Best Matzo Ball Soup

1. To make the chicken soup: Combine chicken, onions, celery, carrots, dill, bay leaf, and 3 quarts water in a large pot; bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, partially covered, for at least five hours. Skim the surface of the soup occasionally to remove any foam that develops.

2. Remove the chicken and vegetables from the broth; discard vegetables. Strain the broth, cool, and refrigerate overnight. When chicken is cool enough to handle, remove the chicken meat from the bones, and chop or shred the meat; cover and refrigerate.

3. Combine vegetable oil, eggs, basil, parsley, 1 ½ teaspoons salt, and black pepper in a bowl; mix well. Stir in matzo meal, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate 1 hour.

4. Bring at least 3 quarts of water, or as needed, and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil in a large pot. Using wet hands, gently shape the matzo mixture into 2-inch balls balls; drop them in the boiling water and simmer for 20 minutes.

5. Skim fat off chilled chicken broth; transfer broth into a pot over medium heat. Add salt to taste and reserved cooked chicken, if desired (or save chicken for another use). Transfer cooked matzo balls to the chicken soup and heat to serve.

Editor's Note:

To make the soup in a pressure cooker, add chicken, onions, celery, carrots, dill, bay leaf, and water to the pressure cooker as directed in step 1, seal the pressure cooker, and bring it up to full pressure. Reduce the heat, maintaining full pressure, and cook for 30 minutes. Allow the pressure to drop naturally. Remove chicken and vegetables from broth. Strain the broth; discard vegetables. When chicken is cool enough to handle, remove chicken meat from bones as directed in step 2.