Homemade Schmaltz: The Secret Ingredient to Elevate Your Jewish Cooking

Discover the rich, flavorful world of schmaltz – a traditional Ashkenazi Jewish ingredient that will transform your culinary creations!
Schmaltz, the golden elixir of rendered chicken fat, is the key to unlocking authentic flavors in classic Jewish dishes. From heavenly matzo balls to velvety chopped liver, this liquid gold adds a depth of flavor that’s simply irresistible.
Ready to elevate your cooking? Let’s dive into the art of making schmaltz from scratch!
Schmaltz (Rendered Chicken Fat) Recipe
Ingredients
- 3/4 pound chicken fat and skin (12 ounces; 340g), finely chopped (from 5 leg quarters)
- 1 medium onion (8 ounces; 226g), chopped (about 1 cup)
Directions
- Begin your schmaltz adventure by combining the chicken fat and skin with just enough water to barely cover in a medium saucepan. Bring this mixture to a simmer over high heat, then reduce to medium-low. Continue simmering for about 50 minutes, stirring frequently. You’ll know it’s ready when the water has evaporated, the fat has mostly rendered, and the chicken skin pieces are small, browned, and starting to crisp. Now, add the chopped onion and cook for another 10-15 minutes, stirring often until it’s lightly browned and fragrant.
- Time to reap the rewards of your patience! Strain your freshly rendered schmaltz through a fine-mesh strainer into a small heatproof bowl. Your liquid gold is ready to use! Don’t discard those crispy bits left in the strainer – that’s gribenes, a delicious by-product of schmaltz-making. Sprinkle it with salt for a crunchy snack or use it to add texture to your chopped liver. Your taste buds will thank you!
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
---|---|
191 | Calories |
21g | Fat |
0g | Carbs |
0g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings: 16 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 191 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 21g | 27% |
Saturated Fat 6g | 32% |
Cholesterol 18mg | 6% |
Sodium 0mg | 0% |
Total Carbohydrate 0g | 0% |
Dietary Fiber 0g | 0% |
Total Sugars 0g | |
Protein 0g | |
Vitamin C 0mg | 0% |
Calcium 0mg | 0% |
Iron 0mg | 0% |
Potassium 0mg | 0% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |