For a vegetarian take on a traditional favorite this Passover, try this healthy matzo ball soup with turmeric and fresh dill!
It turns out that matzo ball soup, one of the most traditional and simple dishes at Passover, is not so simple! There are many factors involved in making the perfect matzo ball. First, the weight of the matzo ball. Are you a fan of the fluffy floater, or the dense sinker? Personally, I absolutely love matzo balls and will eat them either way! Another factor to consider is the type of broth, which will have a major effect on flavor. In my home, our broth of choice is vegetarian, and that means adding lots of spices and fresh herbs to give it more taste.
Perfecting the Matzo Ball
Growing up, my family was not particularly religious--my mother came from a Christian household, and my father was from a Jewish upbringing. Our holidays revolve around family traditions like decorating the Christmas tree (with Neil Diamond's Christmas album), dying easter eggs, and yes, making matzo ball soup. Traditions at home always included a delicious holiday meal, as the food was always a focus. My mother was an extremely intelligent and successful woman that was a pioneer in the medical field. She also made some very unique (and delicious) matzo balls. Instead of small matzo balls in a soup, my mother would make ostrich egg-sized matzo balls with Mrs. Grass' noodle soup mix.
This spring, I decided to finally make my own matzo ball soup with the same Jewish American Cookbook that my mother used during my childhood. Instead of using matzo ball mix like we did growing up, I decided to make mine from scratch. After some research, I came across an amazing article online about the basics of matzo ball making by Serious Eats. There is a true technique to making a fluffier matzo ball if you are not a fan of the dense version. This blew my mind! The trick is using either seltzer water or baking soda (or a combination of both). Also, simmering the matzo balls in broth instead of water will add more flavor. I used these different techniques in my recipe and I was really impressed!
Turn it up with Turmeric!
To spice up the traditional matzo ball recipe, I decided to add turmeric for a hint of color and additional nutritional benefits. You may recognize turmeric in Indian dishes such as curry, yellow rice, and even tea. There's a reason it is starting to pop up more and more in our favorite foods. This magical spice may delay the effects of aging and reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases. More specifically, preliminary studies have shown that it may reduce the risk of cancer and diabetes, and help fight inflammation. Even with ongoing research showing promising results, don't go overboard with turmeric supplementation. Using spice in cooking is a healthy way to sneak in the anti-inflammatory benefit. Just as I did with this soup broth, sprinkle it in your favorite stews, rice dishes, and even scrambled eggs. If you are feeling bold, try it in a smoothie!
In this healthy matzo ball soup recipe...
The trick to matzo balls is to have the right consistency. To set the mixture, place the blended matzo batter in the fridge for at least a half-hour. To save time, I prepped the vegetables for the soup while the matzo ball mix was forming in the refrigerator. Once ready, the matzo balls are best when cooked separately from the soup broth. This keeps the matzo balls from absorbing too much of the soup broth and prevents a cloudy, starchy broth. Some recipes call for boiling them in water, but I felt the broth gave a better flavor. This soup can easily be adapted based on your preferences, whether it is using chicken broth instead of vegetable stock, or making denser matzo balls without baking soda. For those of you celebrating Hannukah and Passover this year, I wish you a very happy holiday (and a very delicious matzo ball soup)!
Healthy Matzo Ball Soup
This delicious vegetarian soup includes fresh dill and flavorful turmeric. A healthier take on matzo ball soup using unsalted matzo meal and low sodium broth, so that you can adjust the salt to your liking!
Ingredients
1 cup matzo meal, unsalted
4 whole large eggs
2-3 tablespoons cold water
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon garlic
½ teaspoon dill weed, ground
1 teaspoon kosher salt or pinch of sea salt
¼ teaspoon baking soda, optional
10 cups water reserved to cook matzo balls
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and diced
2 celery stalks, trimmed and sliced
2 large carrots carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 bay leaves
½ teaspoon turmeric
8 cups vegetable or chicken broth, low sodium
¼ cup fresh dill, chopped
Instructions
To make the matzo balls:
Combine the matzo meal, eggs, water, olive oil, onion powder, garlic powder, dill weed, salt, and baking soda in a medium mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly. Cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to set the mixture.
Once matzo ball mixture is ready, in a large pot bring 10 cups of water or broth to a boil.
Using a cookie scooper or small spoon, scoop out mix and roll with wet hands to make a one-two inch ball (this prevents the mixture from sticking to your hands).
Slowly place into the boiling water. Once all of the matzo balls are in the pot, reduce to simmer and cook for 20 to 30 minutes, covered. The matzo balls should be soft all the way through (use a fork to test).
Once cooked, turn off the heat and set aside.
While the matzo balls simmer, heat a 4 quart pot with the remaining olive oil on medium high. Add the onion, carrots, and celery and sautee for 5-7 minutes or until onion is translucent. Do not brown the vegetables. Add the garlic, bay leaf, and turmeric, and saute for 30 seconds to one minute until fragrant.
Pour in the broth and 2 cups water. Simmer for 20-30 minutes until vegetables are soft and the broth is flavorful. Adjust the salt and spices to your liking.
Once the broth is ready turn off the heat and remove the bay leaves.
Slowly spoon in the matzo balls into the broth using a slotted spoon. Toss in the fresh dill and let the soup cool down for a few minutes before serving.
Salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
Use more salt, fresh dill, and spices to your liking for flavor.
