Sephardic Chicken Soup with Sofrito and Herbed Matzo Balls

Name: Sephardic Chicken Soup with Sofrito and Herbed Matzo Balls
Prep time: 3 h 13 min
Cook time: 3 h 13 min
Total time: 3 h 13 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: Global
Ingredients: 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 2 teaspoons canola oil; 2 kgs chicken; 118 milliliters chicken fat, melted (schmaltz), plus 2 tablespoons, for optional garnish; 4 liters chicken stock; 2 Tbsps freshly chopped cilantro leaves; 8 larges eggs; 4 garlic cloves, minced; 2 teaspoons garlic powder; 118 milliliters quartered cherry or grape tomatoes; 118 milliliters diced (1/4-inch) green bell pepper; 2 Tbsps kosher salt; 473 milliliters matzo meal; 2 Tbsps extra-virgin olive oil; 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil; 79 milliliters freshly chopped parsley leaves; 1 teaspoon hot red pepper sauce, optional; 118 milliliters diced (1/4-inch) red bell pepper; 1 pinch Small saffron; 59 milliliters water; 1 small yellow onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice

Sephardic Chicken Soup with Sofrito and Herbed Matzo Balls might be just the main course you are searching for. This recipe serves 12. One portion of this dish contains about 39g of protein, 39g of fat, and a total of 654 calories. Autumn will be even more special with this recipe. Head to the store and pick up bell pepper, saffron, matzo meal, and a few other things to make it today. To use up the olive oil you could follow this main course with the Sauteed Banana, Granolan and Yogurt Parfait as a dessert. It is a good option if you're following a dairy free diet.

Instructions

Watch how to make this recipe.

To make the matzo balls, bring a large pot of salted water or chicken broth to a boil over high heat.

Ingredients you will need

Chicken Broth

Matzo

Water

Equipment you will use

Pot

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.

Ingredients you will need

Baking Powder

Garlic Powder

Chicken Fat

Matzo Meal

Parsley

Pepper

Water

Egg

Salt

Equipment you will use

Whisk

Bowl

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.

Ingredients you will need

Egg

Wrap

Equipment you will use

Plastic Wrap

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.

Ingredients you will need

Walnuts

Broth

Matzo

Water

Equipment you will use

Slotted Spoon

Skimmer

Bowl

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.

Ingredients you will need

Chicken Pieces

Whole Chicken

Stock

Soup

Equipment you will use

Pot

Remove the chicken from the soup.

Ingredients you will need

Whole Chicken

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.

Ingredients you will need

Broth

Meat

Soup

While the soup is simmering, heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat.

Ingredients you will need

Soup

Cooking Oil

Equipment you will use

Frying Pan

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.

Ingredients you will need

Green Pepper

Vegetable

Cilantro

Tomato

Saffron

Garlic

Onion

Add the hot sauce, if using. Set the sofrito aside.

Ingredients you will need

Hot Sauce

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.

Ingredients you will need

Chicken Pieces

Soup

Equipment you will use

Pot

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.)

Ingredients you will need

Matzo

Soup

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).

Ingredients you will need

Schmaltz

Whole Chicken

Matzo

Soup

Equipment you will use

Bowl

Ladle