Matzo Ball Soup | The Nutrition Adventure (2024)

April 3, 2015

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This Matzo Ball Soup is easy to make and uses a matzo ball mix.Matzo Ball Soup | The Nutrition Adventure (1)

Confession time. Prior to Monday, I had never even tried, let alone made Matzo Ball Soup. Too bad for me! It’s easy to see how this traditional Passover dish has become a year-round favorite.

Generally served in a thin chicken broth, matzo balls are ping-pong-ball sized dumplings made from matzo meal, eggs, water, and oil or chicken fat. Since this was my first attempt, I decided to ease into it by using Manischewitz Matzo Ball mix, which is the most popular brand of matzo ball mix on the market.

I assumed that the matzo ball mix would be bland, so I tasted a small amount before dropping the mix into boiling water—it’s very flavorful and quite salty! As the matzo balls cook in the water and expand, they become less salty and actually taste pretty good on their own in my opinion. I didn’t realize how much the matzo balls would expand while cooking, so we cut them in half before putting them into our bowls. Next time I’ll make them a bit smaller, about an inch in diameter, so they remain matzo balls rather than matzo hemispheres!

Matzo Ball Soup | The Nutrition Adventure (2)

Matzo Ball Soup

Recipe Adapted from Food Network Kitchen

Print Recipe Rate Recipe

Servings: 4

Author: Karman Meyer, Dietitian at The Nutrition Adventure

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound chicken breast
  • 3 stalks celery
  • 2 medium carrots cut in half
  • 1 onion cut into quarters
  • 1-14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 cloves garlic chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 packet Manischewitz Matzo Ball Mix

Instructions

  • 1. To make the chicken broth: Put the chicken, celery, carrots, onion, diced tomatoes, thyme, garlic, black pepper, coriander, and salt into a large pot. Add enough cold water to cover the ingredients by 1 inch. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat then reduce heat to low and cook for 1 hour. Remove the large pieces of celery, carrots, and thyme sprigs. Broth can be made up to 3 days in advance if needed. Reheat prior to adding matzo balls.

  • 2. To make the matzo balls, follow the package directions and then add to homemade chicken broth.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Matzo Ball Soup | The Nutrition Adventure (3)

E has had his fair share of matzo ball soup and gave this recipe two thumbs up. There weren’t any leftovers either, so that’s a good sign 🙂

Happy Friday, friends!

Tagged As: chicken, holiday, soup

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  1. Karman, I tried making the Matzo ball soup with your recipe..and it was delicious!! Never would have added tomatoes…this proves you never are too old to learn new things! Can’t wait to try another recipe..Love your site!
    Marlene ( E’s jewish mom )

    1. So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Marlene 🙂 That means a lot!

  2. L’chaim ! Pass the Manischewitz !

    1. Same here! Always thought it would be a bland soup overall but this recipe is very flavorful! Hope you give it a try 🙂

Matzo Ball Soup | The Nutrition Adventure (2024)

FAQs

Does matzo ball soup have any nutritional value? ›

1 cup with 1 matzo ball of matzo ball soup (Freshdirect) contains 230 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 28% carbs, 63% fat, and 9% protein. This is a good source of vitamin a (20% of your Daily Value) and vitamin c (35% of your Daily Value).

Is matzo ball soup supposed to be salty? ›

There's something accidentally elegant about a bowl of rich golden chicken broth, surrounding a salty, savory, deeply fluffy, almost souffle-d matzo ball, needing nothing more than some last minute celery and of course, so much dill (probably needs more dill).

Is it better to cook matzo balls in broth or water? ›

Poaching in chicken broth instead of water produces the most flavor-packed matzo balls; using a separate broth for poaching and serving ensures a serving broth that isn't cloudy.

Are matzo balls high in carbs? ›

Matzo Ball (1 matzo ball) contains 6.2g total carbs, 6g net carbs, 1.7g fat, 1.8g protein, and 48 calories.

Is matzah good for weight loss? ›

According to Professor Jesse Lachter, a top gastroenterologist at Haifa's Rambam Hospital, a sheet of plain matzah is twice as fattening as a slice of white bread.

Why do people eat matzo ball soup? ›

Traditionally, Jews avoid eating leavened foods made from grains during Passover, known in Hebrew as “chametz.” Matzo is served at the Passover seder, and essentially replaces other bread-like foods throughout the eight-day holiday.

Why not cook matzo balls in the soup? ›

If you were to add the matzo balls directly to the broth, they would make the broth starchy and sludgy. It's important to poach them separately to avoid a cloudy broth. And if you were to simmer them for too short or too long of a time, you would lose that consistent texture.

Does matzo ball soup have healing properties? ›

The heat of the soup, the carbohydrates in the matzo balls, the extra liquid for hydration, and the chemical properties of the broth all combine to help the body power through a cold. And, in addition to the medicinal benefits, matzo ball soup provides a comforting taste of home. In a popularly cited study, Dr.

Can you overcook matzo ball soup? ›

You can't overcook a matzo ball. It's not possible. But you can absolutely under cook one. So if you need to leave it in longer, that's OK.

Is matzo more fattening than bread? ›

Each matzah contains 130 calories, which is only slightly less than two slices of regular white bread (which contain 70 calories each), according to dietitian Dr. Maya Rosman, who spoke to Channel 2 in an interview aired Saturday. Whole-wheat matza is only slightly less fattening, containing 120 calories.

Is matzo high glycemic? ›

An advantage that matzo has over most breads is its low salt (sodium) content. However, comes in very low in the fibre department as well as having a high GI (similar to white bread).

How many calories are in 2 matzo balls? ›

There are 96 calories in 2 Matzo Ball. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.

Are matzo balls healthy? ›

Add to that the benefits of vitamins A, C, and D in the broth, the anti-inflammatory properties of the soup vegetables, and a boost of energy from the carbohydrates in the matzo balls, and you've got a recipe for feeling better!

What is the nutritional value of Knoephla soup? ›

Nutrition & Dietary Information

Per Serving: 260 calories, 8 grams (g) fat, 9 g protein, 39 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber and 480 milligrams sodium.

What is matzo ball soup broth made of? ›

Bring chicken broth in a large saucepan to a lively simmer over medium heat. Carefully add matzo balls; simmer until balls are cooked through and rise to the top of the broth. Serve.

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