Sephardic Chicken Soup With Sofrito And Herbed Matzo Balls

Serves: 6

Manley Abshire

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

47

Spice

56

Sweetness

53

Sourness

43

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.7

Difficulty

Ingredients:

8 large

Egg

2 tsps

Canola Oil

1 cup

Water

2 tbsps

Kosher Salt

2 tsps

Garlic Powder

2 cups

Matzo Meal

2.25 tsps

Baking Powder

Directions:

1

Watch how to make this recipe

2

To make the matzo balls, bring a large pot of salted water or chicken broth to a boil over high heat

3

Whisk the eggs, oils, chicken fat, water, parsley, salt, garlic powder, and pepper in a medium bowl

4

In a separate bowl, add the matzo meal and sift in the baking powder

5

Mix together, then fold into the eggs

6

Cover with plastic wrap, pressed tightly against the batter and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight

7

Moisten your hands lightly with water and form the matzo mixture into 24 walnut-sized balls

8

Carefully drop the matzo balls into the water or broth

9

Reduce the heat to medium and partially cover

10

Simmer gently until the matzo balls are cooked through, about 40 minutes

11

Using a skimmer or slotted spoon, transfer the matzo balls to a large bowl of cold water

12

Meanwhile, make the soup

13

Bring the chicken pieces and stock to a boil in a large pot over medium-high heat, skimming off the foam that rises to the surface

14

Reduce the heat to medium-low

15

Simmer, partially covered, until the chicken is tender, about 25 to 30 minutes

16

Remove the chicken from the soup

17

Remove and discard the skin, shred the meat into bite-sized pieces, and reserve the meat until service

18

Return the remaining bones back to the broth and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes more to further develop the soup's flavor

19

While the soup is simmering, heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat

20

Add the onion, tomatoes, red and green peppers, cilantro, garlic and saffron

21

Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables in the sofrito are tender, but not browned, about 8 minutes

22

Add the hot sauce, if using

23

Set the sofrito aside

24

When ready to serve, strain the soup and discard the bones

25

Return the soup to the pot and stir in the sofrito and chicken pieces

26

Add the matzo balls and simmer until the matzo balls are heated through, about 5 minutes

27

(The soup and matzo balls can be prepared up to 2 days ahead, cooled, covered, and refrigerated

28

Reheat before serving

29

) Ladle the soup, along with sofrito, chicken and matzo balls into bowls and serve hot, with an optional drizzle of the additional melted chicken fat (schmaltz)