Chicken Schmaltz
Chicken Schmaltz is rendered chicken fat, traditionally prepared by slowly cooking down chicken skin and fatty trimmings until the fat melts and solids become crispy. It is a staple in Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine, often used as a cooking fat or flavoring agent for dishes like matzo balls, latkes, and roasted vegetables.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
Schmaltz is almost entirely fat, providing a rich source of calories and fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin E and K. A single tablespoon contains roughly 115-120 calories, with virtually no carbohydrates or protein.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 115 kcal |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Carbs | 0 g |
| Fat | 13 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 0 g |
| Sodium | 0 mg |
| Vitamin E | 2.8 mg |
| Vitamin K | 5.2 µg |
| Palmitic Acid | 3.5 g |
| Oleic Acid | 5.8 g |
| Linoleic Acid | 2.1 g |
Per 1 tablespoon (14 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, schmaltz is a key ingredient in traditional Jewish cooking, especially during holidays like Hanukkah. Nutritionally, it's a high-fat condiment that was historically valued for its calorie density and ability to add deep, savory flavor to simple dishes.
