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Roasted Garlic Matzo Ball Chicken Soup [Recipe]

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Soup in August?

When you’re sick, that’s a must. 

The recipe I’m going to share today is for a hot soup often referred to as Jewish Penicillin… with my own special twist.  It’s a roasted Garlic Matzo Ball Chicken Soup.

Matzo Soup is often referred to as Jewish Penicillin. This Roasted Garlic Matzo Ball Chicken Soup is based on the one my mom used to make for me. It's the perfect cure whether you have a cold or are simply craving comfort food!

Vegas caught a summer cold.  How you can get a cold in the summer, I have no idea… but it happens to me about once a year.  And apparently to Vegas.  I decided to cure her with a big bowl of Matzo Ball Chicken Soup.

Matzo balls are made from Matzo Meal, which is ground matzo crackers.  Matzo is unleavened bread, which is the traditionally eaten by Jews during the Passover festival, when chametz (bread and other food made with leaven) is forbidden according to Jewish religious law.

It’s not passover, but you can still locate a box of the meal in most major grocery stores.

Roasted Garlic Matzo Ball Chicken Soup

Outside of Passover, it’s also often made to cure a cold.  Like chicken soup.  So I decided to make a two-in-one cure for Vegas.  I added roasted garlic because garlic is also thought to be good for illness.  It’s good for flavor too!  Matzo is actually pretty bland on it’s own, so I like to amp up the flavors with garlic and rosemary.

Matzo balls, if done right, are light and fluffy.  When you roll the balls, they may seem sticky and dense.  Don’t worry.  After dropping them in the boiling broth they poof up and rise to the top.  The soda water helps the achieve this and you’ll also want to take care not to over-mix or roll your balls too tightly.

Roasted Garlic Matzo Ball Chicken Soup

Bottom line: You want floaters, not sinkers.

(Side note: did you know soda water in pancakes make then fluffier too?)

Scroll down to the bottom for the full recipe!

I basically drank my way WIAW with slurpy, souper concoctions.  Check out Jenn’s WIAW baby over at Arman’s this week, and then check out everyone else’s delicious eats!

WIAW - New

Breakfast:

I had the usual morning cocktail and morning sludge.

Breakfast was a fun experiment.  Watermlon Gazpacho!  I’m typing up the recipe for Friday’s Strange But Good.  Because cold watermelon soup is a bit strange, no?

Vegas and I gobbled it down with a few hefty scoops of Greek yogurt – after of course I took this pretty pic with a dainty dollop and a drizzle of honey.  Fo ‘shizzle.

Watermelon Gazpacho

Lunch:

After a very sweaty and longer than expected workout, I dove for the blender to make an ice cold smoothie bowl.  This is basically my Strawberry Acai Protein Bowl, but with more spinach.

Strawberry Acai Protein Bowl

Snack:

Lindsay’s balls.  Or – more politically correct but less funny – Cocoa Cashew Pretzel Bites.  I mostly followed the recipe, except I used almonds instead of cashews and my favorite Growing Naturals Chocolate Rice Protein Power.

Cocoa Cashew Pretzel Bites

Dinner:

Here’s where the soup comes in.  Funny story about the soup…

You may have noticed from my blue eyes and (mostly) natural blonde hair that I’m not Jewish.  I’m Southern, raised in a Methodist home.  Despite this, we grew up on matzo ball soup thanks to a favorite Jewish deli called Sophie’s.  My dad loved Sophie’s soup.  When she closed the deli to retire, he asked if he might have the recipe.  She obliged and my mom has been making it ever since!

Roasted Garlic Matzo Ball Chicken Soup

Mom also is a big fan of latkes.  I have no explanation for this.

Anyhow, this was Vegas’ first time eating this soup and she told me she loved my balls.  #TWSS

Roasted Garlic Matzo Ball Chicken Soup

Roasted Garlic Matzo Ball Chicken Soup

  • 6 cloves unpeeled garlic
  • 1/4 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 4 eggs
  • 4 T (1/2 stick) cold salted butter, cut into small pieces
  • 1/4 C club soda
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper (you may adjust to taste)
  • 1 tsp finely chopped fresh rosemary
  • 1 C Unsalted Matzo Meal 
  • 1 T extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 leek, white an light green parts only, thinly sliced
  • 2 medium chopped carrots (~1.5 C)
  • 1.25 lb chicken tenders, pounded*
  • 7 C low sodium vegetable broth
  • 2 cloves peeled garlic
  • 2 thyme sprigs
  • 1 rosemary sprig

Preheat the oven to 375°F.  Toss garlic with a 1/4 tsp olive oil and transfer to a baking pan.  Roast for 25 minutes, or until cloves are soft.

Peel garlic and place in food processor with eggs and cold butter, and purée.  Pour the mixture into a bowl.  Stir in soda, pepper, rosemary and matzo meal.  Combine well.  Cover and refrigerate for 30 mins to an hour.

Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large pot.  Add leeks and carrots, cooking until beginning to soften and become fragrant, ~5 mins.  Add chicken  and 1/2 of broth and cook over medium heat, flipping once.  When just done (~3 mins each side), remove from pot and set aside too cool.

Pout remaining broth into pot with garlic cloves and sprigs of rosemary and thyme.  While broth is heating, roll the matzo mixture into 1-inch balls and transfer to a piece of wax paper.  When broth comes to a boil, add gently add matzo balls.

Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 20 minutes.  Matzo balls should be tender, fluffed, and cooked through.  Meanwhile shred cooled chicken tenders and set aside.

Uncover, add shredded chicken, and let cook about 2 mins more until chicken is warmed.  Ladle soup into bowls and serve.

Makes 6-8 servings.

*Note: You could also use chicken breast or a roasted chicken.

***

Vegas is feeling better today.  She says the soup helped. 😉

Have you ever caught a summer cold?

Have you ever had Matzo Ball Soup? 

Comments

  3. So fluffay?
    I got a pretty dastardly summer cold right before and during Blogfest, so I barely had a voice and then sounded like Demi Moore with a pack a day habit and a head cold. It was awesome. But I didn’t have the sneezing and nose drip, so I was winning in that department. Feel better Vegas!
    I love Matzo ball soup. Well, I love chicken soup, period. So there you go.

  6. Colds suck any time of the year, but they seem especially offensive the summer. I am glad to hear Vegas is feeling better. Lucky she had you to nurse her back to health.
    I have never had matzo ball soup before, but I always see matzo meal at the grocery store. Now I have a reason (and a recipe) to pick up a box.

    • Thanks Heather! She’s finally feeling human again. 🙂

      Let me know if you try out the matzo! I really like it!

  8. I had matzo ball soup once, and I will agree – it is very bland!! But roasted garlic makes everything better!! Putting this recipe away for a cold Fall day! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!

    • Please let me know if you do try this one – I promise it’s not the usual bland. 🙂 Thanks!

    • Oh no! that’s really bad for kids – it’s their vacation! I rrecommend the soup. 😉

  11. Something about a summer cold is more obnoxious than any other time of year. I hope Vegas feels better soon! How could she not after this soup? Plus I’m a firm believer garlic fixes these things 😉
    Y’all are so cute.

  12. Matzo ball soup is an every-holiday tradition in our house. I’m Jewish but very Reform/secular, so we kind of just make all the food we like every holiday since we don’t like a lot of the others. Lots of matzo ball soup, latkes, and the Passover flourless chocolate torte (this is not traditional, my dad is just obsessed).

    • Random diners always do the best! Especially if it’s fresh so the balls haven’t all gotten broken up yet. YUM!

  19. I have never had such a Matzo soup but it is definitely something I would like to try!
    Your snack balls also like divine, any type of bite sized snack sounds good to me. Like you could put the worst combination of ingredients into a ball shape and I would probably be excited to eat it :D!

  21. You are making me want to try Matzo ball soup! it sounds great. I just recently had a summer cold thanks to my toddler, it took me a while to get rid of it but I did have some soup and lots of tea which helped 🙂

    • Glad you’re feeling better! I was shocked how much my friends with kids started getting sick once they were around other kids. I know that’s rough!

    • Ok, well it’s not quiiiite that hot here. Still, I think it’s healing. Like eating spicy food is – it makes you sweat whatever it is out! Hope you’re feeling better. Just have some more gelato. 😉

  23. This looks so warm and nourishing and delicious. I’ve never made matzo balls before but plan on adding this to my fall to-make list. By the way, where is today’s WIAW link-up taking place? I haven’t been able to find it. Thanks 🙂

  25. Oooh my goodness! This soup looks amazing.. even though it is practically 100 degrees out right now, I want a big bowl of it!

  26. that protein powder is legit! but vegas caught another cold? what’s going on with her? too much partying? LOL! jk. P.S i’m still trying to find GF mazto balls!

  29. Uhhh Hmmmmm this looks delicious and hearty. I didn’t grow up on Matzo Ball soup but I wish I did. I’ll have to remember to make this next time I get sick. I hope the soup made Vegas feel better, summer colds are the worst.

  30. I lovedddddddd having Jewish friends when I was younger because omg MAZTO BALL SOUP KICKS ASSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!! And the Hallah, OHHH MYYYYYY! I want a mattress made of the stuff.

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