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There are certain foods that immediately transport me back to my childhood. At the top of that list would be my Nana’s matzo ball soup.
There was something about it that always comforted me, made me feel safe, and put a smile on my face. Every time she made it, the smell of fresh dill would fill her house and I couldn’t wait until she called us to the dinner table.
When I stopped eating meat, almost a year ago, I dreaded the idea of never being able to feel that feeling again. In fact, all of my Nana’s favorite recipes have meat in them.
I began trying to figure out ways to rework her recipes, without the meat. This week, I tried making matzo ball soup without the chicken and I was shocked that it was just as good!
While my relatives would probably disagree (because they haven’t tried it yet), I would say that this one is a close 2nd to hers.
What is Matzo Ball Soup?
If you’ve never tried matzo ball soup, it’s basically chicken soup with fresh vegetables and matzo balls (small dumplings made of seasoned matzo meal, egg, and vegetable oil). They are light and fluffy (when made correctly) and soak up all of the soup flavors.
It was often our appetizer for holiday dinners. My Nana would occasionally add small noodles as well, especially when we weren’t feeling well. Her key ingredient was always fresh dill. The more, the better! Still to this day, whenever I use it, I think of her.
I’m excited to share this vegetarian version with you. If you don’t eat chicken, or want to try a different take on traditional matzo ball soup, I’d love for you to give it a try and let me know what you think. You can also check out my chicken soup recipe.
Vegetarian Matzo Ball Soup
Description
A vegetarian twist on the classic matzo ball soup, made with lots of fresh vegetables and spices.
Ingredients
Scale
- Broth
- 8 cups water or vegetable broth
- 1 large onion
- 2 stalks celery with leaves
- 1 large parsnip
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh dill
- 5 black peppercorns
- 6 cubes vegetable bouillon
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/4 teaspoon celery seed
- 1 pinch dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Soup Ingredients
- 1 cup sliced carrots
- 1 cup sliced celery
- 1 cup sliced parsnip
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh dill
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Matzo Balls
- Matzo Meal / Matzo Ball Mix
- 2 eggs
- 2 Tbsp Vegetable Oil
Instructions
- In a large pot combine water/vegetable broth, large onion, celery with leaves, fresh parsley, fresh dill, parsnip, peppercorns, bouillon, bay leaf, celery seed, thyme and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer 4 hours.
- Strain stock, set aside whole veggies (we love to eat those while we wait for the soup).
- Return stock to pot and stir in sliced veggies and spices.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix eggs, vegetable oil and matzo meal. Stir with a fork until evenly mixed.
- Chill in refrigerator for 15-20 minutes.
- Fill a pot with water and bring to a boil. Add salt (optional).
- Remove chilled mixture from the refrigerator.
- Wet hands and form batter into balls, approx. 1 in in diameter.
- Drop matzo balls into boiling water.
- Cover tightly, reduce heat and simmer about 20 minutes.
- Drain and add matzo balls to each bowl and fill it with soup.
- Top with fresh dill.
If you make this vegetarian matzo ball soup, we’d love to hear your thoughts. If you post it on social media, we’d love for you to tag @thesupermomlife! Don’t forget to check out all of our family-friendly recipes!
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Pingback: Matzo Ball Soup - The Super Mom Life
SUCH a comfort food! And I never would’ve thought about making it vegetarian!
I guess am one of the few people who haven’t tried the matzo ball soup. Thanks for your recipe, I’ll ask my Mom that we do it
This soup sounds amazing and looks so tasty! I also recall some dishes my grandma use to prepare and I miss those flavours and scents!
This looks delicious! I love that we are so close to fall and the weather changing so we can start enjoying warm foods like this soup. What a great way to get some extra veggies in!
I am big fan of soup and this recipe will definitely be added on my list. Now that the fall is fast approaching this is perfect.
I had this one of the times I was in New York and I have been wanting to make it ever since. Thanks for the recipe!
Hmm. sounds delicious! I have a vegetarian friend who like to try new dishes. I will share this with her. But of course, I also want to taste it.
This looks so good! I have not had matzo ball soup since I was a child and remember loving it! My daughter is vegetarian and this would be something new to make when she’s over for dinner- Thank you!
Allison @ LooksLikeHappy.com
I love that you were able to take a traditional recipe and adjust it to your lifestyle! Sounds delicious.
I have never tried it. I love that you have a vegetarian version. Pinning it to make it over here too!
Oh I love how easy this soup looks to make. I don’t think I’ve ever even had a matzo ball to begin with but looks really yummy.
Soup is my fave for fall, this looks so good!
Oooo…it’s been way too long since I enjoyed a delicious warm bowl of Matzo ball soup! I love your twist on this classic recipe. I look forward to preparing this yummy dish next week!
We LOVE matzo ball soup in our house but have never tried a vegetarian option. Definitely adding this to our repertoire.
I’ve never heard of this recipe or even matza. It’s interesting to know a new recipe that’s not familiar. I can see that it makes for a hearty meal. 🙂
I have never tried this soup and I am a vegetarian … Definitely gonna give it a try.
This looks so good! I’ve never had it before and would love to make this. I bet my husband would love it!
This is an awesome dinner idea. My family would really enjoy this!
I’ve never tried a Matzo Ball soup before but I am definitely going to now. It looks like such a delicious dish that my whole family would enjoy
I love soups! I’m happy that the recipe is not complicated. It’s actually my first time to hear about matzo! I can’t wait to try it.
Since I’ve never eaten Matzo ball soup, I’d never notice the missing meat! My family needs to eat gluten free, but I’ve never hear of matzo meal. I’ll have to look into it to see if we can eat it. Your soup looks so yummy!
When I think about this soup reminds me of my mother-inlaw she is good with it. The first time I tried it is to die for and since then I always wanted to make it. Glad I found this recipe of you.
This recipe looks amazing. I’ll have to grab the ingredients so I can make it. I love that fall is coming up so that I can enjoy more soup recipes like these.
I have had this in a restaurant but never thought to make it at home. Now I want to try it myself.
This would be perfect for the Fall season. I have homegrown carrots and I am reserving it to make soup, I will try your recipe.
This looks so good! I’m so excited for soup weather.
This soup sounds incredible for fall! Can’t wait to try it!
I’m not vegetarian but this looks great. Also, seems very simple,
This sounds perfect for fall! I’ve been craving vegetable soup lately and this sounds delicious!
I love soups. But I have never tried this one before. It looks absolutely delicious. Thanks for sharing this. I will try it soon.
I really enjoyed the nostalgia with a twist thematic of this post. I think it is great that you were able to take such a memorable soup from your childhood and update it to your vegetarian diet. I love a good Matzo ball soup. It is soooo comforting.
Wow. Like this. Never try this one, seem perfect for my kids, They had far too much BBQ during this summer and now they are back to school they need to get back to their normal routine. More Veg. than meat. Thx for this!
Looks, light, healthy and the perfect filler to avoid junk eating. It’s good to see someone post something vegetarian for goddamn sake of food loving
I’m craving for a bowl of soup now.. looks so yummy… looks easy to prepare one… let’s drink soup
I have never had matzo ball soup. This looks like it would be really tasty.
I am not a big fan of soup (except Tomato) but for some reason, this made me hungry.
I’ve never tried Matzo Ball Soup, but it does sound really good! I can’t lie, when I hear “Matzo Ball” I hear Chunk from the Goonies screaming “bullet holes the size of matzo balls!” haha!
My daughter LOVES Matzo ball soup, but it’s hard to find one that is low sodium, vegetarian, or MSG free. I never thought to make a homemade version, but I’ll definitely be trying out your recipe.
This recipe looks really good! I love all the healthy veggies in it!
I’ve never tried Matzo ball soup but your description of it sounds yummy. I love how certain foods remind of us of love and family. I’m glad you were able to recreate a vegetarian version of your Nana’s soup!
This recipe looks so savory. I can’t remember the last time I had matzo ball soup. Can’t wait to give this recipe a try.
Oh gosh, I love me some matzo ball soup! I have never tired a veggie version of it but you make it look and sound so wonderful!!
This is a soup that I need to make. I love that it is meatless and those matzo balls look so good.
Oh yum, I’d love this! I’m always a fan of soups, especially when it gets chilly out. I don’t think I’ve ever tried this before.
I am so ready for the fall cooler weather because it will be soup time, and yours is the first one on my list! YUM and pinned
I know that this is a Jewish recipe but it is very popular in my country. My grandmother used to make it very often for me too. I remember how hard it was to get the right consistency for the balls. 🙂 I actually never tried to make this soup myself.
This sounds like a really yummy fall and winter soup!
I liked the soup recipe. I too a printout. And I will try it out. It is really yummy.
I’ve never tried matzo ball soup, but it looks yummy and something §I would enjoy
I think I’m gonna try this recipe out. It would blend in well with my diet since I’m trying to lose a couple of pounds. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Yum, does this soup look so good! I’ll be saving this recipe for a cold snowy winter day!
I have never made matzo ball soup before, but i really want to now. Looks so yummy with all the fresh vegetables and the broth.
My daughters go crazy for matzo ball soup whenever we get it from the local diner. I want to try this recipe and make it at home. It looks and sounds so delicious.
That looks absolutely delicious. I love this type of soup. It is probably a favorite of our entire family. I will definitely try this version because I think we could all use some healthy vegetables in our food.
I will always remember the only time I ever had this soup before and it was so dang delicious! I could have eaten 4 bowls worth for sure!
I have never tried Matzo ball soup before. The pictures definitely make me want to try it!
I have never tried Matzo ball soup, but it sounds really good. The pictures definitely make me want to try it!
I love that this isn’t a super complicated recipe like some soups can be! I think this sounds delicious and I am looking forward to making it this weekend.