Throwdown's Matzo Ball Soup
6 tablespoons chicken fat
3 tablespoons finely chopped chives
4 large eggs
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh dill
2 tablespoons seltzer water
1 teaspoon sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup unsalted matzo meal
2 large yellow onions, quartered
3 carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces
3 stalks celery, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon white peppercorns
1 small bunch parsley
10 sprigs fresh thyme
1 (3-pound) chicken
3 lbs chicken bones, neck included
Water
2 jalapeno peppers, roasted and slit
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Chopped fresh dill leaves
Instructions:
For the matzo balls:
Heat the chicken fat over medium heat in a small pan. Add the chives and cook for 30 seconds. Set aside to cool slightly.
In a large bowl, add the eggs, dill, seltzer, sugar, and salt and pepper and whisk until combined. Add the matzo meal and the chicken fat/chive mixture and stir to combine. Cover well and refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium heat. Form the matzo mixture into 8 equal size balls, about 1 3/4 ounces each, add to the water, reduce the heat to simmer, cover and cook until very tender, about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to the pot with the chicken stock and cook for 5 minutes before serving. Ladle the soup into individual bowls and serve.
For the chicken stock:
Combine all ingredients in a large stockpot and add enough cold water to cover by 2-inches. Bring to a boil, over medium heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, skimming the scum from the stock with a ladle, every 15 minutes, for 3 hours. Strain into a large bowl and discard the solids.
Transfer to a large saucepan and cook until reduced by half. Add the roasted jalapenos for the last 10 minutes or of simmering, then remove. Season with salt, pepper and freshly chopped dill.
