Mini Passover Bagels

Mini Passover Bagels

Hope ya’ll are having a wonderful Passover holiday, or had a wonderful Easter! Whatever you celebrate, we’ve got you covered with some great new spring recipes!

We’re coming up on the last days of Passover, so I had to share the recipe for these Mini Passover Bagels – made without matzah meal or potato starch! This is one of my go-to low-carb recipes that I make throughout the year! And the best part is that it’s 100% Passover-friendly and dairy-free!

Psyllium Husk Powder

The key here is the ground psyllium husk powder that gives the bagels the classic chewy, wheat-like texture. You can find a container on Amazon or slightly cheaper at Whole Foods in the supplement section.

Psyllium husk powder is made from the outer covering hence the “husk” of the seeds of the Plantago Ovata plant. It’s mainly grown throughout Northern and Western India. The powder is commonly used as a digestive aid due to its high fiber content, or a perfect matzah meal or potato starch substitute in these Passover Mini Bagels.

So that’s it – short and sweet. Chag Sameach friends!

Side note – see here for details from the cRc regarding Kosher-for-Passover hechsher)

0 from 0 votes
Mini Passover Bagels
Servings: 8 mini bagels
Author: Rachel Katzman
Ingredients
  • 1 1/4 cup Almond Flour
  • 1/3 cup Ground Psyllium Husk Note - most psyllium husk powders have a slight purple-ish tint to it. It's not harmful at all, just don't be alarmed when the color is a little off.
  • 2 tsp Baking powder
  • 1 tsp Sea Salt
  • 1 tsp Minced Onion optional
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder optional
  • 2 tsp Vinegar You can use either distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 3 Eggs
  • 1 cup Hot water
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper

  2. Mix all of the dry ingredients in a medium-sized bowl

  3. Add in the vinegar and eggs and mix well so no lumps remain and all of the psyllium husk has disolved

  4. Add the cup of hot water and mix again until the dough feels like the consistency of Play-Doh

  5. If the mixture is a little dry, add some olive oil to your hands and roll the mixture into golf-ball sized balls and place on baking sheet. Poke a hole in the middle of each dough ball to make a "bagel" shape and re-shape as needed. Sprinkle the tops of the bagels with more minced onion, if desired. Or, if you eat kitniyot, add some sesame seeds!

  6. Bake for 45 minutes.

  7. Once the bagels are cool, slice and toast and top with your favorite sandwich toppings!

Kumquat Mango Chutney Charoset Chicken

Kumquat Mango Chutney Charoset Chicken

The holiday of Pesach (AKA Passover) is upon us. This year I decided to take on the seder classic, charoset.  I know I am a little late for a seder recipe, but this will work great for the second days of Passover or really any time during the year. Charoset is a paste traditionally made from grated apples, sweet red wine, and nuts. It is designed to take the bite out of your maror (AKA bitter herb/horseradish). Every family has its own traditions when comes to the addition of spices, sweeteners, and other fruits such as dates or raisins.  For my traditional charoset, I add honey, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

A Twist on Tradition

For this recipe I wanted to put a twist on traditional charoset, and at the same time expand its function. I was perusing the produce at my provisions provider, and I came across two tropical tastes that I could not pass up.  Mangos are one of my favorite fruits and the produce store had a sale on them if you bought a case. I also came across kumquats, the tiny little citrus that I just cannot resist. This lead me down a path to chutney.  According Merriam-Webster.com chutney is defined as a thick sauce of Indian origin that contains fruits, vinegar, sugar, and spices and is used as a condiment. Many chutneys contain, apples, mangos, and nuts.  The leap from charoset to chutney is but a small step.

The great thing about this recipe is you can use the charoset/chutney to dip your maror in or use it as a condiment or a sauce.  In this recipe I use it as a sauce for my seder night chicken. Many hav e the custom that meat or fowl served at the seder must be served in a liquid. The reason for this is so that it should not appear that we are trying to fulfill the commandment of eating the korban Pesach (Paschal lamb sacrifice) in the absence of the Temple. The korban Pesach was served dry roasted. The chutney would also make a great addition to your holiday brisket or even spread on matzo.

What is your favorite Passover dish? Let us know in the comments. And don’t forget to check out some of our other Passover recipes:

Passover Basics: Quick Carrots With a Little Something Extra

Cabbage Pancakes (for Passover!)

Passover Sweet Potato Knishes

0 from 0 votes
Kumquat Mango Chutney Charoset Chicken
Kumquat Mango Chutney Charoset Chicken
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 45 mins
 
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Jewish, Kosher, Passover
Keyword: Charoset
Servings: 4
Author: Daniel Peikes
Ingredients
  • 1 Large Yellow Onion Peeled and sliced
  • 3 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 tbsp Salt
  • 3 Large Mangos Peeled and diced
  • 3 Large Apples Peeled, cored, and diced
  • 12 Kumquats Divided
  • 1 tbsp Nutmeg
  • 1 tbsp Cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp Ground Ginger
  • 1 tsp Black Pepper or Red Pepper Flake (if you like it spicy)
  • Cup Orange Juice Reserve ½ cup for cooking the chicken
  • 1 Cup Sweet White Wine
  • ¼ Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
  • ¼ Cup Honey
  • ¼ Cup Ground Nuts
  • 1 Package 4 Chicken Leg Quarters or 8-Peice Cut Up
Instructions
Charoset/Chutney
  1. Add the oil, onions, and salt to large sauce pot and place over medium heat. Sautee until the onion starts to brown.

  2. Slice half the kumquats into thin slices. In a mixing bowl combine the apples, mango, and kumquats. Add the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and black (or red) pepper and stir to combine.

  3. Add the mango, apple, kumquat mixture to the pot with the onions. Add 1 cup of the orange juice, all of the wine, apple cider vinegar, and honey and stir to combine.

  4. Turn the heat down to low and reduce the mixture to a chunky, jam-like consistency is achieved. Stir in the ground nuts. If you are using this as your charoset, you can stop here.

Chicken
  1. Pour the sauce into a baking dish and add the chicken. Slice the remainder of the kumquats and top the chicken with them. If the chutney looks dry add a ½ cup of orange juice to the pan.

  2. Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake the chicken at 350°F for an hour. Then turn the oven up to 425°F and uncover the chicken. Continue cooking until the the chicken skin begins to brown and serve.

Cabbage Pancakes (for Passover!)

Cabbage Pancakes

Lately, I’ve been a little preoccupied, with the move just a few weeks ago and setting up our new condo. Things are definitely in good shape here, but since Passover is HERE, I had to bring you all at least 1 new recipe – and this one came out of sheer necessity to clean our our fridge. I had a bag of coleslaw mix that I didn’t know what to do with. Sure, I could make the standard mayo or vinegar-based coleslaw, but I was bored of that. I needed something new and exciting. And then, BOOM. My Pizza Latke recipe uses sauerkraut as the base (because cabbage gets crunchy when you fry it)! So off I went, transforming the humble bag of coleslaw mix into crunchy, savory cabbage pancakes. The perfect pre-seder (or anytime) snack for Passover!

These savory pancakes are my spin on Japanese street food called okonomiyaki – made with flour, eggs, cabbage and a protein. This recipe is great for using up leftovers in your fridge. Although I didn’t use protein in my version, go ahead and add some canned tuna or salmon, ground beef or maybe cubed salami! It’s a perfect base for a savory pancake.

If you’re not planning on making this for Passover, feel free to garnish with sesame seeds (unless you eat Kitniyot) or add in coconut aminos or soy sauce. And play around with the spice level too! Maybe you have some gochujang in your fridge (okay, well that’s Korean, but hey, I did say this was my spin), or pickled jalapenos. You can even add in shredded cheese (similar to my pizza latkes) with an Asian twist.

There ya have it.

Even though I’m still trying to figure out where I put most of my kitchen stuff, I managed to give ya’ll a new recipe.

Happy Passover – Chag Kasher V’Sameach!

0 from 0 votes
Cabbage Pancakes
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
 
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Asian
Author: Rachel Katzman
Ingredients
  • 1 Eggs
  • 1/4 cup Water
  • 1 bag Coleslaw mix I mean, you CAN shred your own cabbage and carrot, but why not go for a shortcut and make your life easier?
  • 1 tbsp. Avocado oil
  • 1 1/2 tbsp. Kosher-for-Passover soy sauce or Teriyaki sauce
  • 1 cup Almond Flour
  • 2 tbsp. Olive or Avocado oil, for frying
  • 1 tbsp. Gochujang (Korean hot pepper paste) Optional
Toppings
  • 1/4 cup Mayo
  • 2 tbsp. Sriracha
  • 2 Green onions, sliced I didn't have any when I made this, so I topped mine with a drizzle of sriracha (I skipped the mayo), dried parsley and chives!
Instructions
  1. Mix all ingredients (except the extra 2 tbsp. of oil) in a large bowl and mix well until all ingredients are combined

  2. Heat the oven in a large skillet or cast iron pan

  3. Once the oil is hot, add a spoonful of the pancake batter, making a 4-6" circle and about 1/2 in thick

  4. If you have a lid handy, this is the time to use it - it will help cook the cabbage instead of just crisping up the outside of the pancake. Cook for about 3-4 minutes until golden brown then flip and cook on the other side

  5. Add the cooked pancakes to a plate and cover (to keep warm) with foil until ready to eat.

  6. Garnish the pancakes with mayo, sriracha mayo, sliced green onions, sesame seeds (kitniyot), or any other dried or fresh herbs you might have lying around!

Passover Basics: Quick Carrots With a Little Something Extra

Passover Kumquat CarrotsDid you ever come across an item in the grocery store that you you aren’t sure what you are going to do with, but you know you have to try. Last week when I was doing my Passover produce shopping, I came across kumquats. Kumquats are miniature oranges that are eaten whole (peel and seeds included) and are quite tart. I love citrus fruits in general, but have never had the chance to try kumquats. When I saw them I knew I had to buy them and figure out what to do with them later.

In keeping with the  theme of keeping it simple this year, I wanted to create another easy recipe that is quick and can be made the day before. Carrots are a tasty vegetarian side dish and by adding some sweetness hopefully even your kids will eat them. I know kumquats can be hard to find and can be left out of this recipe without any major issues.  If you like the tartness kumquats provide, but you can’t find them, add a tablespoon of lemon juice to the recipe. If you find the recipe to sweet without the kumquats use less honey. The recipe also calls for cinnamon and ginger which also add some complexity to the dish. If those flavors offend you (or your children) feel free to omit them as well.

Quick tip: If you don’t want to bother peeling and cutting carrots, use packaged baby carrots instead. I personally prefer regular carrots, as I find baby carrots have a funny taste and texture but they will work in a pinch.

Here are some of our other kosher for Passover recipes:

Honey Roasted Chicken

Seder Roast

Sweet Potato Knishes

Herby Cabbage Salad Perfect for Passover

0 from 0 votes
Passover Kumquat Carrots
Quick Carrots With a Little Something Extra
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
 

A quick and easy side dish great for any occasion with a little something extra. This recipe can be made without even turning on the oven. This recipe calls for the option of adding kumquats, a miniature orange that can be somewhat tart, but if you can't find them you can leave them out. It also calls for cinnamon and ginger, but if you don't like either of those feel free to leave them out as well.

Course: Side Dish, Vegetable
Cuisine: American, Jewish
Keyword: carrots, Passover
Servings: 4 Servings
Author: Daniel Peikes
Ingredients
  • 1 lb Carrots 1 Bag
  • 3/4 Cup Orange Juice
  • 1/4 Cup Honey
  • Salt To taste
  • Pepper To taste
  • 1/2 tsp Ground Ginger Optional
  • 1/2 tsp Cinnamon Optional
  • 25 Kumquats Optional
Instructions
  1. Peel the carrots and cut in to ½ inch thick coins. If you want to get fancy, cut them on a diagonal.

  2. If you are adding the kumquats slice them in half and arrange them neatly in the saute pan, cut side down. Cook over medium heat until the kumquats begin to brown.

  3. Add the carrots along with the orange juice and the honey to the pan. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If desired, add the cinnamon and/or ginger at this point.

  4. Cook until the liquid in the pan thickens to a sauce and the carrots begin to soften, about 20 minutes. Serve immediately or store in the an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

 

Passover Basics: Honey Roasted Chicken

An Apocalyptic Passover

Honey Roasted Passover ChickenThe holidays usually means large meals with big crowds. Spending time in Shul (AKA Synagogue) and visiting with friends and family. But this year everything is different. With everyone stuck at home alone for Pesach (AKA Passover) due to the Covid-19 (AKA Corona Virus) quarantine, many people are cooking for Pesach for the first time and others are struggling to figure out how to cook for a small crowd. I wanted to share a simple recipe that is perfect for feeding a small family. It so easy that even first time Pesach cooks can make it.  This is my go to easy chicken recipe that I use all year, but is also perfect for a simple holiday meal.

This recipe calls for a whole chicken spatchcocked. I find whole chickens stays more moist when cooking and are often a little cheaper than buying pre-cut chicken. Spatchcocking is easier than you think.  You simply cut out the spine with a heavy chef’s knife or kitchen shears and flatten out the bird. By flattening out the bird, it cooks more evenly. Pro tip: when spatchcocking a chicken don’t throw away the spine, save it for your chicken soup. That being said, if you don’t trust your butchery skills, this recipe works just as well with a pre-cut 8 piece chicken or even leg quarters (AKA bottoms).

Something a Little Different

While this recipe is pretty basic for Pesach, you can always jazz it up for something a little different during the year. If you like things a little spicy, use a hot paprika or some cayenne pepper. For something a little more complex try a curry powder or for an Asian twist try some soy sauce and Chinese five spice powder.

What is your go to simple Passover recipe for a small crowd? Let us know in the comments.

Recipe: Honey Roasted Chicken

0 from 0 votes
Honey Roasted Passover Chicken
Honey Roasted Chicken
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
1 hr
 

A quick and easy whole chicken recipe that is sure to please.

Course: Main Course, Main Dish, Meat
Cuisine: Kosher, Passover
Keyword: Chicken, Passover
Servings: 4
Author: Daniel Peikes
Ingredients
  • 1 Whole Chicken
  • Garlic Powder To taste
  • Onion Powder To taste
  • Paprika To taste
  • Salt To taste
  • Pepper To taste
  • Honey Enough to drizzle both sides of your chicken
Instructions
  1. Start by removing the backbone of the chicken by cutting down each side of the spine. This is know as spatchcocking. You can do this with a heavy chef's knife but I prefer to use kitchen shears. Then flip the chicken over so the breast is facing up and press down on it flattening the bird. The reason for this is by flattening the chicken out it will cook more evenly

  2. Season both sides of the chicken with the garlic, onion, paprika, salt, and pepper. Then drizzle with honey. Don't put on too much honey, as it can burn. Place the chicken in the roasting pan and cover tightly with foil.

  3. Preheat your oven to 350°F and roast the chicken until the deepest part of the part of the breast reads 160°F. Then remove the foil and increase the heat to 425°F and allow the chicken to continue to cook until the skin is browned and crispy, but keep an eye on it so it does not burn

  4. Once the skin is browned pull the chicken out of the oven and allow it to rest. Once it is cool enough to handle, cut the chicken in to quarters by cutting the skin between the breast and the thigh and split the breasts in half by cutting through the breast bone with a heavy chef's knife. If you have a lot small children, you may want to cut the chicken into eights by cutting the leg off of the thigh and cutting the wing off of the breast. Serve immediately.

Happy Passover!

Why is this Passover Different from all others?

Passover is just over a week away and I don’t know about you, but for me, it’s going to be strange. No seder with family. No traveling. But here at Meat Your Vegetables we have put all of our delicious, no-fuss recipes in 1 place for you. We’re here to make this year’s holiday as stress-free as possible. As if you probably weren’t stressed already!

It’s a strange time we’re living in right now and while we’re under quarantine, it might seem like the perfect opportunity to spend more time in the kitchen or creating recipes, but honestly, I’m just trying to get to a new normal – whatever that means. But fear not, I’m still puttering around with some recipes that I think you’ll love – especially for erev Pesach when it always feels like there’s nothing to eat!

Recipe All-Stars

So in the meantime, while I mess around with a new recipe for Passover crepes, or “tortillas”, here are some fantastic recipes, perfect for Passover or anytime of year, that you might have missed on MYV over the years.

And thanks to YOU all – our readers and supporters, we are proud to have been able to bring you content for over 3 years!

From both Daniel and me here at MYV, we wish you and your family a Chag Kasher V’Sameach, a Pesach Sameach – and we hope above all that you and your family stay safe, healthy (and sane)!

PS – if you follow us on Facebook, make sure to check out my recipe for Cheez-Its!  Just ONE ingredient and you have the perfect cheesy cracker that tastes just like the boxed version! Or you can call it a “frico”, if you’re feeling fancy. 🙂 Check out the recipe here!

Passover Seder Roast

Passover RoastLet’s talk about cheap meat and the traditional Passover Seder roast. There is a lot of meat being sold in the kosher market that is grass fed from South America, primarily Uruguay that tends to cost significantly less than domestic beef.  It tends to be very tough and lean. Some people think it has a metallic taste, while others think it tastes more “beefy”.  I personally think that grass fed beef does lack some texture and flavor due to its lack of inter-muscular fat caused by the cows diet and high activity level.

That being said, with all the costs associated with Passover I wanted to figure out a way to make this more affordable meat palatable. By cooking it low and slow with some strong flavors you can get a decent texture and infuse some flavor back in to the meat.  I figured, why not use some of the items already included in the Seder to help further keep costs down? There always seems to be an open bottle of wine and some extra apples from making Charoset,so I figured it would be both economical and tasty to incorporate them.

I include a lot of liquid to create a braise in this recipe, as many Ashkenazic Jews have a custom that we not to eat dry roasted meat at the seder. This recipe works well with any tough cut of meat. I used a french roast, but it would work the same for a top of the rib or a brisket.  You may want to adjust the cooking time down slightly for a top of the rib if it’s on the smaller side or up for a large brisket.

Making chicken instead of or in addition to your roast, check out my super simple Honey Roasted Chicken recipe. It is great for a smaller crowd.

 

Recipe: Seder Roast

3 from 5 votes
Passover Roast
Passover Seder Roast
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
8 hrs
Resting Time
15 mins
Total Time
8 hrs 10 mins
 

A classic holiday dish.  This recipe works well with cheaper cuts of beef such as the grass fed meat from South America on the kosher market these day.  It works well with French roast, top of the rib, or brisket, but I wouldn't use this recipe with something like a rib roast. As for the wine, try to use something on the drier side.  I like Rioja for its natural spiciness, but a Cabernet or Merlot should work just fine.

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Holiday, Jewish, Passover
Keyword: Passover
Servings: 6 Peoples
Author: Daniel Peikes
Ingredients
  • 1 750 ml Bottle Semi Dry Red Wine
  • 1 Large Roast French roast, top of the rib, or brisket
  • 3 Large Onions Chopped
  • 1 Head Garlic Cloves peeled and smashed
  • 3 Large Apples Peeled, cored, and diced
  • 1 tbsp Dried Thyme
  • Salt and Pepper To taste
  • 3 tbsp Olive Oil No need for extra vrgin
Equipment
  • 1 Large Pot or Dutch Oven A deep stove top safe roasting pan will do in a pinch
Instructions
  1. Trim any large pieces of fat or silver skin from your roast.  Season liberally with salt and pepper. 

  2. Add the olive oil to the pot and place over high heat. Once the oil is hot add the roast and sear on all sides. Remove the roast, leaving the fat in the pot.

  3. Add the onions and garlic and saute until the onions start to brown. Add the apples and cook until the apples soften.

  4. Add wine and thyme. Roast at 275°F until tender about 4 hours. Allow the roast to rest until cool enough to handle, slice, and serve.  Alternatively, allow the roast to cool completely, and slice and rewarm it in the liquid.

Don’t forget to check out Rachel’s new Passover recipe: Broccoli Cheddar Jalapeño Scones For Passover

Check out all of our Passover recipes here!

Passover Sweet Potato Knishes

Passover Sweet Potato KnishesWe are making our own Passover Seder for the first time this year, so I was looking for a side that would be traditional but have a bit of a wow factor at the same time.  What is more traditional than a Knish?  The problem is most knishes use a wheat flour dough which is chametz which we do not eat on Passover.  I started out by trying to make a potato starch dough and failed miserably, so I decided to go the “breading” route.  The problem is most breadings (bread crumbs, panko, cereal etc.) are also chametz.  To make my life even harder I wanted to keep this recipe gluten free (non-gebrochts) and nut free.  This ruled out using matzo meal or ground nuts, both commonly used as a Passover friendly breading.

I used an idea I learned from my father and went with potato flakes (AKA instant mashed potatoes). I used them straight out of the box, although in the future I would probably give them a quick whirl in the food processor to give them a finer texture and to hopefully help them adhere a little better.

For something a little healthier don’t forget to check out Rachel’s latest Passover recipe: Cauliflower Hummus and Tomato Herb Flaxseed Focaccia for Pesach!

5 from 1 vote
Passover Sweet Potato Knishes
Passover Sweet Potato Knishes
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 30 mins
Total Time
2 hrs
 

A great snack or side for your Passover Seder. This recipe is gluten free (GF), nut free, and vegetarian. You can easily double or triple this recipe or substitute the sweet potatoes for standard russet potatoes.  If you don't need your knishes to be gluten free or kosher for Passover you can substitute all-purpose flour for the potato starch. 

Course: Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: Gluten Free, Jewish, Kosher, Passover, Pesach, vegetarian
Servings: 6 Knishes
Author: Daniel Peikes
Ingredients
  • 2 Large Sweet Potatoes
  • 1 Cup Potato Starch Divided in half. If you don't need your knishes to be gluten free or kosher for Passover you can substitute all-purpose flour for the potato starch.
  • 2 Large Eggs Beaten separately
  • 2 Cups Instant Potato Flakes Lightly blitz in your food processor with the "S" blade if you prefer a finer texture
  • Salt and Pepper To taste
  • Oil For Frying
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.  Poke the sweet potatoes all over with a fork.  Bake until soft.  Remove from the oven and let cool.

  2. Once cooled, remove the skin from the sweet potatoes and mash in a large mixing bowl.  Combine with half the 1/2 the potato starch (1/2 a cup), one of the beaten eggs, and the salt and pepper.  Use a fork to combine thoroughly.

  3. Take about a a golf ball sized amount of the sweet potato mixture and shape it in to a disc. Dust the disc in remaining potato starch, then dip in the other beaten egg, and finally coat in the potato flakes. Repeat until you use all of the sweet potato mixture.

  4. Put about a 1/2" of oil in a frying fan and put on the stove over medium heat. Fry on each side until golden brown.

Traditional Chicken Soup With (Kosher) Bacon Schmaltz Matzo Balls

When it comes to Passover (AKA Pesach), most families have more traditions than Fiddler on the Roof.  I was all set to make you a super traditional matzo ball with homemade chicken schmaltz and gribenes.  I figured this was going to be an easy challenge to beat Rachel at.  How could a vegetarian gluten free dish beat (to quote Walter from The Big Lebowski) “…three thousand years of beautiful tradition, from Moses to Sandy Koufax”.  So I spent hours slowly rendering chicken skin to extract some liquid gold and produce crispy little chicken skin cracklings, and then…and then one of my kids spilled my schmaltz. All over the kitchen floor. Needless to say, I was not happy.

That is when I went in to problem solving mode.  What do I have in the house that is similar to schmaltz? That is where I completely broke with tradition and went to one of my favorite crutches, (kosher) bacon. Ask your Bubby, there ain’t nothing traditional about bacon. That being said, it does provide fat and crunch just like schmaltz and gribenes.

Let me know what you think of the recipe in the comments.  Also, let me know if you like my matzo ball soup or Rachel’s better.  You can find hers here: Minestrone Soup with Gluten-Free Matzah Balls

5 from 1 vote
Pho
Chicken Soup
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
4 hrs
 

A classic kosher comfort dish.  It's good for what ails you, they don't call it Jewish penicillin for nothing. I don't like anything too fancy in my chicken soup so I stay away from things like zucchini and tomatoes, but if you like them feel free to add them, it won't hurt anything.  

One final note, your soup will never taste as good as your mother's for 2 reasons:

1. Memories are a strong force

2. She probably added some soup mix with MSG to give it that little something extra.

Course: Soup
Cuisine: Jewish
Servings: 1 Large Pot
Author: Daniel Peikes
Ingredients
  • 4 Medium Carrots Peeled and cut into 1 inch rounds
  • 4 Ribs Celery Rinsed, tops and bottoms cut off and cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 Large Sweet Potato Peeled and cut into chunks
  • 1 Turnip Peeled and cut into chunks
  • 1 Parsnip Peeled and cut into 1 inch rounds
  • 1 Onion Peeled and roughly chopped
  • Salt To taste
  • Pepper To taste
  • 1 Handful Dill
  • 1 Handful Parsley
  • 3 Bay Leaves
  • 4 Chicken Leg Quarters Remove and save the fat and skin to make schmaltz
Instructions
  1. Put all the ingredients in your largest pot and fill with enough water to cover everything, making sure not to fill too high in order to prevent it from boiling over.

  2. Cover the pot and put over high heat and bring to a boil.  Once the soup is at a boil remove the lid and turn the heat down to a simmer.

  3. Let the soup simmer for about four hours or until the soup reduces by about 15%.

  4. Remove chicken from the bones, adding the chicken back in to the soup and discarding the bones.  Serve within a week or freeze for up to six months. 

5 from 2 votes
Matzo Balls
Prep Time
1 hr
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
 
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Jewish
Servings: 12 Small Matzo Balls
Ingredients
  • 1/2 Cup Matzo Meal
  • 2 tbsp Cold Chicken Stock
  • 2 tbsp Fat (Kosher) Bacon grease, chicken schmaltz, or vegetable oil
  • 1 Large Egg Beaten
  • 2 tbsp (Kosher) Bacon or Gribenes Chopped very fine
  • 2 quarts Chicken Stock For cooking the Matzo Balls
Instructions
  1. Add all ingredients except the 2 quarts of chicken stock in a large mixing bowl, stir with a large wooden spoon, ideally one passed down from your Bubby, until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Put the mixture in the fridge for about an hour to hydrate.

  2. Roll out the matzo balls just slightly smaller than a golf ball and cook in chicken stock for about 5 minutes. Serve immediately or remove from liquid and freeze.