Sephardic Chicken Soup with Sofrito and Herbed Matzo Balls

Name: Sephardic Chicken Soup with Sofrito and Herbed Matzo Balls
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H30M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT1H43M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT3H13M0.000S
Yield: 10 to 12 servings
Cuisine: jewish-cooking
Ingredients: 8 large eggs; 2 teaspoons canola oil; 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1/2 cup chicken fat, melted (schmaltz), plus 2 tablespoons, for optional garnish; 1/4 cup water; 1/3 cup freshly chopped parsley leaves; 2 tablespoons kosher salt; 2 teaspoons garlic powder; 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 2 cups matzo meal; 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder; Soup:; 1 (3 1/2 to 4-pound) chicken; 4 quarts chicken stock; 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1 small yellow onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice; 1/2 cup quartered cherry or grape tomatoes; 1/2 cup diced (1/4-inch) red bell pepper; 1/2 cup diced (1/4-inch) green bell pepper; 2 tablespoons freshly chopped cilantro leaves; 4 garlic cloves, minced; Small pinch saffron; 1 teaspoon hot red pepper sauce, optional

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Level: Intermediate
Total: 3 hr 13 min

Prep: 30 min
Inactive: 1 hr
Cook: 1 hr 43 min

Yield: 10 to 12 servings

Level: Intermediate
Total: 3 hr 13 min

Prep: 30 min
Inactive: 1 hr
Cook: 1 hr 43 min

Yield: 10 to 12 servings

Ingredients

Saffron matzo balls:

8 large eggs

2 teaspoons canola oil

2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 cup chicken fat, melted (schmaltz), plus 2 tablespoons, for optional garnish

1/4 cup water

1/3 cup freshly chopped parsley leaves

2 tablespoons kosher salt

2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 cups matzo meal

2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

Soup:

1 (3 1/2 to 4-pound) chicken

4 quarts chicken stock

Sofrito:

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 small yellow onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice

1/2 cup quartered cherry or grape tomatoes

1/2 cup diced (1/4-inch) red bell pepper

1/2 cup diced (1/4-inch) green bell pepper

2 tablespoons freshly chopped cilantro leaves

4 garlic cloves, minced

Small pinch saffron

1 teaspoon hot red pepper sauce, optional

Directions

To make the matzo balls, bring a large pot of salted water or chicken broth to a boil over high heat. Whisk the eggs, oils, chicken fat, water, parsley, salt, garlic powder, and pepper in a medium bowl. In a separate bowl, add the matzo meal and sift in the baking powder. Mix together, then fold into the eggs. Cover with plastic wrap, pressed tightly against the batter and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight.
Moisten your hands lightly with water and form the matzo mixture into 24 walnut-sized balls. Carefully drop the matzo balls into the water or broth. Reduce the heat to medium and partially cover. Simmer gently until the matzo balls are cooked through, about 40 minutes. Using a skimmer or slotted spoon, transfer the matzo balls to a large bowl of cold water.
Meanwhile, make the soup. 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. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer, partially covered, until the chicken is tender, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the chicken from the soup. Remove and discard the skin, shred the meat into bite-sized pieces, and reserve the meat until service. Return the remaining bones back to the broth and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes more to further develop the soup's flavor.
While the soup is simmering, heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, tomatoes, red and green peppers, cilantro, garlic and saffron. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables in the sofrito are tender, but not browned, about 8 minutes. Add the hot sauce, if using. Set the sofrito aside.
When ready to serve, strain the soup and discard the bones. Return the soup to the pot and stir in the sofrito and chicken pieces. Add the matzo balls and simmer until the matzo balls are heated through, about 5 minutes. (The soup and matzo balls can be prepared up to 2 days ahead, cooled, covered, and refrigerated. Reheat before serving.)
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).

Cook’s Note

If you are concerned if the oils or other ingredients in these recipes are suitable for Passover, seek non-dairy substitutes or ingredients that are certified kosher for Passover.