I lived for many years in South Florida where there’s a Jewish Deli in almost every strip shopping center. While I love Utah, and Park City has an especially vibrant and exciting food culture, sometimes I really miss a bowl of matzo ball soup or a bagel with a smear. I was recently in South Florida with my son and grandson for a few days and there was a lovely Jewish deli right by our hotel. My son complained a bit about the 20 minute wait, but I was determined we would have breakfast there. When we were finally seated, I couldn’t decide on what I wanted so just ordered several of my favorites.
The waitress looked at me with raised eyebrows. “Is that all?” she said and then looked at my son. When he ordered for him and his little boy, it dawned on her that I was planning on eating the following: bagel and lox, egg salad on the side with matzo ball soup as a starter and assorted pickles. I ate every single bite (well, my son had a little bit of the salmon).
I miss Jewish Delis so much. I alternated between Deli food, Falafal sandwiches from the Mediterranean restaurant around the corner, and Cuban Sandwiches for lunch when I lived in Florida. It was heaven. When I go back to visit family I have a list of restaurants I have to hit or I get cranky. Jewish Delis are on the top of that list.
In an effort to bloom where I’ve been replanted, I’ve decided to try and recreate some of the Jewish food I adore from South Florida. I don’t have a Jewish grandmother to teach me, nor do I have a drop of Jewish blood to help guide me, just a respect and love for what comes out of Jewish kitchens.
I’m starting with one of my all-time favorites, Matzo ball soup. I apologize profusely to REAL Jewish cooks everywhere for any discrepancies in ingredients or techniques, but you have to understand that my obsessive compulsive food nature just won’t let me miss Jewish food anymore!
PrintMatzo Ball Soup
Ingredients
- 3 quarts of chicken stock (homemade if you have it)
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup chopped carrot
- 2 T vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup matzo meal
- 1 t salt (Kosher, of course) – if you’re not using homemade stock, cut back a bit on the salt
- few grinds of black pepper
- 1 sprig chopped parsley
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients except the chicken stock together in a large bowl
- Add enough chicken stock to make the dough easy to handle (a tablespoon or two)
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes
- While the dough is in the refrigerator, heat a large stock pan full of water until the water is simmering
- Also, heat the stock in a large pan, add the carrots and let it cook until the carrots are soft – about 20 to 30 minutes
- After carrots are soft, add parsley then let simmer on low until the matzo balls are ready
- Form dough into small balls
- [url href=”https://therockymountainwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/MATZO-BALLS.gif”]
[/url] - Drop into boiling water and let cook until done through – 30 to 45 minutes
- Put a matzo ball or two into a large bowl and spoon on broth. Add a little more chopped parsley right before you serve it.
Yes, please. That looks delish indeed. xx
Yum! This looks delish!
Oh photos looks so yummy ~ You are right ~ I love a good Jewish deli and I don’t find many around ~ We used have one but it is long gone ~ Glad you had what you wanted!
Happy Week to you,
artmusedog and carol
Sounds scrumptious !! I love Matzo Ball Soup !!
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I don’t think I’ve ever had Jewish food. I guess that comes from living in the middle of nowhere. Looks good.
It looks delicious. I have never been in a Jewish Deli, I think it doesn’t even exist in Brussels.
I haven’t heard of Matzo before and I don’t think this product is readily available here where I live. It does look like meatball to me 🙂
I also miss matzo balls. My mom made big ones for our chicken soup, where one (maybe two) would go in one bowl. They were a special addition. Now, I wish I paid more attention to her cooking as I grew older. But since I didn’t have kids, there wasn’t a big need… {:-D
★★★★★
I miss my Jewish Deli. We live in the wrong end of Florida, but I am glad to hear that you got your fix of “special” foods. The soup looks great.
My mouth is already watering at the thought of tasting your soup and all the other delicacies that you describe from your stay in Florida. bon apetit.
★★★★★
It’s always fun to try to create something you have had at a restaurant…Looks like you wee successful♪
Have to admit that I never go to delis. But I do know matzes in the flat form. Glad you could have your favorite food there:)
I have always wondered what a matzo ball was and now I know. Never had the pleasure, even when I was dating a Jewish attorney. Maybe someday.
However when you mention Cuban sandwiches, my drool started. Not sure how I will stop that. Sure miss the diversity of cooking here in tiny town Arkansas.
You soup looks delicious. I may have had matzo ball soup once, but it must not have been tasty for me to remember. I do miss a good bagel with salmon and lox. Yumm.
RMW you are a woman after my own heart! I would have ordered everything that I wanted to eat as well! 😀
I’ll have a bowl, please, with a large slice of the bread you’re working on in the previous post!
More yummy recipes ~ especially after having so much snow here on Cape Ann MA ~ thanks,
Happy Weekend coming to you,
artmusedog and carol