# Does Beef Based Matzoh Ball Soup Exist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [January 12, 2021, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beef-based-matzoh-ball-soup-exist/930346 "2021-01-12T17:39:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beef-based-matzoh-ball-soup-exist/930346/1 "2021-01-12T17:39:50Z")
Well, yeah - it’s not like the Kitchen Police would stop me if I tried it - but I was wondering if anyone else had had the notion and possibly put it into practice. If you’re totally goy I expect the fat used to make the dumplings doesn’t matter. I suppose if you’re angling towards kosher style you could use rendered beef fat. Anyone try this? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beef-based-matzoh-ball-soup-exist/930346/2 "2021-01-12T20:21:00Z")
I’ve made matzo balls, simmering them in water, then saving them to add to miscellaneous soups. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beef-based-matzoh-ball-soup-exist/930346/3 "2021-01-12T20:57:07Z")
My sister gave me a couple of boxes of matzoh ball mix that came with a “soup packet” that was supposed to make the broth to cook them in. As near as I could tell, there was nothing in that packet that had ever been near a chicken (or any other animal, for that matter, with the possible exception of a human harvesting parsley.) It seemed to be mostly MSG, salt, and spices. I tossed it out and made some chicken soup to cook the matzoh mix in (the mix itself seemed fine.) I’d think they’d taste a bit different if you cooked them in beef stock, and different yet if you used lamb, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. Try it and let us know! ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beef-based-matzoh-ball-soup-exist/930346/4 "2021-01-12T21:39:21Z")
I had never heard of such a thing but why the hell not? I googled up a recipe that actually looks pretty good. > **[Beef Matzo Ball Soup](https://simbooker.weebly.com/beef-matzo-ball-soup.html)** > > Anyway, is it Matzah or Matzo?   I don't know. I am not Jewish.  But either way, this is one of my favourite soups , and dishes of all time . I make it quite often, in fact Matzo Meal is a must... ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beef-based-matzoh-ball-soup-exist/930346/5 "2021-01-12T22:20:34Z")
Think I’ll give it a try this “weekend” (my days off usually fall between Monday and Thursday, they move around between those) and let you know how it goes. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2021, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beef-based-matzoh-ball-soup-exist/930346/6 "2021-01-12T23:31:09Z")
I think I would enjoy beef pho with matzo balls. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2021, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beef-based-matzoh-ball-soup-exist/930346/7 "2021-01-13T15:36:36Z")
OK, I tried this, replacing all chicken items with their beef equivalents, and the verdict is… Pretty good. I could probably tweak it just a bit but it makes a good beef soup as well as a good chicken soup.