Bubbie's Hearty Matzo Ball Soup

This recipe has been in our family for generations. Some family members say it started with our great-great-grandmother Bubbie Rose. My husband, her great-great-grandson, has put his own twist on it by adding extra vegetables and fresh dill which we think sets this soup above the rest. This soup is so good, there's no reason to wait until Passover to enjoy it.

• Preparation Time: 40 mins
• Cooking Time: 2 hr
• Total Time: 2 hr 40 mins
• Calories: 410 Calories

Ingredients

• ⅓ cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• ½ cup water
• 1 pinch salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 (3 pound) whole chicken
• 1 leek, chopped
• ½ cup chopped fresh dill
• 2 (48 ounce) containers chicken broth
• 4 large carrots, cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 4 stalks celery, cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 1 large turnip,cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 2 parsnips, cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 1 onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 1 ½ cups matzo ball mix

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Place chicken into a large pot and cover with water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until chicken meat is very tender and falling off the bones, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove chicken from pot and pick chicken meat from bones when cool enough to handle, discarding skin and bones. Shred chicken meat.

Step 2

Bring chicken broth to a boil in a large soup pot; stir shredded chicken meat, carrots, celery, turnip, parsnips, leek, onion, and dill into broth. Turn heat to low and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.

Step 3

Stir matzo ball mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and 1/2 cup water together in a bowl. Form mixture into 1-inch balls using wet hands to prevent sticking. Return broth to a boil and gently drop matzo balls into the boiling soup. Reduce heat again and simmer soup until matzo balls have increased in size and are cooked through, about 20 more minutes.