Jewish Comfort Foods: Chicken Soup with Kreplach

Jewish Comfort Foods


As winter sets in and the festive glow of Hanukkah fades, there’s no better time to savor the ultimate comfort food—chicken soup with kreplach. Known as the quintessential Jewish comfort food, this heartwarming dish has been cherished for generations. The chefs at Lester Senior Living in Morris County have perfected a recipe that’s both traditional and approachable, even for first-time kreplach makers.

Read on for our step-by-step guide to preparing this classic dish, perfect for warming the body and soul on a chilly winter day.

Ingredients

For the Soup:

  • 1 (3 to 5-pound) chicken, quartered

  • 12 cups water

  • 3 carrots, sliced

  • 1 stalk celery

  • 1 to 2 parsnips

  • 1 onion

  • 1 tablespoon Kosher salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

  • 1 clove garlic, peeled

  • Several sprigs of fresh dill

  • Several sprigs of fresh parsley

For the Kreplach:

  • 1 3/4 cups flour

  • 2 eggs

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Kosher salt

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

  • 1 cup ground beef

  • 1 small onion, grated

Preparation

For the Soup:

  1. Clean the chicken thoroughly. In an 8-quart pot, bring 12 cups of water to a boil.

  2. Add the chicken, vegetables, salt, pepper, garlic, and fresh herbs.

  3. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for 2–4 hours.

  4. Remove the garlic, then allow the soup to cool before refrigerating overnight.

  5. The next day, skim off the fat layer and remove the vegetables and chicken. Debone the chicken and return it to the pot with sliced carrots, if desired.

  6. Strain the soup for a clear broth or leave it hearty. Reheat and serve with kreplach.

For the Kreplach:

Dough:

  1. Combine flour, eggs, salt, and olive oil in a large bowl to form a dough.

  2. Wrap the dough in a damp cloth and let it rest for an hour.

  3. Knead the dough and roll it out thinly on a floured surface, then cut it into 3-inch squares.

Filling:

  1. Sauté the grated onion and ground beef in a frying pan with a pinch of salt. Let cool.

Assembly:

  1. Place a teaspoon of the filling in the center of each dough square.

  2. Fold into a triangle, sealing the edges with a bit of water and pressing out any air.

  3. Boil the kreplach in water for about 20 minutes until they float, or sauté them in hot oil for a crispier texture.

Serve the kreplach in the soup, and enjoy this dish with loved ones!

Traditional Jewish Cooking at Lester Senior Living in NJ

At Lester Senior Living, our residents enjoy access to delicious, home-cooked meals in our welcoming dining room, available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. Whether Jewish or not, residents can savor cultural staples like challah bread, kreplach, latkes, rugelach, and more. What’s not to like?!

Our dining services team takes special care to accommodate dietary allergies or preferences that remind residents of home, ensuring all of our seniors have an enjoyable dining experience.

To learn more about our dining services or to explore assisted and independent living options at Lester Senior Living in Morris County, NJ, call us today or visit the JCHC website: https://jchcorp.org.

Original Source: https://jchcorp.org/jewish-comfort-foods-chicken-soup-with-kreplach/ 

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