Thursday, September 22, 2011

How to Make Gluten Free Matzo Balls




What is a Jewish holiday without Matzo Balls? 
For those of us who are gluten free, we may have given up trying to find a gluten free recipe for this amazing holiday treat! Guess What? I have an amazing and easy recipe!




These delicious delicacies are easy to cook and will make holiday meal festive and traditional. After years of experimenting to make a gluten free matzo ball, I finally learned that all I need to do was use my mother's recipe and change one ingredient.  

Matzo balls were always one of my favorite foods, so I really missed them when I stopped eating gluten. Until now, I couldn't find a recipe that reminded me of the old days when I could dive into a nice hot bowl of piping hot broth boasting one of two of  these tasty plump over sized  dumplings.

If you have never had matzo balls, you are really missing something. They are very popular on the east coast in a bowl of chicken soup. Kids of all ages love them, and they are really easy to make. They really hit the spot on a cold winter night.

How I finally learned to make them gluten free

For years, my friend Paula ,who cooks for two gluten free family members (her husband and son) , had been telling me that she makes great gluten free matzo balls. I never thought much about them until I was invited to her house for dinner and actually tasted them. OMG !!!
Her gluten free matzo balls tasted totally authentic and delicious. I was hooked.

Today, I'm sharing Paula's simple recipe, and I'm sharing it just in time for Rosh Hashanah ( The Jewish New Year) or you might want to make them for Passover ( Use GF matzo meal instead of GF breadcrumbs) as suggested in the recipe!




Enjoy these matzo balls in your favorite soup. ( Classic Vegan "Chicken" soup for Matzo Balls) 
They freeze well too.. see my notes below

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons of oil (I use olive oil)
2 large eggs
1/2 cup gluten free breadcrumbs (or for Passover use 1/2 cup  GF Matzo meal)
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 T seltzer ( optional- makes the matzo balls softer )


Directions

Step One: 

Put up an 8 qt pot of water and bring it to a boil with just a little salt if you like

Step Two:

In the meantime
In a small bowl beat eggs and oil and set aside
In a separate bowl mix bread crumbs and salt.
Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and blend well with fork.
Add seltzer
Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes ( this step is important)

Step Three :  

Remove batter from refrigerator. Divide batter into just slightly smaller than golf ball size balls ( should make about 8-10 .When water comes to a boil, drop in balls one at a time into the boiling water
Reduce to a simmer and cook for 30-40 minutes.
Add to warm soup and serve.
*** see my notes below on how to freeze matzo balls if you want to make them in advance- 


Assemble Ingredients
Beat eggs and oil


Mix in GF bread crumbs or GF Matzo Meal and salt . When mixed add seltzer.
Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes ( don't skip this)
Wet your hands and form into golf size balls ( makes about 12-13)
Drop  in boiling water
Boil for about 35 minutes until center is soft

Use a slotted spoon to remove from water. Add to soup and serve.






My Notes
Matzo balls also freeze well, so you can make them in advance.
Once the matzo balls have cooked, drain them, and place on a cookie sheet and allow to cool. When cool, place in the freezer. Once frozen, remove from the cookie sheet and store in baggies until ready to use. You can use a few or all whenever you want them.. Do Not Defrost- keep the balls frozen. Drop into rapidly boiling soup for about 15-20 minutes until the balls and soup are hot once again. .  Serve within the hour as the matzo balls absorb the soup!

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Food is my passion. I am gluten intolerant, busy. and strive for a healthy balanced lifestyle. It has taken me many years to come up with easy healthy recipes that meet gluten free, vegetarian and real food standards. On my blog I share my journey, my struggles, my discoveries, and my new recipes. I hope you find ideas, resources, and recipes that will be helpful to you. Come Back soon.






29 comments:

  1. I've never had matzo balls before but would like to give them a try sometime.

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  2. I've never had matzo balls either, but they look delicious.

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    Replies
    1. Everyone has to taste a matzo ball ; they are delicious

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  3. Wow, gluten-free matzoh balls. I love love love matzoh ball soup and will have to give this a try!

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  4. This would be quite a treat for my husband. He thanks you and so do I.

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  5. GF matzah balls??? I love it!!! I'd have never imagined such a thing -- I'll have to pass this on to a dear friend who has multiple food intolerances, including gluten. Shanah Tovah - may 5772 be a very sweet year for you ... :)

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  6. I passed this recipe on to my brother at Gluten free Edmonton.

    I know that refrigerating is one of the most important steps - but I don't understand why some of the packaged mixes still turn out like golf balls.

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  7. What a great recipe! Thank for sharing your recipe with the Hearth and Soul Hop.

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  8. What a fantastic way for those who have to avoid gluten to enjoy matzo balls - or for those of us who sometimes struggle to find matzo to make them with too! Thank you for sharing this very useful post with the Hearth and Soul hop and Let's Do Brunch.

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    Replies
    1. Really good point. I forgot that matzah is not always available.

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  9. good recipe but I think the salt should read 1 tsp not 1T.

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    1. acutually a tablespoon is good, but if you prefer less salt, use a tsp

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  10. Thank you for pointing out the mistake on the salt.
    It should be 1 tsp. and I've already changed it. Thanks

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  11. Are you supposed to stir in the seltzer or just leave it floating on the top?

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  12. What is T? (for example the receipe says 2 T oil). Sorry, I am from Argentina (not english speaker), and I dont know what meands the inicial T

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  13. So sorry...

    T= tablespoon t = teaspoon

    Thank you for pointing that out.. I'll spell it out in the future..

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  14. I’m thrilled you stopped by and shared at Foodie Fridays; looking forward to seeing what fabulous post you have to share this week. Party starts Thursday at 9 pm EST. Hope to see you there.
    Blessings,
    Shari
    http://www.puregracefarms.com

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  15. I've never had Matzo Balls but it is great to see that gluten free alternatives for many recipes are really becoming popular. Thank you for sharing this recipe with us at #AnythingGoes link up and hope to see you next week.

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  16. Thank you so much for linking up to Merry Monday this week! I am sharing your post today on our MM Pinterest Board We hope to see you next week for another great party! Have a great week!
    Best,
    Kim

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  17. I have never had matzo balls but I would love to try them! It is wonderful you have made this classic traditional recipe gluten free too! Thank you so much for being a part of the Hearth and Soul hop, Judee :-)

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  18. They turned out PERFECTLY. Thanks beyond thanks. Laura

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    1. Thanks for the feedback! glad you enjoyed the gluten free Matzo balls

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  19. I have made these twice for my gentile gf and her mom and they went wild! Dare I say, they’re better than my mom and my bubby’s!! And I can’t believe they’re gluten free!!!
    Thank you! This is my forever matzoh ball recipe now

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  20. Shawna,
    Aren't they the best!!! and easy too.. so glad you are enjoying them ...

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  21. Judee, pinning this for future reference. Can't wait to try them!

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