My Favorite Matzo Ball Soup | Home Movies with Alison Roman

SOUP SEASON came early folks. We're celebrating with a deeply flavorful, comforting bowl of Matzo Ball Soup showered in fresh dill, celery, and on occasion carrots. It’s the best soup we know. Come for the chicken broth tutorial (all-purpose!), stay for the easier-than-you-think matzo balls.
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RECIPE & INGREDIENTS:
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VIDEO CHAPTERS:
0:00 A new era
0:10 Home Movies with Alison Roman
0:20 Intro to Matzo Ball Soup
2:06 Preparing the matzo balls mixture
7:28 Making the chicken broth
14:20 Preparing the garnish
15:55 Forming and cooking the matzo balls
18:45 Adding the matzo balls to the broth
19:10 Finishing the Matzo Ball Soup
#matzoballsoup #matzo #matzoballs
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VIDEO CREDITS:
DP: Michael Ormiston
B Cam: Sean Ryan
Sound: Yves Albaret
Editor: Grace Palmer

[@alisoneroman]

What's your favorite jewish deli? We need to know.

[@jisika7370]

manny’s in chicago ☝️

[@ninarickett-green1817]

new york bagel and bialy in skokie il

[@droman0120]

Langers or Brents both in L.A

[@accordionbabe]

Corned beef sandwich on rye (Manny’s), pickles. Channeling Manny’s!

[@feliciaalbanese3338]

The entire menu! There’s a Slidells in miami now it’s my favorite.

[@mnrobb]

I was sitting here laughing at the CC translating matzo balls to mouse balls, and then the mouse animation happened. 🤣

[@davidcho0828]

heh

[@pegparrish3512]

I’m getting a new hamster later today and I am going to name him Matzo in honor of your soup! Thanks for the inspiration! 😘

[@davidcho0828]

this feels like a lie, pls share a pic of the hamster to prove that you're not just pandering for a restory of this comment!!!

[@pegparrish3512]

@@davidcho0828 🐹😂. 🍖🎉🙊🙉🙈

[@naomiemoore5725]

Oh that's cute!

[@dustyoldhat]

@@davidcho0828 You can't share pics on YT

[@CommentName]

@@davidcho0828 I would like to believe it is true.

[@emilysegada1286]

Alison, PLEASE do another Passover special (Alison's Version?). It's my "comfort watch" and I watch it daily. ily.

[@emilysegada1286]

David, I know you read the comments. pls help

[@davidcho0828]

@@emilysegada1286 oh yeah we should do this, will add it to the list

[@emilysegada1286]

@@davidcho0828 thank you my king

[@jeanneamato8278]

Yes please. Pretty please

[@davidcho0828]

@@emilysegada1286 we talked about doing brisket, but doing it as a Passover video is more fun

[@tanitavga]

The carrot hat was a magic moment, she's an ICON

[@shirleyhand4002]

My Mom was a pretty terrible cook. Most of the good things she cooked, she learned from my Dad who was an amazing cook. That being said, Mom's Matzo ball soup was awesome. She only made it at Passover. Her matzo balls were light, fluffy, and absolutely heaven. She learned how to make them from her mom who was born in Poland in the early 1800's. Chicken fat featured heavily in all of her cooking. Thank you, Alison for evoking this sweet memory. Mom died in 2012 at 97 years of age.

[@sheai4955]

This warmed my heart, thank you for sharing

[@cookiecutie88]

I love how different our mothers made the soup (mine makes them chewy and dense) and they're just filled with that love connection to them.

[@josepha133]

Your grandmother was born in the early 1800s? 🤔

[@shirleyhand4002]

@@josepha133 I never was good at math! My mom was born in 1915 and was the youngest of 6 kids. I think her mom, my grandma, was probably born around 1875. I never met her. She died from diabetes complications in the early 40s.I understand your confusion! 😊

[@dustyoldhat]

Early 1800s? Your family must have some amazing genes

[@elenayee3093]

I have to say that I don't understand why Alison doesn't have a million subscribers...!

[@davidcho0828]

share, like, and subscribe

[@VreniEni]

A dish that reminds me of Matzo Ball Soup that we make here in Germany is Grießklöschen with roughly translates to Semolina dumblings and they are similarly prepared but instead of Matzo meal, we'd use semolina. It was one of my favourite foods as a kid and I still love to make it now when I'm sick or cold.

[@grantjames4034]

When are we getting more home movies. Miss your videos!!!! Their literally my highlight of the week

[@kimfanning7339]

I just made my own Jewish penicillin the other day; I follow my grandmother's old recipe and always wanted to ask why boil the balls separately, so thank you so much for answering that burning question! There's really no other soup that compares.

[@elvjbaker]

I've been growing celery in my little garden for the last few years. It's the best vegetable- although the stalks are thin, each plant will give enough to give me a few meals and also regrow all winter (live in the South). And the leaves! I use them as the greens in all my soups, stews, etc. That unique taste. Can't match it with anything from the store.

[@naomiemoore5725]

This popped in just as I was making an enormous pot of chicken broth. My version is almost completely identical. Learned from my mom (not Jewish), and grandmothers (one Jewish, the other not.). All born in Austria, and my brother and I were born and raised here in the US. I do add a healthy pinch of tumeric just because I can.

[@emmageiger1123]

I searched for a matzo ball soup recipe in ‘nothing fancy’ just yesterday and here this is today - it’s like you read my mind ! TY !

[@jessicalord4418]

Alison, I just love you 😇 we’re also birthday twins ❤ thank you for being adorable

[@the1234please]

"Matzo Party!" *sung to the tune of 'Ham Party.'* But for real, this is my all-time favorite soup and I've never thought about making it myself but I definitely want to try this!

[@jocelynferger9681]

This just makes me so happy to watch. The hilarious one liners, the carrot top mascot, the color palettes of the pots and your shirt matching the soup!!! It’s all just too much in a good way!!!!🥹🫠🤍 Also I have to say as well that your Passover video and menu in general was amazing and I’d love to see an updated version of how you’d celebrate it now! I celebrate Easter and I’d love to do something special for my friends and family at our place this year.💖💖💖

[@kevinwlehman]

The pain of life waiting for Alison’s next KZbin video… 😢

[@campbellmer]

Where isssssss she!?!?

[@jenjoy3215]

This is a reminder to make matzo ball soup for the second time in my long life. I share your love of celery and dill. Try adding in dill and buttermilk in a classic red potato salad. And the only time I peel carrots is if I can’t get organic.

[@gerrybgood3125]

Feels like it's been forever since we've had anything from you, Alison. I keep waiting for a notification that you dropped a new vid, but sadly it is for naught.

[@ninarickett-green1817]

just made your turkey broth for thanksgiving (stuffing, duh) and i'm very excited to fully enter my broth and stock era with this soup

[@fancynancy1541]

Can't wait to make this! I love trying your recipes. They are always a big hit with the fam!

[@samantharindler6828]

I pre ordered your new book, I’m so excited! ❤

[@severinseverin7773]

The only thing different in our recipes is you use fennel, and I use a parsnip. I'm totally gonna try the fennel! 😋😋😋

[@sandeepshirleythomas9861]

Alison Roman, you always amaze me with your amazing dishes! This seems like a must try❤

[@solomonsalsberg5961]

In Delray Beach Florida there is a Jewish deli that imports its bread from Brooklyn (water issues in FL)has the best corned beef that they brine themselves... Seating as well as a deli counter.. and of course desserts too. It called 3 gs an they do need a Lil leßon on matzo balls but it's better then good, I lived near there over ten years ago...

[@thegeekofchic]

God, I love your Home Movies, Alison

[@Flowers4Everyone]

Love this version of matzo ball soup! I am a diehard celery person this speaks to me. The other version I enjoy is Asian style by Living Sweet Moments, 2016. Also delicious and no carrots!

[@lisayerace6117]

I LOVE Matzo Ball Soup, too…. Have never made “home made” matzo balls….. I will now! Thanks, Alison! Looks FABULOUS! Great Winter soup!

[@cookiecutie88]

My mom is the undefeated matzo ball soup champ to me but gawsh, all that herbs in your version looks SO good!

[@RedsGirl08]

I love home movies like Alison loves being right ❤

[@davidcho0828]

wow tysm

[@patriciaredick9849]

Thanks, great energy and fun again.

[@michaelcocroft9700]

She’s just the best. Love every post.

[@WeberEnthusiast]

Awesome recipe , massive inspiration to us smaller creators 👍👍

[@myhomecookingrecipes7839]

This is really amazing...The soup is looking mouthwatering 🤤🤤 thanks for explaining ☺️ love the recipe 🤤😋😋😋🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤

[@dotsyjmaher]

OMG chicken backs.. loved cooking with them..can't get them now... You make me remember how much I liked learning cooking when I was a kid.. I was always alone but I thought to myself about food like YOU talk about it.. My "family" LOVED my cooking but thought I was very eccentric. In a very real way....watching you cook and hearing your thoughts and humor about food gives value to my "lost years." I REALLY love your work..thank you.

[@vivianhobbs4908]

Allison I bought the most beautiful parsley and celery when I was on a trip in Ecuador 😢 those vegetables were so gorgeous they could have been on display in a pretty flower vase .

[@hildamasi4665]

That really looks delicious 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

[@Troglodyte]

First you go dark, now Claire Saffitz has been MIA for a couple weeks. I'm running out of my go-tos.

[@jeanneamato8278]

This made me happy. Thank you.

[@davidcho0828]

mazel

[@brendawalsh9717]

Yummmmmm!! I’ve never had matzo ball soup. Ive always wanted to try this!! Also, I would marry dill 👍🏻❤

[@naomiemoore5725]

And we also made liver dumplings, calves liver with matzo in a modified matzo ball soup. Also one of my favorites.

[@gelafrancesca]

I'm cooking this soup this weekend 😋

[@evleevle4538]

Your love for celery makes me feel like I belong here

[@tghost2]

THE CELERY...OMG! Like you, I adore celery! It is SO shamefully underrated. I shoehorn it into everything (where it makes sense of course).

[@simcastpodvids]

WONDERFUL.

[@KMerth-yl7rx]

great vid... i might try making this.

[@teriscallon]

your videos are the best

[@SM-ce1uy]

we have a version of this amazing soup in Romanian cuisine but I am really excited to try this recipe as it looks just so amazing

[@Grimtide17]

Yo the low key, nonchalant mention of your new book?! PRE ORDERED OF COURSE - EXCITED! Also I make this every year! If it doesn't have the most celery then it's truly not worth it

[@nattygirldred]

I’ve made Alison’s Turkey recipe for 2 years in a row EVERYONE loves ❤ it. And THIS Matzo Ball Soup is sooooooo getting made ASAP. And sorry no deli’s around me unless Gelson’s counts? I’m sure it doesn’t 😂

[@davidcho0828]

they have cold cuts

[@EnchantedPlantQueen]

Great Expectations- amazing movie. Remember that song Life in Mono from it? So haunting. Anyway- inspired as usual so broth is currently simmering away and matzos are in the fridge…

[@fiveinitaly]

Great and well done. Ciao friends 👍👍👍👍

[@danielhardy7839]

K I've never thought of making Motzo Ball Soup before but now I'm a believer. Thank you giving me so many ideas weekly, also for the hilarious, fun videos. I need to figure out how to somehow become part of your team! LOL

[@elostazaelostaza3673]

Very very good

[@iamfilipinas]

Great Expectations is my favorite movie too! top 5!!

[@chrissstttiiine]

Omg YES!!

[@funnybabbit550]

AAALLLLLIIIISSSOOONNN!!! Oh it’s been too long since I’ve seen you. Life feels like a warm blanket now. And I also need this in. My. Mouth. Balls first. 😂😭

[@daisyblooms4813]

The "accchhh" at the end made me cackle 😆

[@myhomecookingrecipes7839]

Super delicious 👍

[@savesoil3133]

Yesss Since you are interested in food and recipes, you might like the Save Soil movement 🍃 #SaveSoil

[@aigoochamnaa]

Also as a person from the Valley (818 baby!), I knew every reference you made about Humphrey Yogart 😂😂😂

[@kerrydevito6047]

Was not prepared for that massive carrot sound effect but I'm so glad it happened.

[@LGLcreations]

I just ordered matzo meal on Amazon to make it this weekend. How do you read my mind all the time!!!

[@davidcho0828]

she's a lady of many gifts

[@abbeytaylor]

This comes at the perfect time when I'm very much craving delicious soup.

[@solomonsalsberg5961]

I have never heard a matzo ball be called ethereal, lol ... But your right, those are the ones I give a thumbs up to. I will make some soon... My Amish friend with a semi professional kitchen will be having a family reunion and I have to take care of his farm for 5 days...

[@rosalindpaaswell9513]

so -- about the recipe. Decades ago replaced the chicken fat with canola or any other good vegetable oil. There is absolutely zero loss of great flavor. First, to get good chicken fat you have to render it yourself. SEcond, it's so not good for you. Here's a place to substitute something else for the schmaltz and not give up anything. But I don't mean to criticize. This is such a friendly, and good, channel. Great way to teach and keep everyone comfortable. Thanks

[@rachelmermell2460]

Brent’s Deli in Northridge. I used to go to Solley’s with my Dad on Sunday mornings and Humphrey’s as a High Schooler with friends. Valley Girl here.

[@aceme05]

I love her. She is the moment

[@maevamaia]

I'm not Jewish. I'm here because of Table Manners aka Jessie and Lennie Podcast, all I hear is about this famous soup!!! They just interviewed Cher this soup travelled all the way to Paris from London to have this Soup with Cher which btw Cher didn't give a shit about the soup ( politely I shall say... 😂 ) great podcast hence my curiosity about this soup. 🎉

[@thomascarey2227]

Agreed, too 5 favorite

[@samsyberg7449]

The carbon dioxide gas in the club soda gets trapped inside the mato ball mixture when you mix it all together and probably forms small bubbles inside the mixture as it sits in the fridge over the 2 hours thus making the matzo balls seem "lighter", so that makes sense! - a chemist

[@elenayee3093]

I grew up eating matzo cracker boards (had no idea that was what they were called) slathered with butter. How the heck my Chinese immigrant mom stumbled upom matzo crackers as a snack for her kids is beyond me but I loved it!

[@davidcho0828]

moms are nuts lol

[@erikalouwrens3992]

I absolutely love them too! Slathered with butter is the BEST way to eat them!

[@sarahwatts7152]

I had no idea this was so doable! I don't know of any place in my region where I could get this, so looks like I'm going to make it!

[@kaiju_k5042]

I was like, you look familiar, then realizes I've been reading your comments under "MyaHatesTomatoes" ( who also loves Alison's cheesecake) videos haha :) Small world.

[@sarahwatts7152]

@@kaiju_k5042 hahaha hi! I try to comment on creators I like to boost their videos. I hope Maya gets better soon!

[@kaiju_k5042]

@@sarahwatts7152 aww I know, watched her current one

[@katsufatsu]

This looks so good. Definitely gonna try to make this. Ideas on how to use the leftover chicken fat?

[@severinseverin7773]

What I do is make the stock before; then scrape it off and use the chicken fat to make the matzo balls. That way you don't have to buy any chicken fat.

[@bethsnyder8376]

Kasha and Bowties

[@Kaydeleon]

Omg!!! I live in Sherman oaks!!! Grew up in the valley!!! Yes!!! I remember this place next to Gelsons!!! Also… Humphreys is located now inside Gelsons!!!!

[@davidcho0828]

wow wild move from Humphreys

[@kadenduiffard2388]

This is the first video of yours I’ve watched. I don’t know what I was expecting considering your controversy, but I genuinely enjoyed this video. You have a great personality. I like the sweet self-deprecation. You are not a clownish cook like the egregiously awful Pasta Queen, and you are not a mean cook like the horridly abusive Gordon Ramsay. I loathe them both. You have your own style, and it was fun to watch. I smiled a lot. You’re the real deal. Definitely not a phony like the alleged “Queen” or Ramsay. Here in Buffalo, the land of chicken wings, my mom made her soup with an old hen, until old hens went the way of the Dodo in supermarkets. She switched to one whole breast (or two halves), some wings, the back, and neck. Probably two dozen wings. They all combined to make the most wonderful broth. We aren’t Jewish (we are mostly Italian), so I wasn’t familiar with the use of dill, but the classic trio of celery, carrots, and onions, along with a finisher of chopped parsley filled the bill. I will try dill. The breast meat was cut up, and placed into our bowls. Thanks for an entertaining and informative video. I look forward to watching others.

[@punjabseth260]

nice🥰👌🏻

[@feliciaalbanese3338]

Can you ever over cook a matzo ball? Looks excellent I’m using this recipe

[@jazzstew3108]

I have the flu rn and REALLY want some matzo ball soup

[@WebsterAnn]

Please, please forgive me, I think it's "patronize." Soup looks amazing 👏. Thaaank you for sharing it!!!💝

[@vivirodriguezc]

It was funny how Alison was shocked by the size of those carrots and that's the regular carrot size in Colombia and I dare say in all latin america jaja🤭

[@jennifercamille16]

I love dill too. Can't get enough lol. 🥒

[@xyzpdq1122]

I just watched Babish's new meatball episode, so my afternoon is BALLIN' (bing b ong)

[@violetavenue8990]

Koch's Deli West Philadelphia, they have even have vegan options.

[@theprousteffect9717]

The matzo ball had a carrot yarmulke.

[@davidcho0828]

lol weird that we didn't think of that

[@mudaawi]

Literllay heard about you from the watcher serie

[@marlansmith8781]

Hi Alison! Great video! For additional flavor, why would you not boil the matzo balls in the chicken stock?

[@nataliejoel]

The balls absorb so much liquid, you'd have too little broth left to eat

[@lagosmm]

Is there a substitute for matzo meal? Also, same question for chicken fat. Thank you!

[@callioscope]

I am the only holdout for hard golf-sized matzo balls and don’t even remember how to make them at this point. I grew up on them and think they are little flavor bombs. Any sacrilegious suggestions for me to achieve the sinkers, or just add more meal? Grew up at Mort’s Deli in Tarzana, usually with a walk-through to Bea’s Bakery for a piece of 7-layer cake. Haven’t been there since the 80s after moved out of CA permanently.

[@ellb8795]

broth, the ball, and 4 slices of carrot on the bias :)

[@CM-lr2fh]

After “the storm” and subsequent deep freeze, I was craving soup and trying to resist ordering Matzo ball from the diner, so I googled the recipe and was led to A. Roman’s NYT’s videos. Impressed but definitely getting the “too cool for school” vibe, I resisted watching more but they kept coming up in my feed. I eventually weakened and started to watch but was puzzled at the sudden end to them on NYTs channel as well as wondering what the heck “#TheStew”was. So back to google again. Wow what a read - twitter, cnn+, cultural appropriation, cancel culture …. drama. All I can say is I must have been living under a rock (a NYT subscriber!) Yes, I am definitely not cool… But I did find this channel and am enjoying the new refrig as well. Keep on with the (Alison’s versions)! I still don’t understand the distain for pumpkin pie, never was there ever a better spicy companion to whipped cream and unfortunately you just can’t eat whipped cream alone.

[@zoemarinis7362]

I need that colander.

[@michellejames6624]

@alison - you did an amazing video featuring your fabulous Dad. Was that matzo ball soup as well? Or something else? #UKfan

[@debbiedrawsfunny]

Whaaaaat? How did I grow up in a Jewish household and no one ever referred to matzo ball soup as Jewish penicillin? I’ve only heard non Jewish folks say that, but maybe my family’s weird. Since I haven’t eaten chicken for ages, I need to go make a batch of vegetarian matzo ball soup (blasphemous I know) ‘cause I’ve been craving it since the weather got colder!

[@slizzynguyenner6442]

Me picking up the manischewitz matzo while listening to this poetry

[@isaiah9508]

It’s my favorite movie too, roman

[@neen79]

👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾 0:08

[@miilahalonen8006]

❤

[@deirdrecollins3987]

I miss matza ball soup. I am going to use cream crackers instead of the matza as it’s not something I can buy here in Ireland. Chicken fat is also not something I can pick up at the grocery. Could I use melted butter instead or duck fat? Thank you

[@mariem8686]

I love your Gwyneth shirt! Where is it from?

[@isabelmmestrepasqual2107]

Hi! I am from Mallorca, Spain. And I am wondering if someone knows any great substitution for the Matzo? I really want to try this out! Thank you. ✨

[@richardg8651]

Carr's Table Water Bite Original Cracker IF you can't get actual matzo . Quite similar .