The Ultimate Guide to Perfect Pairings: What to Serve with Matzoh Ball Soup

Matzoh ball soup is one of the foods traditionally passed down through the generations, comfort food to enjoy during festival times or on cold nights. The main course of soup only warms and fills up a person, but it can be elevated to its full potential when paired with complementary sides which enhance its flavors and textures. Think of what to serve with matzoh ball soup, consider the soft sweetness of challah bread, the crispy crunch of latkes, or the savory richness of a pierogi. These types of sides will round out what could otherwise be a monotonous bowl of soup into a satisfying meal. New York City’s favorite Ukrainian restaurant Veselka, located in the East Village, has paired up just right so you can appreciate a bowl of traditional matzoh ball soup.

1. Egg Noodles & Challah Bread

Another classic staple is challah bread, with its traditional Jewish origin and slightly sweet and spongy texture. With great predisposition, this bread allows you to dip into the warm broth of matzoh ball soup.

Whether toasted or fresh, challah provides a delightful richness without overpowering the savory notes of the soup, which makes it yet another great choice to serve with matzoh ball soup.

2. Latkes (Potato Pancakes)

Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, latkes are a favorite accompaniment to matzoh ball soup. These fried potato pancakes are made from grated potatoes, onions, and eggs.

Traditionally served with applesauce or sour cream, latkes add such a satisfying crunch to the softness of the matzoh balls and smooth broth that they are yet another fabulous option when considering what to serve with matzoh ball soup.

3. Pierogi – Ukrainian Dumplings

For a heartier pairing, Pierogi stands as a very fine alternative. These dumplings stuffed with ingredients like mashed potatoes, cheese, or braised beef infuse a taste of Ukrainian cuisine into Veselka’s table, a restaurant steeped in the rich food traditions of Ukraine. When thinking about what to serve with matzoh ball soup, pierogi adds a comforting and filling option to your meal.

Potato Pierogi: Filled with mashed potatoes and onions, this is comfortingly flavored. Such simplicity of comforting flavor combines naturally well with matzoh ball soup, fitting the picture of what to serve with matzoh ball soup.

• Cheese Pierogi: The cheese in pierogi was made from a creamy farmer’s cheese, lending a slight sweetness and a tang in flavor that sat perfectly in contrast to the savory soup.
• Short Rib Pierogi: The extravagant pierogi filled with short ribs, which should create a rich and meaty filling to advance the meal with tender, slow-cooked beef.

4. Hearty Stews

For more substantial side dishes, stews such as bigos or goulash become an ideal match.

• Bigos (Hunter’s Stew): This is a traditional Polish dish filled with pork, kielbasa, and sauerkraut. It is filled with deep, savory flavors because it is slow-cooked. Richness balances well with matzoh ball soup, which is light. It is a balanced meal that is hearty, too and a fine option for what to serve with matzoh ball soup.
• Beef Stroganoff: It features slices of tender beef within a creamy mushroom sauce, adding a rich texture and heavy flavor, serving as a pleasing contrast to the subtlety of matzoh ball soup.
• Chicken Paprikash: The Hungarian dish consists of chicken that has been braised in a paprika cream sauce. The flavors of the sauce and the tender chicken go well with the comforting and mild flavors of the soup.

5. Stuffed Cabbage (Holubtsi)

For a taste of Eastern European tradition, Stuffed Cabbage makes for a great side. The cabbage leaves are filled with rice, onions, and then with either ground pork or mushrooms, after which they are braised in either tomato sauce or mushroom gravy, adding a great depth and umami to the meal.

This dish comes served either with a vegetarian filling or a meat-based one, which will complement the warm-heartedness of matzoh ball soup as another great option of what to serve with matzoh ball soup.

6. Fresh Salads

For those wanting a lighter course, the salads are fresh and serve as a nice contrast to the heavy soup. Veselka – one of the best classic NYC restaurants -has several salads that go great with matzoh ball soup, offering yet another choice of what you could serve with it.

Beet & Horseradish Salad: The sweetness of the beets versus the spice of the horseradish as the palate cleansers against the savory flavors of the soup.

• Mixed Green Salad: The beauty of simplicity. Light and fresh is this mixed green salad, added with vinaigrette.
• Spinach Salad: Mushrooms, bacon, and eggs are heavy ingredients in a spinach salad, but the freshness works well as a good contrast to lighter soups.

Conclusion

But at Veselka, an East Village institution serving Ukrainian cuisine for more than 50 years, matzoh ball soup is only one of many comforting items on the menu. Whether you order matzoh ball soup delivery or stop by one of these classic NYC eateries in person, a meal can be pretty well rounded out, both in body and spirit, accompanied by such items as challah bread, pierogi, or stuffed cabbage.

If you like more old-fashioned tastes, then Veselka’s pierogi and heavy stews give a very nice depth to your meal. And if you prefer lighter meals, fresh salads, and crispy latkes refreshingly balance them. Whichever one prefers, knowing what to serve with matzoh ball soup can turn this simple meal into a complete, satisfying dining experience. Try these great combinations at Veselka or order them right to your doorstep with the convenience of their delivery.