Chicken Soup With Wild Mushrooms And Herbed Matzo Balls

Serves: 2

Ellsworth Rath

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

50

Spice

50

Sweetness

51

Sourness

41

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.6

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 tbsp

Vegetable Oil

2 cups

Water (hot)

4 large

Egg

1.5 tsps

Salt

1 tsp

Pepper

Directions:

1

For Soup: Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat

2

Add chicken and onions and cook until brown, stirring frequently, about 15 minutes

3

Add 12 cups water, celery, parsley and bay leaves

4

Bring to boil, skimming surface

5

Reduce heat and simmer gently until reduced to 8 cups, about 5 hours

6

Strain into bowl

7

Cover and refrigerate until fat solidifies on top

8

(Can be prepared 2 days ahead

9

) Remove fat form soup and reserve fat for matzo balls

10

Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat

11

Add chicken and onions and cook until brown, stirring frequently, about 15 minutes

12

Add 12 cups water, celery, parsley and bay leaves

13

Bring to boil, skimming surface

14

Reduce heat and simmer gently until reduced to 8 cups, about 5 hours

15

Strain into bowl

16

Cover and refrigerate until fat solidifies on top

17

(Can be prepared 2 days ahead

18

) Remove fat form soup and reserve fat for matzo balls

19

For Matzo Balls: Place shiitake mushrooms in small bowl

20

Pour 2 cups hot water over

21

Let soak until softened, about 30 minutes

22

Melt 1/3 cup chicken fat and cool

23

Combine melted chicken fat, 1/4 cup shiitake soaking liquid (reserve remainder), eggs, 2 tablespoons chives, 1 1/2 tablespoons tarragon, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in medium bowl and beat to blend

24

Mix in matzo meal

25

Cover and refrigerate 3 hours

26

(Can be prepared 1 day ahead

27

Cover mushrooms in soaking liquid and refrigerate

28

) Measure 3 1/2 quarts water into large pot

29

Salt generously and bring to boil

30

With dampened hands, form cold matzo meal mixture into 1-inch balls and add to boiling water

31

Cover and boil until matzo balls are cooked through and tender, about 40 minutes

32

(To test for doneness, remove 1 matzo ball and cut open

33

) Transfer matzo balls to plate, using slotted spoon

34

(Can be prepared 1 day ahead

35

Cover tightly and refrigerate

36

) Drain mushrooms, reserving liquid

37

Thinly slice mushrooms, discarding stems

38

Combine remaining mushroom soaking liquid, mushrooms, chicken soup and 1 teaspoon fresh tarragon in heavy large saucepan and bring to simmer

39

Season to taste with salt and pepper

40

Add matzo balls and simmer until heated through

41

Ladle soup into bowls

42

Garnish with chives and serve

43

Place shiitake mushrooms in small bowl

44

Pour 2 cups hot water over

45

Let soak until softened, about 30 minutes

46

Melt 1/3 cup chicken fat and cool

47

Combine melted chicken fat, 1/4 cup shiitake soaking liquid (reserve remainder), eggs, 2 tablespoons chives, 1 1/2 tablespoons tarragon, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in medium bowl and beat to blend

48

Mix in matzo meal

49

Cover and refrigerate 3 hours

50

(Can be prepared 1 day ahead

51

Cover mushrooms in soaking liquid and refrigerate

52

) Measure 3 1/2 quarts water into large pot

53

Salt generously and bring to boil

54

With dampened hands, form cold matzo meal mixture into 1-inch balls and add to boiling water

55

Cover and boil until matzo balls are cooked through and tender, about 40 minutes

56

(To test for doneness, remove 1 matzo ball and cut open

57

) Transfer matzo balls to plate, using slotted spoon

58

(Can be prepared 1 day ahead

59

Cover tightly and refrigerate

60

) Drain mushrooms, reserving liquid

61

Thinly slice mushrooms, discarding stems

62

Combine remaining mushroom soaking liquid, mushrooms, chicken soup and 1 teaspoon fresh tarragon in heavy large saucepan and bring to simmer

63

Season to taste with salt and pepper

64

Add matzo balls and simmer until heated through

65

Ladle soup into bowls

66

Garnish with chives and serve