Venetian Matzah Balls

This dish, also called gnocchi all’ebraica or Jewish-style dumplings, comes from Venice, where there was once a thriving Ashkenazi community. The word cugoli comes from the German word kugel (ball). Matzah balls are typical of the cuisine of Jews from northern and eastern Europe, and are added to chicken soup for Sabbath or festive meals. They are usually made of eggs and matzah meal, however, unless they are made for Passover, Italian Jews like to replace the matzah