Spring Matzo Ball Soup

Matzo balls

2 eggs

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons club soda or seltzer water

½ cup matzo meal

½ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

¼ teaspoon smoked paprika

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1 scallion, thinly sliced

Soup

1 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil

1 large yellow onion, diced

1 leek, white part only, thinly sliced

1 large clove garlic, minced

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano

6 cups low-sodium chicken broth

2 medium carrots, peeled and thinly sliced

½ cup thinly sliced snow peas

1 cup shredded cooked chicken

1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Kosher salt and ground black pepper

To make the matzo balls:In a medium bowl, beat the eggs until frothy. Add the oil, club soda, matzo meal, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, parsley and scallion. Mix well, then cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

When the matzo is chilled, in a large pot over medium-high, heat the oil for the soup. Add the onion, leek and garlic. Cook for 6-8 minutes, or until tender. Add the oregano and chicken broth and bring to a boil.

Using wet hands, or a cookie scoop, drop quarter-sized balls of the chilled matzo mixture into the soup. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes. Add the carrots, snow peas and chicken and simmer for another 5 minutes. Stir in the dill and lemon juice, then season with salt and pepper.

Serves six.

Nutrition values per serving: 220 calories, 9 g fat (1 g saturated, 0 trans fats), 19 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 5 g sugar, 14 g protein, 80 mg cholesterol, 300 mg sodium.

Alison Ladman for The Associated Press