Try this simple matzo meal pancake for Passover or any time of the year. Then pop over to my matzo recipe page for more inspiration to use up that can of matzo meal! This recipes honors my grandma Annie and the legacy of this special family recipe that Bubbe called a "bubula".
You might also also enjoy my recipe for cheese latkes made with matzo meal!
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Eating a matzo meal pancake, or bubula, evokes happy memories of my Grandma with her thick glasses, denture-filled smile, and short, stubby hands that worked challah dough like only a grandma can. Our family affectionately calls these matzo meal pancakes a bubula (or bubuleh), which is also a Yiddish word that is a term of endearment. Imagine my Grandma Annie calling me to the kitchen table – she might say “come here, bubula, eat your bubula while it's hot.”
What is a matzo meal pancake?
A matzo meal pancake is a matzo meal and egg based pancake usually eaten on Passover. You could also categorize it as an omelet but it really looks more like one of those puffy Dutch apple pancakes you bake in the oven. But these are cooked stove top and can be ready to eat in a matter of minutes.
You might also hear some people refer to these pancakes as chremslach - an Eastern European word that refers to matzo meal pancakes, sometimes potato pancakes and on occasion cheese pancakes.
What is matzo meal?
Matzo meal is a derivative of matzo. Matzo is the unleavened bread eaten by those who observe the Jewish holiday Passover. Passover celebrates the freeing of the Israelites from slavery. The story goes that when the Israelites fled, they had no time to let the bread rise so they baked it unleavened and it became flat crackers or matzo. To this day, this rush to freedom guides the dietary rules of this ritual-based holiday.
When you coarsely chop the matzo, it becomes matzo farfel. More finely ground but still with texture, and it is considered matzo meal. Finely ground -- it becomes matzo cake meal, like a substitute for flour.
What makes a this pancake puffy?
In my grandmother’s version, it is the whipped egg whites and a bit of seltzer (bubbly water) that makes it rise. For Passover, the use of any grain-based leavening agent is restricted. Baking powder is not grain-based but many prefer not to use it for Passover. But you don't need to make that decision with this recipe - it doesn’t require it.
Steps to prepare a bubula:
- Separate the eggs into two bowls – one big enough to whip the egg whites, the other big enough to hold all the ingredients.
- Add the matzo meal, seltzer, and salt to the egg yolks and mix well.
- Whip the egg whites to stiff peaks and then fold them gently into the egg yolk mixture.
- Pour into a medium-sized frying pan greased with oil or butter. (my mom always used oil) Fry on one side and gently turn over to brown on other side. My mom says it’s ready when you stick a fork in and it doesn’t fall apart. (my mom is 90 so pay attention to her wise tips!)
- Serve with toppings of your choice.
What are the best toppings?
I always use cinnamon sugar. Some people like powdered sugar. My son liked syrup. Some prefer yogurt, sour cream, or whipped cream and berries. And my friend Laura from the blog Family Spice discovered that my fruit compote is the perfect topping for her:
And if you are Jewish (or just adventuresome), you might even try a bit of Manischewitz wine – yup – that’s how my cousin Alan used to eat it. Here is the proof:
From Bubbe's Grandson
“I wanted to thank you for making available Grandma's pancake recipe. I have looked for that recipe in every Jewish cookbook around and never found it--of course I never thought to do the obvious---ask the family. My wife made the pancakes tonight and they were great---topped with sugar, or a little Manischewitz Concord Grape wine, as we did in our house in Brooklyn.
Of course, the greater significance beyond the tastiness of the pancakes were their emotional and nostalgic value. For the duration of the meal tonight, I was 10 years old again and back at Avenue N with my mommy and Grandma in the kitchen. It was a truly wonderful and sentimental moment for me.
Thank you for giving me the venue to return, at least in my mind's eye, to those wonderful years in a world that now seems all too distant.”
--- from my cousin after reading this blog post in 2011
Want to hear me talk bubulas and soy sauce eggs? Listen to my guest appearance with Leigh Olson of the podcast The Heritage Cookbook Project where I share a few more details about my culturally blended family and read this note aloud too.
My Mom's Version of the Bubula Recipe
When I first wrote this post, I emailed my mom, who has turned out a few good bubulas over the years, to help with the recipe. And she actually emailed me back a rough write-up. Here are her directions verbatim from the email (yes she is 89 and uses email and texts):
“I used to make one with two eggs separated. Beat the egg whites to stiff peak and then gently add the yellow of eggs together with some matzoh meal. Just enough to give it some body and add some seltzer water to help it rise. Mix very gently and pour into frying pan. I always used oil instead of butter. Fry on one side and gently turn over to brown on other side. Should come out so that when you put in fork it doesn’t fall apart. Put sugar on top {sprinkle as you like} and enjoy with coffee, wine or any way you wish.”
I think my mom missed her calling as a recipe writer. But please don't miss your chance to experience this simple treasure of a family recipe.
Other Recipes using Matzo Meal or Matzo
Passover Resource and Recipe Guide
Apricot Apple Matzo Farfel Kugel
Passover Potato Kugel with a Twist
Chocolate-covered Matzo with Toasted Nuts and Sea Salt
Brenda's Breaded Lemon Chicken (use matzo meal instead of bread crumbs)
Fresh Fruit Compote - a perfect topping!
Supplies for Making Matzo Meal Pancakes
Manischewitz Matzo Meal 16 OZ, Pack of 2
Yehuda Gluten Free Matzo Meal, 15 Ounce (Pack of 2)
Also check out my Amazon shop that includes some of my favorite food and food-related products. I am always updating it – please visit often. And let me know if you need specific products recommendations – I am happy to help!
Matzo Meal Pancake or Bubula
Beth LeeIngredients
- 2 eggs separated
- 2 tablespoons matzo meal
- 1 tablespoon seltzer water
- pinch of salt
- canola oil
- sugar
- cinnamon
Instructions
- Separate 2 eggs. Put the whites in a medium bowl, big enough for whipping them. Place the yellows in a similar size bowl.
- To the yolks, add 2 tablespoons of matzo meal, one tablespoon of sparkling water (seltzer), and a pinch of salt. Combine, using a small whisk or fork.
- Whip the egg whites to stiff peaks and then fold the egg whites into the yellow mixture.
- Heat a small skillet on medium to medium-high. Once heated, add one tablespoon of oil, then add the matzo meal mixture.
- Cook until you see it sizzle around the edges and firm up. Then, depending on your skill in the kitchen, you can either flip the pancake like a pro or grab a spatula to turn it over. (Dormant chef flipped, I used a spatula) It should be nicely browned.
- It only needs to cook briefly on the flip side to brown and finish firming up the interior.
- Flip the bubula onto a plate, sprinkle with granulated sugar. A little cinnamon is nice too. Powdered sugar would be attractive but I have always loved the texture of the granulated sugar with the matzo meal pancake.
Dave Solomon
You’re quite welcome and I was happy to do it. My parents left Warsaw in August 1939. The Ship they came over and was not allowed to return to Poland because of the Nazi invasion in early September. Many of my mother’s family ended up in the Warsaw ghetto. Wonderful woman and a great cook in Baker. Her grandfather was a cake bakery in Otaez which was the county seat not far from Warsaw loves to cook and bake and see people and was Shahab of our Sina Malik or many decades. Also, result of the war we have many cousins in Buenos Aires Argentina, Mexico City, Israel and France.
Beth Lee
My grandma came over after WWI and before WWII but I have very little specific information. All we know is whoever came from her family, survived and whoever didn't, did not. My grandma was a great baker but none of her 6 kids learned to bake and my grandma didn't write any of her recipes down. Hence my mission to become a confident baker and document and write cookbooks!
I know many people with stories that extend to Argentina, Chile, Israel and more. So fascinating. And glad you know where your cousins are!
Dave Solomon
My mom, Florence Solomon of Longmeadow MA and Pultusk Poland I used to make this very dish for us every year at Passover. It was always a treat and took her a while to prepare. My dad ate it with jam and we kids ate it with sugar.
Beth Lee
Oh Dave thanks for sharing your memory with me. My grandma was from Poland! Pacanov (spelling may be all wrong). This has such strong childhood memories for me too. It's so simple and yet, the result is just special. And the extra time to whip the whites is so worth the effort. Chag Sameach.
Eileen Kellman
Thank you for the recipe, but I want to make a lot. It is going with chicken. I had the recipe but I can’t find it. How many can I get with a larger amount of matzo meal??
Please help. Thank you for for your help. Eileen Kellman at [email protected]
Beth Lee
Hi Eileen, I'll email you this answer as well. If you are serving these as a side dish then I would think one recipe as written would make about 4 pancakes. So depending on how many people you are feeding, you could try quadrupling the recipe for a total of 1/2 cup of matzo meal and 16 pancakes. But full disclaimer, I've never made this quadrupled so I don't know if the eggs, for example, just multiply up to 8. Also, do you plan to make this at the last minute or ahead of time? I've always just made this as a breakfast or snack and eaten it right after I made them. And feel free to tell me more about the recipe you can't find - do you remember the texture of the cooked pancake?
Debra Q Markowitz
Finding this recipe blew my mind. I thought only my grandma made a bubeleh! Your post took me back to her kitchen on Avenue J, on top of my grandfather's curtain store. Although the pancake she made was a little sweet (she did have a sweet tooth), it was always served in our family as a savory, next to roasted chicken or a pot roast. She used either oil, chicken schmaltz, or a combo for the frying. Looking at your pictures, I think that ours was a bit different—it was thicker, made in a big pan and served cut in wedges. But I think the recipe is about the same, just more batter. I asked my mother about it only yesterday, it being Pesach and all. She never made it, but thought it was just a giant matzo meal latke. You've inspired me. I'm so going to make this!
Beth Lee
Thanks for writing to me. This recipe tugs at my heart strings and seems to do the same for others. Which to be honest, fills me with joy. The recipe is really quite simple and yet, the flavor just sends me back in time. My cousin who wrote to me about it, used to eat it with Passover wine! Now I have to ask - are you talking about Avenue J in Brooklyn? My grandma lived on Avenue N!!!
Sandy
Thank you, thank you, thank you!! This really did spark a memory of eating this as a little girl with my grandmother. It is so light an airy and delicious and such a great alternative to fried matzo for a week! (Almost like a souffle.) Although I love fried matzo, my stomach not so much. I love it with cinnamon and sugar, but will try honey and fruit as well. Thank you so much for bringing this back to me.
Happy Passover!
Beth Lee
Yay - as I included in the post - my cousin had the same reaction and I kid you not, his note to me kept me blogging at that time. It inspired me so much. Thanks for sharing your feedback. Also - cinnamon sugar is my favorite too but the fruit or honey or maple syrup is fun too!
Debbie Landsman
These look yummy and thank your grandma for this recipe. I needed to know if I can make these in advance and then freeze them for Passover. Please advise. Thank you.
Debbie
Beth Lee
Hi Debbie - I have never tried to do that. I think the texture might not survive the freeze. But if I were going to try, I’d make them minis and just expect them to be less poofy upon re-entry from the deep freeze 🙂 But my fav way to eat them is right out of a hot pan! Chag Sameach!
Sandi
I love how puffy this matzo meal pancake got! I love all of the step by step directions to make it.
Beth Lee
Pull out that gluten free matzo meal and make one my friend.
Tobie
Thanks for the recipe. Pesach is just around the corner.
Beth Lee
Yes it is! It will be here in the blink of an eye.