Matzah ball

From ArticleWorld

A matzo ball is part of Jewish cuisine. It is like a dumpling and is made from matzo meal that is created by grinding matzo. Matzo balls are made from matzo meal, eggs, fat, seasonings, salt, and pepper. Seltzer water can be added in order to make matzo balls light. Also, sautéed onions can be added to matzo balls. The traditional fat called schmaltz gives matzo balls a distinctive flavor. However, today chefs use vegetable oil to make matzo balls due to people’s health concerns. The balls are formed by keeping the hands wet while making sticky dough. Once shaped, the balls are dropped into a boiling pot of water that is salted and boiled. Matzo balls can also be dropped into chicken soup. The balls swell during the short boiling period and come out light and fluffy or dense depending on which recipe is used. Matzo balls can be small or as big as an orange. They can be frozen and then reheated in a boiling pot of soup. Matzo balls are usually served with chicken soup. Or, there is matzo ball soup which is just chicken soup served with the dumplings. Matzo balls are served during the Jewish holiday of Passover and they are eaten at other times of the year especially Shabbat. Jews believe that Matzo ball soup is a basic comfort food that also helps to prevent the common cold and the flu.