer tournaments, and after-school get togethers.  So many of the memories I hold are warm and comforting just like the way the soup was. 

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These days, my go-to place for matzo ball soup is Mort’s.  Hands down, the best matzo ball soup I’ve ever had.  It’s the most comforting dish on the planet.  You feel the warmth of the chicken broth immediately, and it literally soothes your soul.  The matzo balls are delicate but packed with flavor, pairing so beautifully with the broth and veggies.  That thick matzo ball, fully doused in chicken broth, is hearty in the best way. It melts in your mouth and is certainly food for the soul.

I’m half Jewish, but I never really became deeply familiar with that side of my heritage.  My grandparents passed away when I was very young, so I didn’t grow up immersed in those traditions the way some people do.  Still, I like to think they’d be pleased to know that I’ve tried to keep parts of that culture alive in my own way.

Every holiday, I try to honor that side of my family by cooking familiar favorites. Matzo ball soup is always at the top of that list.  Whenever I eat it, I feel connected, to my grandparents, to my family, to a part of myself that I’m still learning how to know.

I’ve only made matzo ball soup myself once or twice, but each time I do, it gets better.  And maybe that’s fitting.  Tradition doesn’t have to be perfect or fully formed.  Sometimes it’s something you learn slowly, one bowl at a time.

Matzo Ball Soup

A comforting, traditional Jewish soup featuring tender, flavorful matzo balls floating in warm, savory chicken broth.

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Course: dinner, Lunch, Main Course

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

For the Matzo Balls

• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup matzo meal
• ¼ cup vegetable oil or melted chicken fat (schmaltz)
• ¼ cup water or chicken broth
• 1 tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper

For the Soup

• 6 cups chicken broth (homemade or store-bought)
• 2 carrots sliced
• 2 celery stalks sliced
• 1 small onion chopped
• fresh parsley optional for garnish
• fresh dill optional for garnish

Method

 

1. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs. Stir in the matzo meal, oil (or schmaltz), water or broth, salt, and pepper until fully combined. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the mixture to firm up.
2. In a large pot, bring chicken broth to a gentle boil. Add sliced carrots, celery, and chopped onion. Simmer until vegetables are tender, about 15-20 minutes.
3. With wet hands, shape the chilled matzo mixture into balls about 1 inch in diameter. Gently drop the matzo balls into the simmering soup.
4. Cover the pot and let them simmer gently for 30-40 minutes, until the matzo balls are light and fluffy.
5. Ladle the soup into bowls, placing a few matzo balls in each
6. Garnish with fresh parsley and dill if desired

Notes

For extra flavor, let the matzo balls rest in the soup for 15 minutes before serving-they absorb the broth beautifully.

 

Be sure to grab a copy of my holiday cookbook! It’s filled with flavorful meals, curated holiday menus, reflection prompts, tools and tips, and much more.

“Some meals do more than feed us — they remind us where we come from.” – Unknown

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