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Information

Course: appetizer
Total time: under 2 hours
Skill level: Easy
Cost: Inexpensive
Yield: Makes about 8 large or 16 small balls
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Notes

The world is divided into those who love floaters and those who love sinkers. While the delicate floaters are favored by matzoh ball mavens everywhere, I am a closet sinker-lover, which is the way my father’s mother, Grandma Ruchel, made them. Which is not to say I haven’t gobbled with gusto a floater or two in my day. Aunt Irene’s are definitely floaters. Some say club soda makes for a lighter Knaidel. Cooking them longer will make them lighter too.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons melted chicken fat, melted shortening, or vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • ½ cup matzoh meal
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder (see Notes)
  • 2 tablespoons club soda, chicken broth or water

Directions

1. Blend the fat and eggs together in a small bowl. Add the matzoh meal, salt, and baking powder and blend well. Add the club soda and mix thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate until the mixture is firm, at least 1 hour.

2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and lightly salt it.

3. Using wet hands, form the mixture into balls (2 tablespoons each for 2-inch knaidlach, 1 tablespoon for 1½-inch), and carefully drop them into the boiling water. Do not crowd the pot. Cover the pot and cook at a slow, steady boil (not a hard boil) until soft, 30 to 40 minutes.

4. Remove the knaidlach with a slotted spoon, and serve in soup.

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Nutritional Information

Nutrients per serving

This recipe serves 8.

78 kcal
4 % daily value
0 % daily value
1 % daily value
29 mg
4 mg
2 g
0 g
0 g
6 g
53 mg
377 mg
1 g
5 g
4 % daily value