Vegetarian Matzo Ball Soup – One secret ingredient makes this the ultimate meatless matzo ball soup! Savory chicken flavor without the meat. Kosher for Passover recipe.
How do you infuse vegetable stock with savory flavor, golden color, and all of those yummy qualities that make chicken soup such a comfort? It’s a challenge, but that has never stopped me from trying. Over the years I’ve made several attempts at homemade vegetarian matzo ball soup with varying degrees of success. The broth always turned out too sweet or too dark– just not quite right. I was searching for a chicken-y flavor, but I didn’t want to resort to bouillon cubes or store-bought chickenless broth. There had to be a better way. It wasn’t until last month, when I added saffron to the mix, that everything fell into place.
Saffron is magic. It really is. I know some of you cringe when I use it, because it’s pricey. However, a little goes a long way in helping to round out the flavor of meatless dishes. I use it in my Vegan Saffron Hollandaise and my Dairy-Free Saffron Scalloped Potatoes with amazing results. Here, adding it to a simple vegetable broth along with a touch of olive oil added the necessary “oomph” my previous vegetarian soup recipes were lacking. It produced a golden, savory stock, as close to real chicken broth as I’ve ever gotten. I am really proud of this recipe.
The matzo ball part of the recipe below contains eggs. I tried hard to develop a vegan recipe, I really did, but all of my attempts fell flat and were honestly kind of ick. I’ll keep trying… you know I love a good challenge! Since most vegetarians I know have no problem eating eggs, the recipe below should work for the vast majority of veg-heads out there.
This soup is glorious. I couldn’t stop inhaling it. For vegetarians who are missing the chicken flavor of traditional matzo ball soup, give this recipe a try… you won’t be sorry!
Please see the note about saffron below – it’s important to buy a good quality saffron or this soup won’t have the proper flavor.
Looking for traditional chicken soup with matzo balls? Click here!
Need a gluten free matzo ball recipe? Click here!
Note: certain strictly kosher groups may consider saffron to be kitniyot on Passover; if you are concerned, please consult a trusted Rabbinical authority.
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Vegetarian Matzo Ball Soup
Ingredients
Soup Ingredients
- 1/2 pound carrots (about 3 medium carrots) sliced into 1/2 inch chunks
- 1/2 pound celery (about 5 stalks) sliced into 1/2 inch chunks, including leaves
- 1 onion (rinsed and halved, skin on)
- 1 leek, sliced and cleaned (white and light green parts only)
- 1 bunch fresh dill + 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill, divided
- 1 bunch fresh parsley
- 2 bay leaves
- 10 whole peppercorns
- 6 whole cloves (spice cloves, not garlic)
- Pinch saffron threads not American or Mexican saffron, which have no flavor - buy the good stuff! It's expensive but necessary in this soup. Do not sub turmeric! The flavor is completely different.)
- 2 tablespoons good quality extra virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt
Matzo Ball Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or light olive oil
- 1 tablespoon seltzer water
- 1/2 cup matzo meal (see notes for gluten-free option)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder (if making for Passover make sure the brand is certified KFP)
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
- Pinch saffron threads
NOTES
Instructions
- Combine all soup ingredients in a large pot with 1 tbsp kosher salt (reserve the 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill for later). If you're salt sensitive, you can start with 2 tsp salt, however please note that for the saffron flavor to shine here, you do need salt in the mix. I really recommend 1 tbsp if you're not watching your salt intake.
- Cover ingredients with 4 quarts (16 cups) water. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to a simmer (around medium heat). Let the stock cook uncovered for 60-90 minutes until the liquid reduces by a third and the stock is flavorful. Note: the olive oil may taste strange in the beginning, but don't fret. As the stock slowly cooks the flavors will meld, and that olive oil will give the broth some much-needed richness and depth.
- While the stock is cooking, make the matzo balls. Whisk eggs in a small mixing bowl with vegetable oil and seltzer water. Use a fork to stir in the matzo meal, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, onion powder and chopped fresh dill to make a thick batter. Place the batter in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- While the batter is chilling, in a second pot combine 3 quarts (12 cups) of water with a pinch of saffron and 1 tbsp salt. Bring to a simmer, stir to dissolve the salt. Keep the salted saffron water hot until the matzo ball mixture is fully chilled.
- Place a small dish of cold water beside the pot of saffron water. Take the chilled matzo ball batter out of the refrigerator. Bring the saffron water to a simmer. Wet your hands and roll the matzo ball batter into walnut-sized balls, then gently drop them into the simmering saffron water. Wet your hands between each ball; this makes forming them easier. Don't make them larger than walnuts, they'll expand a lot as they cook!
- When all of the matzo balls are in the water, bring back to a low bubbling simmer (not a heavy boil) and cover the pot. Let the matzo balls simmer for 30-35 minutes, keeping the pot covered for at least the first 30 minutes. No peeking! Keeping the pot covered will help the matzo balls become fluffy. Let the matzo balls simmer until they're cooked through. When they are fully cooked, turn off the heat and keep the matzo balls in the hot saffron water until ready to serve. If you won't be serving within an hour, remove the matzo balls from the pot with a slotted spoon and reserve (so they don't get mushy and fall apart).
- When the vegetable stock liquid has reduced by a third, strain the stock through a fine mesh strainer or cheese cloth into a large bowl.
- Separate out the carrots and celery from the cooked vegetables and herbs.
- Rinse the pot and pour the stock back into the pot. Add the carrots and celery back to the stock along with 1 tbsp chopped dill. Adjust seasoning to taste, adding more salt if desired. Keep the stock warm till ready to serve.
- Serve 1-2 matzo balls per bowl; ladle the hot soup and vegetables over the warm matzo balls.
I followed the recipe exactly without any modifications and it is SO GOOD. Served at passover and even folks who were initially skeptical of a matzoh ball soup without schmaltz were raving about the flavor and asking for seconds. I will be making this broth all the time now.
This was my first time making matzoh ball soup and it blew my in-laws away! The olive oil as a layer of fat is genius. Don’t skimp on good saffron!! Thanks for this awesome recipe 🙂
I love this recipe! I’ve made it several times, though I do make an adjustment to the ingredients. I like to add parsnips and a turnip to make it even more full bodied, and as a nod to how my mother used to make it when I was a child. It brings back great memories.
I once added some potatoes to the recipe as well. I never thought of using cloves in matzo ball soup, and wow… it’s great! A fabulous recipe. Thank you for sharing.
I made this soup for my vegetarian daughter who was very much missing chicken soup with matzo balls. Matzo balls were amazing and soup was delicious. I left out the saffron and it still was great. So glad I found this recipe!
If she enjoyed this, try adding a turnip and some parsnips next time. A really great addition (:
This was a really great recipe! It was my first time making Matzah ball soup & it turned out great. The only suggestions I have is to use vegetable stock rather than water (or at least do half and half stock and water) for more flavor in the soup. I also wouldn’t mind more dill in my Matzah balls! I think I will add more next time and if you like dill I would definitely recommend that! The saffron was such an ingenious way to go about this dish. I would definitely go with this recipe if you’re looking for one!