• Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
Subscribe & never miss a recipe →
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Proportional Plate
  • RECIPES
  • SPRING RECIPES
  • LIFESTYLE
  • DESIGN
  • ABOUT
menu icon
go to homepage
  • RECIPES
  • SPRING RECIPES
  • LIFESTYLE
  • DESIGN
  • ABOUT
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • RECIPES
    • SPRING RECIPES
    • LIFESTYLE
    • DESIGN
    • ABOUT
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Passover

    Matzo Ball Soup

    Published: Feb 12, 2021 Modified: Feb 12, 2021 by Candice This post may contain affiliate links.

    JUMP TO RECIPE PIN RECIPE
    Three bowls of matzo ball soup.
    Matzo ball soup.
    Matzo balls in soup with tea.

    Matzo ball soup is a Jewish classic, usually enjoyed during Passover. It takes only 5 ingredients and is much easier to make than you think. Plus, I'm sharing how to make the matzo balls either fluffy or dense, depending on your preference!

    Three bowls of matzo ball soup.
    TABLE OF CONTENTS hide
    1 Why this Recipe Works
    2 Ingredients
    3 Soup Base Variations & Garnishes
    4 Fluffy or Dense? You Choose.
    5 How to Make this Recipe
    6 Matzo Ball Soup FAQs
    7 More Jewish Recipes for Passover
    8 Matzo Ball Soup

    Why this Recipe Works

    The matzo balls are cooked in water instead of stock. Different broths and stock have different ingredients in them. This changes the density of the liquid, which changes the cooking time. Cooking in water produces a consistent matzo ball.

    I love a fluffy matzo ball, and this recipe delivers. I add sparkling water or seltzer to produce a fluffy matzo ball.

    You can use your favorite, preferably homemade, stock, bone broth, or soup. I use homemade bone broth, but you can use whatever you have in the freezer or even bouillon.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for matzo balls.

    duck fat - melted. Schmaltz (chicken fat) is the traditional ingredient, and you can substitute it with vegetable oil. I've never made it with coconut oil, but have heard that it works, too. Just make sure to melt it first.

    sparkling water - or seltzer. Aerates the matzo balls and makes them light and fluffy. If it isn't Passover, you can use baking powder, instead.

    matzo meal - basically ground up matzah. If you can't find matzo meal, you can break up matzah and place it in a food processor. Pulse until it's evenly ground.

    Soup Base Variations & Garnishes

    You can customize matzo balls by adding vegetables to the broth, switching up the soup base, and adding many garnishes. You can even add some flavoring to the matzo balls themselves if that is your preference, though it isn't mine.

    Soup Base Variations

    • Homemade Bone Broth - what I use most often, and usually have in the freezer.
    • Dashi - a Japanese broth made from kombu seaweed. I use a version made with bonito.
    • Miso - a simple, easy way to add flavor. You can add in scallions and ginger, too. Please note that miso is not kosher for Passover.
    • Tea - Hear me out! I love adding Genmaicha tea to a plain bone broth. It adds a nutty, earthy flavor that is fantastic. See the photo below.
    • Ab Goosht - Persian "meat water" made by adding salted meat, onions, spices, and dried limes to water and simmering over low heat. I'm working on a recipe for the blog and will share soon.
    Matzo balls in soup with tea.

    Garnish Ideas

    • Fresh herbs like dill or cilantro
    • Freshly grated ginger and scallions
    • Chili oil
    • Chopped roasted or steamed vegetables

    Fluffy or Dense? You Choose.

    I'm team fluffy, but I know that's not everyone's cup of tea. Choosing one versus the other is simple: If you want dense matzo balls that sink, leave out the sparkling water. If you want the fluffy ones that float, add the sparkling water.

    You can take the fluffy ones a step further by folding in beaten egg whites. I just don't usually have the ambition to go this far.

    How to Make this Recipe

    Whisk the 4 eggs with ¼ cup duck fat, schmaltz, or vegetable oil in a medium bowl. Add 1 cup of matzo meal, ¼ cup sparkling water or seltzer, and season with salt. Mix with a fork. Refrigerate for 30 minutes until the liquid is mostly absorbed.

    Beige mixture with a fork.

    In the meantime, bring a pot of water to boil in a large pot. (Not the stock/broth.) With wet hands, roll the mixture into ping-pong sized balls, approximately 1.5 inches in diameter and drop them into the boiling water.

    Lower to a simmer, and simmer covered for 20 minutes. It's ok to peek, but do not cook them uncovered.

    Matzo balls before and after cooking.

    In the meantime, heat your stock/broth. Serve the strained matzo balls in the heated stock/broth.

    Matzo Ball Soup FAQs

    How do I store the extra?

    Strain the matzo balls from the boiling water, let them cool to room temperature, and keep them in a sealable container in the refrigerator.Matzo balls in a container.

    How do I make them fluffy?

    If you want the fluffy ones that float, add the sparkling water or seltzer. When it isn't Passover, you can also use baking powder. If you want dense matzo balls that sink, leave out the sparkling water.

    What does it taste like?

    The soup takes like chicken noodle soup. Matzo balls are dumplings that often don't have much flavor, like a saltine or pasta. Most of the flavor comes from the soup base and the shmaltz or fat that is added to the matzo balls.

    Matzo ball soup.

    More Jewish Recipes for Passover

    It's that time of year that we are looking for kosher for Passover recipes. Here are some of my favorites:

    • Bowl of beef stew.
      Beef Stew with Red Wine
    • Whole Roasted Chicken with Dried Fruit and Wine
    • Two squares of matzo pizza.
      Matzo Pizza
    • Shredded meat on a black cutting board.
      Slow-Cooker Passover Brisket Recipe

    I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, and PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I’m up to.

    Three bowls of matzo ball soup.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 5 votes

    Matzo Ball Soup

    Are you on team fluffy or dense when it comes to matzo balls? I've got an easy recipe for all of you! Plus, I'm sharing soup base variations.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time20 minutes mins
    Resting Time30 minutes mins
    Total Time55 minutes mins
    Course: Appetizer, Main, Soup
    Cuisine: Jewish
    Diet: Kosher, Vegetarian
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 326kcal
    Author: Candice

    Ingredients

    • 4 eggs
    • 1 cup matzo meal
    • ¼ cup duck fat schmaltz, or vegetable oil
    • salt I use ½ teaspoon sea salt, but season to your taste.
    • ¼ cup sparkling water or seltzer
    • 4 cups stock/broth

    Instructions

    • Whisk the 4 eggs with ¼ cup duck fat, schmaltz, or vegetable oil in a medium bowl.
    • Add 1 cup of matzo meal and ¼ cup sparkling water or seltzer, and season with salt. Mix with a fork. Refrigerate for 30 minutes until the liquid is mostly absorbed.
    • Bring a pot of water to boil in a large pot. (Not the stock/broth.)
    • With wet hands, roll the mixture into ping-pong sized balls, approximately 1.5 inches in diameter and drop them into the boiling water.
    • Lower to a simmer, and simmer covered for 20 minutes. It's ok to peek, but do not cook them uncovered.
    • In the meantime, heat your stock/broth.

    Notes

    If you want dense matzo balls that sink, leave out the sparkling water. If you want the fluffy ones that float, add the sparkling water. If it isn't Passover, you can also use baking powder. 
    Strain the extra matzo balls from the boiling water, let them cool to room temperature, and keep them in a sealable container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
    Soup Base Variations:
    • Homemade Bone Broth - what I use most often, and usually have in the freezer.
    • Dashi - a Japanese broth made from kombu seaweed. I use a version made with bonito.
    • Miso - a simple, easy way to add flavor. You can add in scallions and ginger, too. Please note that miso is not kosher for Passover.
    • Tea - Hear me out! I love adding Genmaicha tea to a plain bone broth. It adds a nutty, earthy flavor that is fantastic. See the photo below.
    • Ab Goosht - Persian "meat water" made by adding salted meat, onions, spices, and dried limes to water and simmering over low heat. I'm working on a recipe for the blog and will share soon.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 326kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 176mg | Sodium: 1006mg | Potassium: 100mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 738IU | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 2mg
    Did you try this recipe?Don't forget to leave a rating and/or comment! And tag @ProportionalPlate on TikTok or Instagram... I'd love to see what you're making.
    « Citrus Thyme Salmon
    Kotlet »
    119 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a comment & rate the recipe Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Salima Benkhalti

      March 28, 2023 at 9:27 am

      5 stars
      These matzo balls are perfection! I will definitely be making this soup again.

      Reply
      • Candice

        March 28, 2023 at 9:33 am

        Thank you for sharing, Salima... I'm so glad you liked it!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Woman with a flower.

    Meet Candice

    On this blog, I get to share the food that I love, and get to enjoy in my own home. My Persian Jewish heritage influences most of my recipes, and my travels inspire them. And I'm sure you'll notice my love for everything matcha. Welcome, and enjoy!

    READ MORE
    • TikTok
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram

    Spring Recipes

    • Ghormeh Sabzi - Beef & Herb Stew with Dried Limes
    • Fried fish on top of green rice.
      Saffron Cod - Mahi ba Zafferan
    • Glass of iced green tea with lemon slices.
      Matcha Lemonade
    • Green fritatta wedges on a white plate.
      Kuku Sabzi
    • Green rice crispy treats in a baking dish.
      Matcha Rice Krispy Treats
    • Chicken kabobs on skewers with scallions.
      Yakitori Style Grilled Chicken

    As Featured In

    Collage of logos.

    Top Rated Recipes

    • Persimmon Bread & Baking with Persimmons
    • Quick & Easy Steak Taco Recipe
    • How to Make Bubble Tea with Any Tea
    • Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream
    • Dalgona Matcha Latte
    • Green rice with lima beans.
      Baghali Polo - Persian Dill Rice

    Footer

    ^ back to top


    • TikTok
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Proportional Plate LLC Accessibility Statement
    • Disclosure and Privacy Policy

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    © 2023 Proportional Plate LLC

    119 shares