Miso Matzo Ball Soup

Updated April 8, 2025

Time Breakdown

• Total Time: 3¼ hours (including 2+ hours chilling for matzo balls)

• Prep Time: 15 minutes (active preparation)

• Cook Time: 1 hour (matzo balls) + 20 minutes (soup components)

Ingredients

For Matzo Balls

• 4 large eggs

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

• ⅓ cup vegetable broth or water (for moisture)

• 1 cup matzo meal (ensure Passover-kosher for observant use)

• 2 tablespoons freshly grated ginger

• 1 tablespoon finely chopped shiso or dill (or substitute with green onions)

• ¼–½ teaspoon ichimi togarashi or crushed red pepper (adjust to taste)

• 1 teaspoon salt (to taste)

For the Soup

• 3 tablespoons crumbled dried wakame (rehydrated)

• 1 long negi (Japanese leek) or 2 scallions, trimmed and sliced into thin rounds

• 2 inches daikon radish (about 6 ounces), peeled and sliced into ¼-inch rounds

• 4 ounces mixed mushrooms (maitake, enoki, shiitake, or oyster), torn into bite-size pieces

• 1–1½ tablespoons dashi powder or konbu seaweed powder (for umami)

• 3–4 tablespoons white or red miso paste (soy-based; check Passover kosher certification if needed)

• 7 ounces firm tofu, drained and cut into ½-inch cubes

• 2 tablespoons minced shiso leaves or fresh dill (garnish)

Cultural & Dietary Notes

This recipe fuses Ashkenazi matzo ball tradition with Japanese miso, ideal for Passover or year-round. Passover Consideration: Matzo meal is unleavened (required for Passover), and miso paste (soy-based) is a kitniyot (legume-like product) traditionally excluded by Ashkenazi Jews during Passover. For Passover, confirm miso and vegetable broth are kosher for Passover.

Preparation

Step 1: Prepare Matzo Ball Batter

In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, vegetable oil, and vegetable broth/water until smooth. Add matzo meal, ginger, shiso/dill, ichimi togarashi, and salt. Gently fold with a spatula until just combined (overmixing creates tough balls). Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours (or overnight) to hydrate the meal and firm the batter.

Step 2: Shape & Cook Matzo Balls

Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Wet hands with cold water to prevent sticking, then portion 2-tablespoon batter into Ping-Pong-sized balls (≈1.5 inches). Slide into boiling water gently; repeat for all batter (≈12 balls). Reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook 20 minutes (until al dente).

• Advance Use: Drain balls, freeze on a tray, then store in a freezer bag. Add frozen balls directly to hot soup (no thawing needed).

• Cooking in Soup (Alternative): Form balls and add to warm soup (not boiling) for richer flavor (a family technique to infuse umami).

Step 3: Prep Soup Components

• Soak wakame in lukewarm water 10 minutes; drain and set aside.

• Slice negi/scallions, daikon, and tear mushrooms into 1-inch pieces.

• Drain tofu and cube.

Step 4: Build Dashi Base

In a large pot, bring 4 cups water (or vegetable broth) to a boil. Add dashi powder; stir until dissolved (1–2 minutes). For konbu, steep 1 strip in water, remove before adding miso.

Step 5: Simmer Vegetables

Add rehydrated wakame, sliced negi, daikon, and mushrooms to boiling dashi. Simmer 5 minutes (vegetables tender-crisp).

Step 6: Dissolve Miso

In a small bowl, mix 3–4 tablespoons miso with ½ cup hot soup broth. Whisk until smooth (prevents clumping).

Step 7: Combine & Simmer

Add dissolved miso, tofu cubes, and matzo balls (or frozen balls) to the soup. Simmer 5 minutes to meld flavors. Taste and adjust salt/miso as needed.

Step 8: Serve

Ladle soup into bowls, top with minced shiso/dill. For extra fluffiness, add 1 tablespoon seltzer to matzo ball batter (before chilling).

Pro Tips

• Miso Ratio: Original 10-cup water is weak; use 1 tbsp miso per 1 cup hot water for umami depth.

• Matzo Ball Fluff: Add 1 tbsp seltzer to batter before chilling for lighter texture (a classic trick).

• Passover Adaptation: Substitute kombu for wakame (soak 30 minutes, strain), and use chicken broth if non-kitniyot is acceptable.

Enjoy this fusion of Ashkenazi comfort and Japanese umami—perfect for Passover or everyday meals!