Matzo meal pancakes are perfect for Passover or any time of the year. Also known as a bubula, this recipe honors my grandma Annie, or my bubbe, and shares the special story of this family legacy recipe!
You might also also enjoy my recipe for cheese latkes made with matzo meal!
For ease of browsing, find all my Passover recipes in one place.
This post contains Amazon affiliate links – if you click on one and purchase something, I receive a very tiny percentage of the sale. Your price is never affected.
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.
Jun Belen
Your mom is 81 and she's hooked on technology? Very impressive! But I'm more impressed by your bubula. I could imagine that the matzo adds great texture to the pancake. I'd love to try this out with a splash of syrup on top. Thank you for sharing!
Kristen
Your grandma is simple adorable and your mom is awesome as well. I love recipes that evoke these kind of memories!
Serene
Oh, I HAVE to make this.
Our favorite pancakes are my mom's latkes, but second place is probably a basic buttermilk that I adapted from an Tyler Florence recipe.
Laura Santamaria
thank you for the comment on my blog! that pancake looks so delicious i'm quite hungry for some delicious food right now!
i'm subscribing to your blog!
Julie m.
What a beautiful pancake you've created here! The recipes handed down from family members are truly the best ones.
Thanks so much for the sweet comment over at my end. And yep, I'm coming to Blogher Food. It's going to be so great to meet everyone!
Alexandria Campbell
these look so delicious and are going on my shopping list to make this weekend.
*here from sits
MommyMatter
Nice, have to try these, thanks!
rsmacaalay
I never had tried one of those but it looks similar to the Filipino Bibingka
Mommy Crib Notes
Emm, these look delicious! I love eggy, doughy treats like popovers, apple pancakes and such. These look right up my tastefood alley.
omgyummy
Try one - it's different from your typical pancake but really fun to eat. Thanks for stopping by!
Donnagreenberg
Forgot how to make lots of the holiday foods hope you have more to share
Beth Lee
Here is a link to all of my Jewish holiday food recipes. https://omgyummy.com/jewish-recipes/ And of course, whatever you don't see that you want a recipe for, just drop me a note and ask. I am always looking for inspiration for what to create next!
Georgia B.
OMG! this sounds so yummy!!! And I'm on a diet!! I'm trying the Atkins diet, but I may have to cheat tonight. I mean, how can I miss Pancake Day?!
And Mazel Tov on the Bat Mitzvah! I'm assuming it went swimmingly well. I'm sorry I couldn't be there.
And what a great picture of Bubbe!!! Hmmmm. Making me weepy -- no fair! xoxo
omgyummy
A bubula isn't that far off the Atkins - it's mostly eggs 🙂
Bat Mitzvah was fantastic - we missed having you there. Will share more pictures soon.
That picture of my Grandma makes me smile every time I see it. You would have loved her.
We will be in New York City in April. Will be in touch with details.
Orly @yumivore
First Mazal Tov on the Bat Mitzvah! The only thing stopping me from devouring these right now is my computer screen (ok it's a big show stopper) but luckily you're in my neck of the woods, and I'd gladly schlepp over if you're cooking! Agree with Rebecca and shared with Karen, it would be lovely to all meet and have a nosh! This has been such fun!
omgyummy
Thanks Orly! The Bat Mitzvah was such a huge success. My daughter was a superstar and all the meals and gatherings were wonderful. Now I'm catching up on life and looking forward to scheduling a meet-up with you! If you want to come my way and eat bubulas - I'm game!
This was a great collaboration - would do it again in a heartbeat. If we could put four posts together like that without really planning, imagine what else we could do!
Karen at Globetrotter Diaries
Wonderful recipe. This was great! Glad we could all do this together.. happy pancake day!
omgyummy
Karen - thanks. I can't wait to try your scallion pancakes. I know my family will love them. This was great fun. Up for working on something together again for sure.
sandy corman
The bubula looks perfect. You have inspired me to try one soon. They are delicious.
Thanks for compliment on recipe instrux. And thanks for picture of Grandma. Mom
omgyummy
So easy and your recipe was perfect. All I added was a pinch of salt to bring out the flavor. Give it a try - not too complicated.
rebecca
what a wonderful post Grandmas are the best must try these so fluffy delicious was fun to do with with you Beth
Rebecca
omgyummy
She was the best Grandma. I miss her every single day.
Loved doing this post with you guys. Definitely up for another round!
I have some strawberries in the fridge just waiting to be sliced and eaten with pancakes!
Debbie
My family got together every Passover for Bubula brunch. We added a shot glass of wine to the recipe. What a treat!
Beth Lee
That's how my aunt and cousin ate it - w Manischewitz !!! Story to be added to the post soon. Bubula brunch - I love it!
Richard Bernhardt
Yummy on my tummy. So, your Bubula used seltzer. That is a very interesting idea! I've never added soda or seltzer to this recipie. The only ingredient that is very very different to me is the cinnamon. Never tried that. Otherwise, you have me fawning for latkes. Have a great day! 🙂
omgyummy
First time I tried cinnamon as well - but it was yummy. But my favorite is still just granulated sugar. A bubula with granulated sugar is still one of my ultimate comfort foods.
As for the seltzer, we also use it in Matzo balls to aid in the fluffiness. Does it really work? Who knows but it definitely doesn't hurt!