Chicken Soup with Matzo Balls Recipe | Traditional Ashkenazi Jewish Comfort Food

Ingredients

• 1 whole organic chicken (about 4 lbs), cut into pieces
• 12 cups cold filtered water
• 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced
• 2 celery stalks, sliced
• 1 large parsnip, peeled and sliced
• 1 large yellow onion, peeled and quartered
• 1 small leek, cleaned and sliced (white and light green parts only)
• 1/2 bunch fresh dill, plus extra for garnish
• 1/2 bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 2 garlic cloves, smashed
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp whole black peppercorns
• Kosher salt, to taste
• For the Matzo Balls:
• 1 cup matzo meal
• 4 large eggs
• 1/4 cup rendered chicken fat (schmaltz) or vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup sparkling water
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp ground white pepper
• 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg